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jjmaccrimmonAfter departing the Hawes Communication Relay bunker, we back tracked and headed south along US Hwy 395 hoping to find ruins or sites along the way. Unfortunately other than sage brush and Joshua trees, there’s very little to be seen close to this busy highway. Given our lack of success, we swung by the abandoned sections of the former George AFB, now the Southern California Logistics Airport. As mentioned previously, George AFB was closed in 1988 and much of the facilities were left to decay while the community struggled to decide what to do with the vast air base. Much of George is a ghost town existing in various states of adaptive reuse, decay or preparation for the bulldozer.
When first entering the old base area (versus the maintained flight operations area), the first thing you pass through are the remains of the “Wherry” and “Capeheart” styled housing areas. These houses could not be reutilized because some were considered sub-standard for utilities, some had asbestos, and some were considered outside of local building codes. Now they look like a war zone.
Welcome to the battlefield
The housing area has in fact been turned into just that, an urban warfare training area. SWAT teams from around southern California and military units deploying to Iraq come here to practice their dangerous trades.
With the kids waiting in the car, I walked through an unmarked area, and visited 600 Utah Lane.
The Living Room area
Kitchen
The furnace and air handler were still in place
Across the street was one of many ball fields.
Out of Order
From the housing area, we ventured deeper into the old facility, heading towards the less used north east side of the base, where the support facilities were located – the Base Exchange, Commissary, Bank and Youth Center.
“Children’s World” was in remarkable condition and locked up tight as a drum.
No power
Of course it was closed.. We visited on a Sunday.
Looking thru a plate glass window into the past
Part two of the visit at George and our run in with the security forces there next..
When first entering the old base area (versus the maintained flight operations area), the first thing you pass through are the remains of the “Wherry” and “Capeheart” styled housing areas. These houses could not be reutilized because some were considered sub-standard for utilities, some had asbestos, and some were considered outside of local building codes. Now they look like a war zone.
Welcome to the battlefield
The housing area has in fact been turned into just that, an urban warfare training area. SWAT teams from around southern California and military units deploying to Iraq come here to practice their dangerous trades.
With the kids waiting in the car, I walked through an unmarked area, and visited 600 Utah Lane.
The Living Room area
Kitchen
The furnace and air handler were still in place
Across the street was one of many ball fields.
Out of Order
From the housing area, we ventured deeper into the old facility, heading towards the less used north east side of the base, where the support facilities were located – the Base Exchange, Commissary, Bank and Youth Center.
“Children’s World” was in remarkable condition and locked up tight as a drum.
No power
Of course it was closed.. We visited on a Sunday.
Looking thru a plate glass window into the past
Part two of the visit at George and our run in with the security forces there next..
