214. Smith's Blue Butterfly
If you happen to spot a butterfly that has blue wings and is about the size of a quarter, you’d be lucky—it might have been a Smith’s blue butterfly!These butterflies are uniquely adapted to the coastal dunes of central California. They have been federally endangered since 1976 due to habitat loss and coastal development.Smith’s blue butterflies will only eat, mate, and lay eggs on coast and seacliff buckwheat—they cannot survive without these plants. Buckwheat needs open space to grow, but they are crowded out by ice plant and other non-native plants.The butterfly larvae eat buckwheat flowers and produce sugary food for nearby ants. In return, the ants protect the larvae from predatory insects. After a few weeks, they form cocoons and spend nearly 1 year developing into butterflies.Seen from above, males have blue wings, while females are brown with an orange bar at the bottom of their lower wings. They emerge between June and September and have 1 week to find a mate before they die; but they only fly during the day when the weather is warm and not too windy.California State Parks is working to restore the dunes with buckwheat corridors to support the Smith’s blue butterfly population.
215. Invasive Iceplant
Take a look around you. Have you noticed the patches of red-green plants that cover the dunes? If you look closely, these plants have thick, three-sided leaves, and their flowers are pink, yellow, or magenta.This plant is called iceplant, and it occurs naturally in South Africa. Iceplant is an introduced invasive species that can be found along California’s coast and highways.Iceplant was brought to California to stabilize soil. It was first planted along railroads in the early 1900s, and later used near highways until the 1970s. The U.S. Army planted it in Fort Ord to control erosion and drifting sands in the dunes.Iceplant thrives in California and causes problems for native plants and animals. Iceplant outcompetes native plants by hoarding water and nutrients and forming new roots as it spreads. It can quickly invade large, open areas on the dunes.Western snowy plovers are a threatened bird species that need open space to nest. Native plants such as sand gilia, Monterey spineflower, and buckwheat also need open space to grow. The endangered Smith’s blue butterfly needs buckwheat in particular to survive.You can help limit the iceplant invasion by becoming a State parks volunteer or participating in local planting events to remove non-native plants and replace them with native species.
201. Welcome to Fort Ord Dunes State Park
Fort Ord Dunes State Park opened to the public on March 3rd, 2009, a transformation from a former US Army base, Fort Ord, to a California State Park. Visitors now have four miles of beach and 979 acres of coastal dunes to enjoy by participating in sunbathing, beach walks, coastal trail hiking, bike riding, or simply enjoying the spectacular views.The story of how Fort Ord became a California State Park is an interesting one. In 1991, when the Pentagon decided to close the Fort Ord Army base, California State Parks submitted an application on behalf of the people of California to acquire this coastal land. The application for the property acquisition was approved in 1994.Before State Parks could open up this new park, many things needed to happen. The Army had to remove 162,800 cubic yards of lead contaminated soil due to ammunitions residue from the 15 former firing ranges located within the new park boundaries. 75 small buildings, also associated with the former firing ranges, were demolished. Lastly, a General Plan was approved for Fort Ord Dunes State Park in 2004.The property was transferred from the U.S. Army to the National Park Service in 2006, followed by California State Parks assuming operational control and responsibility for the land.Much of the work to create the new Fort Ord Dunes State Park was completed due to the persistent vision of former California State Parks, Monterey District Services Manager, Ken Gray, who worked for 18 years to turn that vision into reality.While you are at the park, we ask that you follow park rules and regulations to ensure the park is enjoyed by all visitors:Your safety is very important, and if you choose to visit the beach, remember to respect the power of the ocean and never turn your back on the waves.The ocean view cliffs of Fort Ord State Park are very unstable – we ask that visitors stay away from the cliff edges and not climb up the cliffs from the beach.Dogs on leash are allowed on park, bike, and walking trails; but they are not allowed on the beach.Please “Pack it Out”– remember to throw away your litter in provided trash cans in the parking lot.We hope you enjoy your visit to Fort Ord Dunes State Park!The mobile phone audio tour will help you learn more about Fort Ord's past and its future. To continue the Mobile phone tour, please enter the next stop number.
