Part I Fort Ord: 1917-1994

In 1994 Fort Ord,a 28,600 acre military base located on California's Central Coast, was closed. Fort Ord was opened in 1917 as a cavalry post. It was mainly used as an Army training facility until its closure.



Once the home of some 25,000 to 50,000 troops, the base today is only beginning to take on its new life as college campus (CSUMB), an Annex of the Defense Language Institute, a community golf course, a nature preserve, housing for DLI and NPS families, and much more.

If you visit parts of Fort Ord today, you will find derelict, abandoned WWII era buildings that at the time of their construction, were expected to last only 5 years. They lasted 50.


Old Motor Pool Garages

The Monterey, Salinas, Marina, and Seaside communities were sad to see the military leave. Today, however, there is a rush to document the ghost town that Fort Ord has become before everything is torn down and replaced by gleaming new buildings. Oddly enough, we have become fascinated with the eery emptiness of Fort Ord and the mystery and secrets of the old buildings. Everyone has a different take on what they see here.

"This was always off limits to us. And now we tromp around freely," said my sister as we tromped around taking these photos together.

My boyfriend sees it as a waste. "Perfectly good buildings left to rot when we have such lack of affordable housing."


Old Motor Pool Garages

My friends among the police see the place as one big crime scene where everything from stolen properly to dead bodies have been found. "No one likes that type of information to get out. Bothers the tourists."

Others see it as business opportunity. "The city of Seaside is willing to lease us a building for $2 a year so that we can build a new Youth Hostile there!"


Motor Pool Buildings


I, however, am more fascinated by the rapidity with which nature takes back what is rightfully hers. It is a reminder to me of our mortality and our potential for rebirth.


Swimming Pool

The fort is not completely abandoned. Slowly but surely development is taking place. CSUMB is starting to take shape with new buildings and facilities. A new shopping center with major retailers opened last year. New housing is starting to go up. And many of the "abandoned" buildings are now being used again as counterinsurgency training areas. From time to time, as you drive through the derelict parts, you will see soldiers in full gear going building to building, weapons at the ready.