The Abandoned Ammunition Plant In Texas Once Comprised 8,400 Acres During World War II

There are quite literally thousands of abandoned places in Texas. It's not surprising, and it makes sense; after all, Texas is enormous, with a long history filled with wonder, war, and plenty of mystery. Some of these abandoned places aren't a mystery at all, though - take, for example, the old Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant, which is every bit as fascinating as it sounds.

Highlighting the beautifully eerie work of Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo, discover more fascinating abandoned locations across America in our Vacant Series. These unique man-made structures have been left abandoned and are slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations. 

From 1942 until 1997, the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant was in service, crafting things like TNT, rockets, and other pyrotechnic-centric affairs.

It sprawled across an incredibly impressive 8,493 acres, with more than 400 buildings at its peak.

During World War II alone, this plant manufactured 393 million pounds of TNT.

During the 1950s, following the war, its focus shifted to solid-fuel rocket motors.

Thanks to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987, the plant would again shift its priorities, this time to destroying missile systems for the U.S. and the Soviets.

The first missile was destroyed in September 1988, symbolizing the end of the nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. In July 1989, the last missile would be destroyed.

The beginning of the end would kick off in 1990 when the EPA caught up to the plant.

Methylene chloride and trichloroethene had been found in the groundwater. Some of this water was flowing into Caddo Lake, contaminating everything in its wake. There were also high levels of lead and mercury in the water of surrounding streams.

Cleanup began in 1996, and to this day, it continues.

In 2000, the grounds transferred ownership to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the kind folks there created the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

As of the time of this writing, about 6,000 acres of the former ammunition plant's land has been deemed safe for visitors. In 2009, it officially opened to the public... with some interesting warnings.

These signs warn you of important considerations, like the fact that you might just stumble upon some random stray explosives in the woods.

The grounds are eerily quiet, and it's fascinating to see all the ways in which nature is taking the land back.

Where ammunitions were once manufactured, birds now build nests. Wildlife of many kinds takes shelter in the remains of the old buildings. It's quite possible that turning this area into a refuge was the best move they could have made.

Today, it's eerily beautiful, especially if you're like us: utterly intrigued by things long gone and places that were.

Have you heard of or even visited the Longhorn Ammunition Plant? Do you know of any other amazing abandoned places in Texas? Let us know in the comments!

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. For more images, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife. Discover even more spooky places in Vacant: Inside 13 Eerie and Fascinating Abandoned Locations Across America.