ABANDONED: Fort Ritchie! Abandoned Military Base!

In 1889 the Buena Vista Ice Company purchased 400 acres of land with the intent to develop it into a facility where natural ice could be harvested. In 1901 the first manmade lake on the property was constructed, followed by a second just a few years later.

Around the time that the natural ice business started to falter the state of Maryland started looking for a new summer training facility for its National Guard. On May 21, 1926, the state of Maryland bought the 400 acres from the Buena Vista Ice Company and renamed it Camp Ritchie, after the current governor of the state.

During the Second World War the camp was used to hold POWs, as well as an intelligence training center. These intelligence troops would be come to known as the Ritchie Boys. These soldiers worked in counterintelligence operation, frontlines interrogation, and battlefield intelligence.

A study program especially for American Nisei women also opened at the camp. This program taught Japanese Military language so that they could join Pacific Military Intelligence Research Section at the Camp. Here Japanese Military documents were analyzed, including one that provided the locations of every armory in Japan.

After the war the camp was used for 'The Hill Project' which was intended to do research on military security in Europe. This required the cooperation of German POWs stationed at the camp.

In 1995 the Base Realignment and Closure Commision recommended that Fort Ritchie be decommissioned. Its support for the Raven Rock Mountain Complex was transferred in 1997, and in 1998 Fort Ritchie closed.

Since the closure the property has been in a state of limbo. Many developers have tried to turn the property into a mixed used development, and for most the property caused financial ruin. During this time the property has fallen into ruin with many buildings brought down because of necessity.

Currently the property belongs to a local Businessman who hopes to redevelop the site. Some work has started in recent months, including a history museum which had been granted $400,000 by the state. We can only hope that this venture is prosperous, and that the Fort will soon have a new life for the community.

Join me as we take a walk around the site.

Remember if you enjoyed this video hit the like button and leave a comment. Then remember to subscribe so we can continue Hobnobbing!