202. Stilwell Hall
Hello, my name is Ian McCall. I am a Boy Scout with Troop 43 working with California State parks. As my Eagle Scout Project, I talked to several veterans about Stillwell Hall and recorded my conversation. The veterans you will hear are named Frank Burns, Halsey Taylor, Richard Kloss, Joanie Henteges, Sid Williams, and Edward Knaff.For the first four weeks, we were restricted to the base. We could not go off the base, like to go into Seaside or Salinas or Monterey or anything like that. We couldn’t do that, we had to stay there. So we spent a lot of time at Stillwells place.That was an absolutely beautiful, gorgeous building.The first time I went to Stillwell Hall, the only time I actually even saw it was to guard it. I was stationed for guard duty at night, at the back of Stillwell Hall looking over the ocean. Which was nice because now drill sergeants were yelling at you. Stillwell Hall they actually just turned into a community center for the entire base and it had these beautiful hardwood floors. I can remember my daughter was in the Seaside High School band and they did concerts in there at Stillwell Hall. That went way back, I mean they used to serve,the USOs,serve the troops before they headed off to World War II there. And there was a lot of history involved in that building. They had a skating rink. They made the main ballroom into a skating rink and they would take the families and the kids there weekends and rollerskating.During the weekends we would go to the Stillmans. They had USO over there. That was the Service Organization brought in. Bob Hope was there one time, he was a performer for the military and a movie star and a performer. And they would bring in people to sing, dance. And I also remember the bar area. It had a beautifully carved bar which was huge. With a large mural behind it.
204. Superfund Cleanup
When State Parks acquired Fort Ord in 1994 there were remnants of 15 firing ranges, 12 ammunition bunkers, and over 100 abandoned buildings on the property. To clean the firing ranges the army had to remove and recycle over 700,000 pounds of spent ammunition and then truck the lead contaminated soil to an offsite landfill. This cleanup was part of the army’s superfund cleanup for Fort Ord.State Parks also conducted a survey of the buildings and prioritized them for preservation or demolition. The few remaining buildings are important because they help tell the story of this place as a military base and use of the site for firing ranges.Please wait for the system prompt before entering the next stop number.
203. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects over 6,000 square miles of ocean habitat, an area that is larger than Yosemite National Park.Take a closer look at the “Protecting a Priceless Ocean Treasure” sign before you. Place your finger at the mouth, offshore of Moss Landing, and follow one of the crevices till you reach the bottom. In some areas, like the one you just traced with your finger, the ocean reaches depths of up to 2 miles! Hence the name, Submarine canyon. Under the surface, beyond the beach, lies one of the world’s richest ocean ecosystems. As you look out at the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, you might be lucky and see migrating whales swim by. If you are interested in spotting sea otters, the best place to view these popular marine mammals is Moss Landing State Beach, North of Fort Ord Dunes State Parks. Large groups of otters, also known as rafts, with as many as 50 otters are often seen swimming and diving near the mouth of the Moss Landing Harbor. To continue the mobile phone tour, please enter the next stop number.
206. Black Legless Lizard
Hi! I am Amy Palkovic, an Environmental Scientist for State Parks.Do you know what creature looks like a pencil-sized snake and will rarely be seen above ground? The answer is a California legless lizard. The legless lizard looks like a snake, but it has moveable eyelids, unlike snakes, which have no eyelidsThese lizards range in color from silvery gray to brown or black on their backside, while their throat and belly are typically yellow. In young lizards, the belly might be a pale pink. Once classified as a separate subspecies, the black legless lizard is now considered to be a dark form of the California legless lizard.They spend most of their lives below the surface of the sand and only occasionally venture above ground.They eat larval insects, small adult insects, and spiders. They are eaten by snakes, birds, small mammals, and domestic cats.Instead of laying eggs like most lizards, they bear 1 to 4 live young, which are usually born between September and November.Even though you probably will not see a legless lizard, FortOrdDunesState Park provides valuable habitat for this species. They are just one of the unique animals that live here.
