Camp Abbot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camp Abbot |
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| Deschutes County, Oregon, near Bend | |
World War II combat engineer training center
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| Coordinates | 43°52′23″N 121°26′42″W / 43.873°N 121.445°W |
| Type | Military cantonments |
| Site information | |
| Owner | U.S. Forest Service - public; Sunriver Resort Limited Partnership - private |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| Built by | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | March 1943 - June 1944 |
| Demolished | ca. 1945 |
Abbott
Camp Abbot was a special training center for soldiers in central Oregon, United States. It was built during World War II to teach combat engineers important skills. These engineers learned how to build and destroy things like bridges. The camp was named after Henry Larcom Abbot, an explorer who surveyed the area long ago.
The camp was active for less than sixteen months. Today, much of the old camp is now a popular resort called Sunriver Resort. The rest of the land is part of the Deschutes National Forest. The only original building left is the officers' mess hall, now known as the Great Hall at the resort. It is used for large meetings and events.
Contents
Camp Abbot's History
Early Exploration of the Area
In 1855, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a survey team to central Oregon. Their job was to find a good route for a railroad from California to the Columbia River. This team was led by two lieutenants, Robert S. Williamson and Henry Larcom Abbot.
The survey team included scientists and engineers. They also had a military escort of 100 soldiers. These soldiers were led by Lieutenants George Crook and Philip Sheridan.
While in Oregon, Lieutenant Williamson became ill and had to return to California. This left Lieutenant Abbot in charge of the expedition. On September 4, 1855, Abbot and his team camped near the future site of Camp Abbot. He finished surveying central Oregon and then returned to California. In 1857, the Army published Abbot's detailed report about his explorations.
World War II Training Center
During World War II, the Army needed to train many more combat engineers quickly. On December 4, 1942, the War Department decided to build a training center in central Oregon. It covered about 5,500 acres (22 km²). The camp was named Camp Abbot to honor Henry Larcom Abbot.
The first soldiers arrived at Camp Abbot in March 1943. The camp was officially dedicated on September 2, 1943. At that time, it was one of only three combat engineer training centers in the country. The others were Fort Belvoir in Virginia and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
About 10,000 soldiers were trained in each 17-week program. The training had three main parts:
- The first part focused on basic combat skills. This included rifle marksmanship and using hand grenades. Soldiers also learned about anti-tank mines and other combat engineering tasks.
- The second part was demolition training. Trainees learned how to build and destroy bridges and other structures.
- The final part was three weeks of field exercises. These were carried out to feel like real combat conditions.
Over 90,000 combat engineers were trained at Camp Abbot. The training center closed in June 1944, soon after the D-Day landings in Europe. Most of the camp buildings were torn down after it closed.
After the War
Sunriver Resort Development
After World War II, some of the camp's land was given back to the United States Forest Service. However, about 3,800 acres (15 km²) were sold as private land. This property was sold several times until John Grey bought it in 1965. Grey started developing the Sunriver Resort, selling the first home lots in 1968.
Today, Sunriver is a fancy resort. It has a 250-room lodge, three golf courses, and six restaurants. There is also a small airport. About 4,000 homes are on the land next to the resort. There is also a shopping area for the community. Alpine skiing is available nearby at Mount Bachelor ski area.
Remaining Structures
Only one original building from Camp Abbot still stands today. This is the officers' mess hall. It was built in 1943 by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is still in its original spot and is now called the Great Hall at Sunriver Resort. It is used for big conferences, banquets, and weddings.
The historic Great Hall is a large log building. It measures 50 by 96 feet (15 by 29 m). It was built using local stone and logs cut nearby. It has a high ceiling with visible beams and a large stone fireplace. There is also a balcony overlooking the main floor. In 1993, Sunriver Resort updated the Great Hall. It is now a modern building with a unique look.
Another Camp Abbot structure that lasted for a while was the General Patch Bridge. Army engineers built it in 1943 during the Oregon Maneuver. The Oregon Maneuver was the largest military exercise ever held in the Pacific Northwest. It was named after General Alexander M. Patch. Over 100,000 soldiers took part, many of them combat engineers from Camp Abbot. Camp Abbot was used as the exercise headquarters.
The General Patch Bridge was located on Deschutes National Forest land, within the old Camp Abbot area. The Forest Service tore it down in 2008 because it was no longer safe.
