If you’re thinking about visiting another country this summer, there might be an option closer to home than you realize.
I’m talking about Molossia.
Molossia is a so-called micronation, located in Northern Nevada. It has a military, its own space agency, and even a leader — his excellency Kevin Baugh.
Molossia may not be recognized by world governments, but it’s a fun idea nonetheless.
“We feel that we have everything a country has in a very small package,” Baugh told KNPR's State of Nevada.
Molossia has a post office, bank and office of the president.
Its space program consists of model rocket launches every few months.
“One of the things we like to do is just get creative within the limitations that we have for such a small country and our limited budget,” Baugh said.
Besides the space program, Molossia has been at war with East Germany for decades.
It may seem odd to be at war with a country that disappeared when Germany was reunified in the 90s but Baugh's explanation seems reasonable.
While stationed in West Germany with the U.S. Army, Baugh was woken up to do drills one too many times.
“At the time, I was prime minister of the country and declared war on East Germany," Baugh said.
He thought little of it until he found the declaration years later. It was still a joke until he realized that Cuba had gifted a small island to East Germany during the Cold War.
Since a tiny - yet uninhabited bit of East Germany still exists - the war with the former communist country goes on.
“So, we are perpetually at war with an uninhabited island off the coast of Cuba,” Baugh said.
Baugh would like to visit the island in hopes of brokering a peace deal and enjoying the sand and surf but that hasn't happened yet.
It was his time in Europe that shaped Baugh's ideas on micronations. He liked the idea of tiny nations like Monaco and Liechtenstein.
“It kind of really stuck with me this is something I would like to do and continue to do and then when I got property in Northern Nevada that became the home for the Republic of Molossia,” he said.
Baugh is looking to make some improvements to Molossia. There is already a model railroad in their backyard but he envisions a railroad that people could take around his 1.3 acre nation.
“At some point, somewhere down the road, I would very much like to have Molossia railroad that people can jump on and ride. That would be amazing," he said.
Baugh would likely pay for the improvements with U.S. dollars even though Molossia has its own currency, which is based on the cookie dough standard.
He would also like to start using solar power to power his tiny nation. Baugh sees it as a way to "cut the cord a little bit" from the United States.
If you are interested in checking out the tiny nation, tours are available. Check out their website for tour times.
Kevin Baugh, founder, Molossia