I thought I had seen all of the Mt. Laguna Air Force Station when I visited the Mt. Laguna AFS Operations Area atop Stephenson Peak in 2001 — little did I know that just below the peak, hidden in the tall pines, lay the remnants of the Cantonment Area of the station where the staff lived. The rumors of an abandoned base were true!
After trekking up a short road Gonzo and I found a small ghost town of empty buildings amongst piles of debris from structures already razed. Before 1994 one would have found much more on the site but the destruction that started then slowly continues today: gone are the station’s water well, waste treatment plant, solar panel array, swimming pool, auto shop, helicopter pad and much more. Pictured above is the East end of the HQ Building.
HQ Building (1967)
Alpha Barracks (1966)
Alpha Barracks
The Road Up
Enlisted Quarters
Officer’s Quaters, Club & Medical (North)
Officer’s Quaters, Club & Medical (South)
Dining Hall
Boiler Room, Façade
Boiler Room, Diesel Engine
Boiler Room, Water Tanks
Alpha Barracks, Façade
Bravo Barracks, Façade
The folks that worked on the base would probably consider it to be in bad condition but I have visited a number of abandoned military sites and Mt. Laguna AFS is in pretty good shape considering the harsh weather and searing fires that torment the area.
To be fair — the place has been totally trashed and vandalised by interlopers — but the destruction could have be much worse given the location. There isn’t much litter and the site is rather kempt given it’s predicament. Let’s hear it for hidden treasures!
Asbestos tiles are visible around the area and the rats, bats, rattle snakes and mountain lions certainly make the site dangerous. The delapidated buildings are still navigable with caution and offer a glipse into the architechture and construction of the times. Steam pipes protrude about the area and connect most all of the old wood structures to the Boiler Room, which still houses what appears to be a straight six diesel engine and water tanks!
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“Beginning in 1952, the Mt. Laguna Air Force Station was home to the 751st Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron, later the 751st Radar Squadron, part of the Air Defense Command.
The station was one of over 200 air-defense and long-range radar facilities that monitored the skies over the continental United States during the Cold War in case of Soviet bomber attack. There were similar radar sites also in Alaska, Hawaii, Greenland, Iceland, and Canada, all guarding against a Soviet bomber sneak attack.
Collocated with the 751st RADS was Detachment 4 of the 14th Missile Warning Squadron (as of 1966). The 14th MWS was tasked with watching for Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM’s). It used a radar housed in the square box-shaped tower [pictured here]. That radar was known as type AN/FSS-7 (it was originally an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar used by the 751st RADS).
The 751st RADS itself used other radars in other towers (which have now been torn down) for aircraft detection – an AN/FPS-7C search radar plus an AN/FPS-90 height-finder radar.
On or about 1979 or 1980, the AN/FPS-7C was replaced with an FAA owned and operated ARSR-3 search radar. In 1988, the AN/FPS-90 (now modified to an AN/FPS-116 version) was removed (that was the tower [pictured here]). In the mid 1990’s, the ARSR-3 was replaced by an ARSR-4 model — that’s the radar currently in use today [pictured here].
The Forestry Service has no involvement with the facility; it is used entirely by the FAA (for en route flight safety / air-traffic control) and by the Air Force (for peacetime air surveillance).
The associated radio facility (formerly part of the 751st RADS, for two-way voice and digital communications with fighter-interceptor aircraft) was apparently taken over by the Air Force Communication Service around 1979 or 1980, accounting for the signs [in the burnt-out concrete building].
The Mount Laguna radar site today remains a joint-use FAA / Air Force radar facility – nothing more, nothing less.”
History above by Tom Page. Photos circa 1966 & 1967 from RADOMES.ORG
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“I was stationed at this site in 1973. The last time I saw it was from the air as I was headed for San Diego in 1988.
