Roesch Photography: Abandonment: George Air Force Base Housing

George Air Force Base, which sat just northwest of Victorville, California, was first commissioned in 1941 as a flight training field for World War II pilots. While many different aircraft were assigned to the base over the years, George was best known for the F-4's that were stationed there from 1965 until 1992.

My experiences at George Air Force Base were as a child. My dad was in the Navy, so we had access to the base, even though he was never stationed there. My sister was born at the hospital on George when I was five-years-old, but I don't really remember that. When I was 12, I got a pretty bad sunburn while at Big Bear, and so I had my own visit to the base hospital. There were also times that we shopped at the BX or the Commissary.

As part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission following the Cold War, George Air Force Base was decommissioned in 1992. While some parts of the old base remain abandoned, much of it became the Southern California Logistics Airport.

The old base housing sits completely abandoned and in ruins. There are two schools, a church, a golf course, and a park from the old base that are still open and used, so there is easy access to the abandoned housing.

Signs warn you to keep out, but my experience with the security patrol is that they don't really care if you are there as long as you're not being destructive or doing something dangerous. However, be aware that a trip to the old housing does involve trespassing. Also be aware that entering the buildings are at your own risk and that there are certainly some risks. Should you ever visit, use lots of caution and be very careful.

It was easy to imagine how life was when the base was open. There would have been kids playing in the streets and yards, moms cooking in the kitchens, dads parking their cars in the driveways, families gathering in the living rooms. There were real people with real hopes and dreams that called this place home. There was life and energy.

Now there are only apocalyptic-like dilapidated structures and fading memories. The streets are still. The houses are quiet. There is no activity.