207. Snowy Plovers
The Western snowy plovers at Fort Ord Dunes State Beach make their nests on the sandy beach and are threatened by human disturbance, predation and habitat loss. Disturbances from dogs, humans and other sources frighten the birds from their nests; leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable to predators and the harsh elements of the ocean environment. Native predators such as the crows, ravens, skunks, coyotes and exotic predators such as the red fox can kill the chickens in unattended nests. Dogs off leash chase and may catch birds and chicks and cause harm to nests with eggs. Even leashed dogs look like predators to a snowy plover so dogs are not allowed on the beach at Fort Ord Dunes State Park. Why should you care about the snowy plover? These birds once numbered in the thousand but now there are less than 1500 breeding snowy plovers. Snowy plovers are listed as a threatened species and are protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act. Beach visitors who harm or disturb Snowy plovers, their nests, or their habitat may be cited and fined. California State Parks is doing a wide variety of things to help this bird survive. Plovers are monitored to determine the number of birds using park lands and to measure the success of their breeding attempts. During nesting season, portions of the beach habitat are closed to visitors to discourage the abandonment of nests. When predators pose a problem to nesting areas, control programs are initiated. Plovers need our help to survive. Please wait for the system prompt before entering the next stop number.
208. Beach Safety
Hi! My name is Eric Abma and I am a lifeguard for California State Parks. I want you to be safe on your visit to Fort Ord Dune State Park. We have many safety issues here from the crumbling cliffs, to large surf, frigid water, and strong rip currents.First of all I want to stress that swimming is not recommended at Fort Ord Beach. The surf and rip currents are so powerful that; when Fort Ord was an active military base its soldiers were forbidden from going into these treacherous waters.What is a Rip current you ask? Rip currents are river like channels of water returning to the ocean, and are formed by the water that is brought to the beach by breaking waves. Rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea.If you are caught in a rip current; first of all try and remain calm, then swim parallel to the beach to get out of the current, then back to shore. If you cannot escape; signal for assistance by calling or waving for help, then conserve your energy by floating or treading water. State Park lifeguards will come and rescue you and are trained for these types of water emergencies.
209. Future Plans for the Park
We have exciting plans for this park moving forward. In the near future, we plan to have a campground featuring tent, RV, and bike sites. There will also be a new multipurpose building for education programs and rentable event space. Future campers will be able to enjoy a campfire center and attend programs to learn about the unique natural and cultural history of the park.
210. Bunkers
Hello! My name is Kris Quist and I am a State Park Museum Curator for the Monterey District. I want to share some information about these 12 bunkers that are before you.The ammunition storage magazines (more commonly referred to as ammo bunkers) were built during the creation of the rifle ranges in the vast build up of Fort Ord during World War II.Several range operation activities were also housed at the Ammunition Storage area, including the repair of targets and lane markers. There were also several offices in the area and the guard tower which is still standing.The ammo bunkers contain a variety of ammunitions, including bullets and high explosive shells. There were two types of ammo bunkers; 8 of which measured 26 x 60 feet; and the other 4, 26 x 40 feet.They are all constructed of reinforced concrete; a heavy metal door on the front provides the only access, and each bunker was equipped with electrical power. Various additions were made to the area over the years, including a series of steel buildings in the mid-1980s, with protective earthen berms constructed around them.
211. Firing Range and Target
Hello! I am Matt Bischoff, Historian for California State Parks. When Fort Ord was an active base, this area was used as firing ranges for small arms. When State Parks took over, many of the structures that had previously been here were removed. A few were left as reminders of the military use.Hundreds of thousands of infantry soldiers trained here at Fort Ord, from World War II to the Persian Gulf. Perhaps the most important part of any soldier’s training was in the use and care of his or her rifle. To “qualify” in the use of their weapons, soldiers trained in marksmanship on ranges such as the one that existed in the area before you.The ranges at Fort Ord, including the beach ranges, were extremely well organized, orderly, and well kept. They were a source of pride for the soldiers who trained here as well as those who trained them.One soldier who went through basic training at Fort Ord in 1954 described it in this way:“…one of the many things that impressed me about FortOrd was the professionalism with which the cadre went about their business. They were dedicated to teaching us what we needed to learn in order to cut it as an infantryman, should we later be assigned to an infantry outfit… FortOrd, in a word, had class.” [Bertram L. Brent, who went through basic training at FortOrd in 1954]Safety was the top priority for the officers and non-commissioned officers who ran the ranges. This was constantly drilled into the soldiers so that it would become second nature. Red flags flying from flag poles at the head of each range indicated that that range was in use.Stationed in a tower like the one you see before you, was the Officer of the Day—generally a Lieutenant or Captain in rank. From this vantage point overlooking the range, the officer supervised the operation of the range.