“On your trip to the site, did you go down the main highway a couple miles and see what was the GATR (Ground to Air Trainsmit and Receive) site? That is where I worked. That was the radio site separated from the main base to avoid interference from the radar. We had at that site 30 single channel UHF transmit radios (AN/GRT-3), 30 single channel UHF receive radios (AN/GRR-7), two multi channel UHF radios (AN/GRC/27) and two 10 kW transmitters (klystron powered) that pulsed data to the ADC jets from Luke AFB. The data came from the main base and was ciphered through a discrete logic AN/GKA-5 system. The UHF radios were Korean War vintage tube-type beasts.
“[Hesh One is] right in [his] description about the mission of the site. We were watching for World War III to break out.
“From the west side of the GATR site on a clear day, I could see the sun glint off the San Diego harbor some 70 miles away. From the east side of the main base, I could see the Salton Sea and Borrego desert.”
“AIRMAN OF THE QUARTER” AT THE 10KW KLYSTRON
A “AN GKA”
ADMIN
History & Photos above by Robert Wundrock. Photos circa 1973.
Tags: 751st Radar Squadron, Cantonment Area, Laguna Mountains, Mount Laguna, Mt. Laguna Air Force Station
My dad was stationed at Mt. Laguna from 60-63. Lots of happy memories. I see someone I know on here: Randy Mundt. I remember the Mundt family very well. Our last name was Johnson. Randy will probably remember my brother, Gavin. Like Randy, I remember the long bus rides to Campo. Once in awhile our bus driver would stop at the Junction; I think it was Connie Mundt who’d always play ‘Green Onions’ on the jukebox. It’s sad to see all the abandoned buildings but it’s brought back a good feeling thinking about all the fun we had there.
It was good to hear all the cmments from everyone. I was statoned there from Octber 1976 to March 1980. I alo have a lot o great memories about the peole and the place. I have been contacted by acouple of peopl from that time period an there was a small reunion Super Bowl weekend te Tom Beaulieu put together in Atlantic City. If you send me an e-mail, I will let Tom know to put you on his list of people tha he has gotten in touch with. Ihave been in touch with Tom and John Kirscht recently andI’m ure we all would like to hear from anyone.
My e-mail s : mikie330@excite.com.
WOW. So many old names here!! We were not a part of the AFB but grew up on Mt. Laguna, LONG after all the others had left. I stayed there ’til i was 21. My Sister Brandi could not wait until she was free of the mountains constraints. I attended K-4 while the small school house was till operational. And have many fond memories of Georgie and Steven Jirout, Kimberly Miernik, Doonie, The Latte girls, The Sadas, Huntingtons, and many more. It is very sad to see the base go to waste like it did. When it was closed it completely changed our lives, and was devastating as a child. So many friends disapeared over that summer. I have two sons of own now and we hike the Lagunas from time to time, they love it up there. It is still my “home”. BTW, George J. we still tell stories of my youth growing up with you and steven, many good times. Kim and I have chatted briefly over the years as well.
LWDquinnj@hotmail.com
I am an ex Navy SEAL getting my masters at SDSU. In the meantime I do some acting as well. This location would be perfect for a small independent film I am involved in. The film is only about 5 to 7 mins. Does anyone know who I could contact about getting permission to film there. Thanks for any advice in advance, Rob Guzzo
I’ve made many trips to Mount Laguna in the last couple of years. i like to think of it as my “Studio/Campground” haha
here’s a 3 minute film i made on 3-22-10
http://vimeo.com/10361668
and here’s my set of night time photography from Mount Laguna:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ineeddadrink/sets/72157602227027454
Its slated for demolition and removal.
We are doing research on this site for a historical report.
We would like to contact people with experience at Mt. Laguna Air Force Station to interview.
Susan Walter
Stephen Van Wormer
Call 619 426-5109
Please leave your name and telephone number.
I was stationed there from 78-79, with the 14th MWS. It was absolutely beautiful up there. The people were fantastic (especially the Huntington’s), and the community went out of their way to make all of us feel like family. For the 1 year I was stationed there, I have a lot of fond memories of the place and the people.
I was stationed at Mt. Laguna AFS from 1/77-9/80, as an SP . Lots of great memories. Fondly remember playin softball and gettin stoned.
