15 Shuttered Bases That Once Shaped U.S. Defense

Across the country, bases that were once central to national defense now sit in silence. You’ll find empty barracks and forgotten training zones, with old watchpoints scattered across overgrown fields. These 25 facilities played a role that hasn’t been erased, even if time pushed them far from the spotlight.

Fort Ord, California

Windswept plains near Monterey used to echo with drills. Fort Ord trained hundreds of thousands during the 20th century before closing in the 1990s. Parts of the site remain undeveloped, with abandoned barracks and overgrown training grounds still visible. Nature has slowly crept in where enlisted forces had earlier marched.

Nike Missile Site SF-88, California

Hidden in the hills near the Golden Gate, this mid-century base used to guard the skies. Though partially restored today, much of the original infrastructure around similar Nike missile sites is rusting. Dozens nationwide were sealed off, their purpose fading with changing defense strategies.

Camp Toccoa, Georgia

Anyone who watched Band of Brothers might recognize this spot. Located near Currahee Mountain, it was home to paratrooper training during WWII. Though few structures are left, the site is quiet and attracts history buffs who hike the same hill where service members trained.

Wendover Airfield, Utah

During WWII, Wendover was bustling with aircrews and secrecy. It was one of the largest training bases of its kind but fell into disrepair after its mission ended. Some buildings remain weather-worn but standing, giving visitors a glimpse of what the airfield looked like at its peak.

Fort McClellan, Alabama

Previously a key training hub for chemical and security personnel units, this base shut down in 1999. Many buildings still stand, empty and aging. The surrounding town has had to adapt since the closure, while the base’s quiet grounds continue to hold memories that haven’t faded.

Castle Air Force Base, California

Massive hangars and rows of empty housing can be found at this former Strategic Air Command base. It played a significant role during the mid-20th century but closed in the mid-1990s. Some parts were repurposed, yet many buildings stand idle, a reminder of when long-range aircraft were a central focus.

Fort Terry, New York

Public access is restricted and aging structures with overgrown grounds serve as quiet reminders of what came before. The site was initially constructed to protect Long Island Sound during the Spanish-American era and later shifted to a research role. That layered history quietly lingers on Plum Island.

Camp Hale, Colorado

High-altitude drills and winter survival training once defined this base, which helped shape the 10th Mountain Division. Long after closure, the mountains still hold traces of its past. Trails cut by skis and boots remain, and concrete foundations peek out beneath the snow in this remote, rugged terrain.

Fort Hancock, New Jersey

Lighthouses and coastal batteries overlook the water where this post stood watch in earlier decades. Set on Sandy Hook, it played a defensive role in New York Harbor. Today, remnants of barracks and defense housing dot the area, many appearing untouched as if waiting for the next roll call.

Devil’s Slide Bunker, California

Above the cliffs near Pacifica stands a reinforced concrete lookout built in the early 1940s to monitor coastal activity. Positioned along Highway 1, it offered a strategic vantage over the Pacific. Though long abandoned, the bunker, now covered in graffiti and brush, intrigues curious visitors with its bare, weathered shell.

Camp Forrest, Tennessee

Originally a training camp, this site quickly expanded during WWII. After it was dismantled, much of the land was returned to civilian use. Beneath newer developments lie traces of the past. Forgotten sidewalks and roadways that previously linked barracks and mess halls now quietly rest under soil and brush.

Hamilton Air Force Base, California

Once key to West Coast air defense, this base near San Francisco Bay saw decades of flight activity. Following its closure, a few hangars were repurposed, though many quarters and outbuildings stand unused. The wide-open tarmac and fenced-off corners now quietly echo the rush of jets long gone.

Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri

Active during global tension, this installation near Kansas City became an air defense and training hub. The base was decommissioned in the 1990s, and much of it was left behind. A few structures now serve new purposes, but others sit empty, slowly wearing down with time.

Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana

This base once played a central role in administrative training and hosted a defense finance school. Closed in the 1990s, large sections have since been converted to parks and housing. However, a few buildings continue to bear unmistakable structural designs from their years of service.

Camp Claiborne, Louisiana

WWII brought waves of trainees through a facility built to prepare engineering crews alongside infantry divisions. After it was dismantled, nature quickly took over. Today, the thick woods hide old concrete pads and rusted tracks that previously supported a rail line used to train transportation units.