205. Range 8
Hello! I am Matt Bischoff, Historian for California State Parks, and I’d like to tell you a little bit about the officers who were responsible for these ranges.Range 8 contained several firing positions, established at set distances from 100 to 500 yards from the targets. This was one of the firing positions. Range towers were built along the length of the range, stationed at each firing positionUpon reaching the ranges, a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), generally a Platoon Sergeant, would inspect each weapon and issue a clip of ammunition. Soldiers were arrayed on the firing line, approximately 5 yards apart, with each soldier firing at a particular target. Each position and firing lane had a number, which was marked with wood stakes. Soldiers fired from four positions: free-standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone.Once everyone was in position, their rifles loaded, another NCO would climb up in a range tower and shout:“Ready on the Left?”An officer on the left of the firing line would respond:“Ready on the Left.”This would be followed by:“Ready on the Right? Ready on the Firing Line?”And finally:“Commence Firing!”After all clips had been fired each rifle would be inspected to ensure no live ammunition remained. All brass casings were collected and turned in at the completion of time on the range.
212. Firing Range, Mid-range
Hello! I am Matt Bischoff, Historian for California State Parks, and I’d like to tell you a little bit about the officers who were responsible for these ranges.Range 8 contained several firing positions, established at set distances from 100 to 500 yards from the targets. This was one of the firing positions. Range towers were built along the length of the range, stationed at each firing positionUpon reaching the ranges, a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), generally a Platoon Sergeant would inspect each weapon and issue a clip of ammunition. Soldiers were arrayed on the firing line, approximately 5 yards apart, with each soldier firing at a particular target. Each position and firing lane had a number, which was marked with wood stakes. Soldiers fired from four positions: free-standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone.Once everyone was in position, their rifles loaded, another NCO would climb up in a range tower and shout:“Ready on the Left?”An officer on the left of the firing line would respond:“Ready on the Left.”This would be followed by:“Ready on the Right? Ready on the Firing Line?”And finally:“Commence Firing!”After all clips had been fired each rifle would be inspected to ensure no live ammunition remained. All brass casings were collected and turned in at the completion of time on the range.
213. Target Building
Hello! I am Matt Bischoff, Historian for California State Parks, and I want to make sure that we protect the buildings that represent the important military history that took place here at Fort Ord.In this area, soldiers pulled and marked targets. Once firing was complete, targets would be pulled down and marked with a spotting disc, then hoisted up again. If the shooter missed the target completely, a large tattered white cloth would be raised, known as Maggie’s Drawers, this resulted in certain ridicule for the soldier on the firing line.The concrete wall you see before you formerly extended across the width of the entire range, several hundred feet to the north of where it ends now. Soldiers would be arrayed all along this wall, pulling targets.According to one soldier who trained here in the 1950s:“Pulling targets was the only good job on the beach ranges as we were in the pits below the ground level and out of the wind… the weather on the beach ranges was particularly disagreeable in the damp early morning fog and late afternoons when a cold breeze off the ocean blew directly in our faces, whirling up sand, burning eyes and fouling rifles.”Targets were housed in large warehouses in the range area, and then transported to smaller range buildings such as this one. Targets were generally canvas set in a wood frame. Each soldier had to rotate through various positions while on the range, including “pulling targets.” Generally, there were between 30-40 soldiers on each range at one time, constantly cycling through until the unit completed its time on the range.
