Camp Hulen, Military training camp in Palacios, Texas, US.
Camp Hulen was a military training facility sprawling across 1,460 acres beside Turtle and Tres Palacios bays with concrete tent floors and 400 permanent structures. The installation could house up to 14,560 troops and included headquarters, officer housing, training grounds, and support facilities.
The facility was established in 1925 as a Texas National Guard training camp and expanded into an anti-aircraft training center during World War II. Military operations ceased after 1946, marking the end of its role as an active base.
The Camp Hulen Searchlight newspaper documented daily activities and connected military personnel through regular publications starting February 1941.
The site sits in a flat, coastal area with water access and open training grounds, making it exposed to weather conditions and wind from the nearby bays. Much of the original layout has been altered or removed since military operations ended, so expect scattered remnants rather than intact structures.
Between 1943 and 1945, the camp held German prisoners of war who lived and worked on the grounds alongside the military operations. The entire site was transformed into a commercial airport in 1965, completely erasing its military purpose.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
