Posted on 02/20/2020 11:09:13 AM PST by nickcarraway
The Central Coast is getting a new beachfront campground.
California State Parks has been trying to build campsites at Fort Ord Dunes State Park for more than a decade and the project is finally moving forward.
Advertisement "This spring we are really excited to announce that we are going out to bid," said State Parks Monterey District Superintendent Brent Marshall.
State Parks has received all of the necessary permits and Marshall said construction on the $25 million project could start as soon as this fall.
The campground will be nestled between the dunes and out of the view of Highway 1, giving campers access to four miles of pristine coastline and some of the best preserved dune habitat in the State of California.
The plan fills a void on the Monterey Bay. The closest oceanfront camping in Monterey County is located in Big Sur and is in high demand.
"The public is very excited and this attract everybody," said Marshall.
The park encompasses almost 900 acres of the former Fort Ord and a 130 acre parcel has been earmarked for the campground with development happening on 17 of those acres.
"There is going to be almost a hundred campsites, broken into developed camping RVs and those types of things, tent camping and also hike and bike-in camping," said Marshall.
In addition to 98 campsites the plan also calls for a campfire center for educational talks and a beach access walkway with ramps down to the ocean.
Nightly rates haven't been set but neighboring state parks charge as little as $35 a night for camping.
"We know it will be some of the most affordable overnight lodging in Monterey County," said Marshall.
It was always cold and foggy when I was in Monterey. I was at DLIWC on the other side of the bay.
Camping in CA public state parks was not really pleasant even 20 years ago. Noisy carousing, loud music, drinking beer and dropping trash, late into the night, dare I say it, (probably half illegal) Mestizos. Sorry, I go camping to get away from people and all those annoyances.
Monterey is an amazing place - glad to hear there will be a new place to bring my trailer.
Will there be a permanent homeless camp too?
Maybe a place being setup to house homeless from SF/LA?
New California Homeless Tent City?
I used to volunteer for ammo dump guard duty just to watch the moon over the bay and the waves coming in. All while keeping this country safe! Damn shame closing down the base. I’m surprised that it took this long to “redevelop” it.
Except the areas that are off limits for unexplored ordnance.
I camped with our kids about 25 years ago at Lake Del Valle. You described the experience exactly. Surrounded by parties, noise, “music,” drunks until WAY past lights-out at 10 pm. We never went back.
Our Bay Area town’s parks are always overrun with Mexicans and their loud parties, too.
Move all the urban tent dwellers there, where there’s sand to cover up their droppings.
Basic Training H-1-3 summer 1969.
Ran in formation to the ranges there every day though the tunnel under the freeway.
Wondering if the property might have been owned by Di Fi’s or P’lousy’s husband after it went up for sale.
Hi.
I wonder if Ft. Story still exist?
Great beach for VA.
5.56mm
she had a place out at Pajaro Dunes back in the 70s; don’t know if she still owns it.
Ft. Ord was 7th Infantry. There wasn’t much artillery around. For that they went south to Hunter-Liggett or up to Yakima Firing Center for Braveshield. That was my experience in the late ‘70’s.
I was there 89-90 before I ETS’d. Nice duty station even though I spent half the time in Panama.
It was used for artillery practice in the mid 1920s when it was called "Gigling Reservation," the predecessor of Fort Ord.
See 76TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, 2ND BATTALION at the Presidio of Monterey.
Other artillery practice in WW II and after included 81 mm mortars, 105 mm howitzer projectiles, and self-propelled 8 inch artillery explosives.
Munitions removal will be complete by 2022. It’s a long process that begins with clearing vegetation then a survey team searches for unexploded ordinances. Through 2014, more than 50,000 shells had been collected. See Fort Ord 20 Years Later by Krista Almanzan, Sept 26, 2014.
Did my AIT there in 1970, 81mm mortar, 106 RR , great post, beautiful Beaches, loved Monterey, S/F, the weather. Best time I had in the military
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