I was in Securtiy Police (known as Air Police at that time) at Mt. Laguna AFS from June of 66 to June of 67. My good friend just googled into this site and it sure brings back a lot of memories. I lived in the barracks for a while, then got married and lived down in Alpine for most of my tour. I remember the 1st Sergeant, I believe it was Shulte and he lived on the site. I worked at the guard shack going up to the site on the graveyard shift. I remember it being very windy and at times cold. I’m visiting in Alpine now, haven’t been back here since 67 and we’re going to take a drive up there to see what we can find and bring back some old memories. Maybe I’ll add to this after going to see what I can see.
Demolition of the lower area has begun. Here is a link to KUSI’s Turko Files: http://www.kusi.com/features/turko/95836169.html
My father, Major William Lee Hudson, was stationed there 1958-1960. Some of my favorite memories of growing up are of Mt. Laguna. It was a beautiful, open, and free place for us kids to grow and learn about nature. Somewhere we have pictures of the area and several events that took place there. I remember Col. Embery and his family; Capt Huey Turner and his wife and son, Roger(who was my best friend!). I went to school in the kitchen of the community center down the mountain with 11 other kids. My older brother, Bill, and sister, Linda, went all the way down the mountain to El Campo (former internment camp) to high school. I remember blizzards and ice storms in winter, 10 cent movies, Thanksgiving in the Mess, being scared to death during air raids and black-outs, and the Lodge where I won a beautiful bride doll in a raffle! I can still hear the wind in the trees, smell the fresh scent of pine in the air, and feel the pride of being part of something very special that helped Americans sleep safely while those men and women were on duty. Pine Valley and Mt Laguna will always be in my blood and forever in my heart!! I am crying now thinking of it’s fate. At least it will be returned to Mother Nature!
Found this site upon googling GKA-5. I went to school for that equipment at Fallon NAS in Nevada in maybe 1963, while I was stationed at Angels Peak AFS outside of Vegas. Was stationed at Mt. Laguna for 18 months ending Oct. 65, when I finished up my enlistment. Many fond memories of Mt. Laguna and the nearby communities.
SO INTERESTING TO SEE THE SITE….I WAS STATIONED AT MT LAGUNA FROM AUG 1957 TO 0CT 1959…. I LIVED IS THE ENLISTED BARRACKS UNTIL GETTING MARRIED… THEN TRAVELED FROM EL CAJON IN A CAR POOL…. I WORKED IN COMMUNICATIONS AT THE TRANSMITTER BLDG AT THE NORTH EDGE OF THE OPERATIONS COMPOUND… I ALSO SPENT SOME TIME WORKING IN THE MOTOR POOL, AND ADMINISTRATION BLDG.
70 MPH WINDS WERE NOT UNCOMMON, ALONG WITH HEAVY SNOW IN THE WINTERS…. SORRY I CAN’T REMEMBER ANY NAMES OF THE C.O. OR OTHERS…. THERE ARE A LOT OF MEMORIES FROM THERE,,,,SOME GOOD..i did receive two promotions while stationed there..
juch66@yahoo.com
charles h holmes
I was at stationed at Mt Laguna from May 1969 to Feb 1971 when I was discharged and went on to college. I worked in the height finding radar building on the East side of the mountain closest to the edge. Looking out the doors on the main floor you had a birds eye view of the desert. My parents lived in La Mesa so the first day I checked in I was told the barracks were full and they paid me to live at home, Wow who could ask for better accomodations. I rode the bus up the mountain from El Cajon. I remember working 3 days straight during the Mt Laguna fire in 1970 while some of the military members helped fight the fire. I remember the wind blowing over one of the guys cars parked on the west side of the buildings at the top and the snow blowing at midnight. I have many good memorys and it is a disappointment that all this will be gone. Anyway I have my memories.
Power Pro – 1977-1981, then 6 mos civil service. We decomissioned the prime power plant and worked several more months to “button up” the site. Such a shame the AF would not sell the property to the Forest Service.. to let it go to ruins was such a waste.