If you’re fascinated by abandoned places in Louisiana, then this is the hike for you! Tucked away in the wetlands of Belle Chasse, the Woodlands Conservancy is a beautiful area with plenty of hiking trails to explore, as well as educational programs and special events dedicated to educating and conserving these lands for future generations to explore. There’s one particular trail that leads to a unique area with several WWII relics, a reminder of when the area was used by the military.
There are a few different trails here, but if you’re looking for the grouping of WWII ammunition magazines, you’ll want to take the Bottomland Trail.
Hang Van/Google
The trail is actually a set of parallel trails, one for pedestrians and one for equestrians, so feel free to bring your gentle giant along for an outing.
Karen Daray/All Trails
Along the way, you’ll have beautiful views of the surrounding wetlands, and you might even spot some wildlife.
Paul Striedl/All Trails
At the end of the trail, you’ll come to a strange sight you don’t see every day: 10 World War II ammunition magazines.
User User/All Trails
From 1939-1956, the Navy used the area as the Marine Base Naval Ammunition Depot.
Hang Van/Google
These magazines were used to store black powder for battleships.
Katie Davisdon/Google Ammunition would come to the area by rail and be stored until needed. The site was actually used again during the Korean War before being decommissioned and placed back in the possession of the state.
Today, the magazines sit abandoned, empty, and slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.
Sally Masica/All Trails You’re welcome to step inside and take a look around. They’re empty, but you may want to do a quick critter check beforehand - you never know what wildlife might have wandered in!
Hang Van/Google
Karen Daray/All Trails
Paul Striedl/All Trails
User User/All Trails
Katie Davisdon/Google
Ammunition would come to the area by rail and be stored until needed. The site was actually used again during the Korean War before being decommissioned and placed back in the possession of the state.
Sally Masica/All Trails
You’re welcome to step inside and take a look around. They’re empty, but you may want to do a quick critter check beforehand - you never know what wildlife might have wandered in!
Check out the Woodlands Conservancy website for a trail map and more information. If you’re interested in more abandoned places in Louisiana, there’s always the infamous Six Flags New Orleans, but if you’re in central Louisiana, check out the Kisatchie High School.
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Address: Woodlands Conservancy’s Woodlands Trail, 449 F Edward Hebert Blvd, Belle Chasse, LA 70037, USA
