Recreation Opportunitiesįort Carson is a very large post and provides many opportunities for recreation and leisure activities. As American involvement in Vietnam increased, the population of Fort Carson continued to grow. An aviation facility, Butts Army Airfield, was finished in 1966, giving Fort Carson the ability to train Army aircraft as well. Mechanized units began making their way to Fort Carson in the early 1960s’, and the area of the base was expanded to accommodate training space for these new units.

In 1954 the camp’s name was changed to Fort Carson, marking its spot as a permanent Army fixture. The start of the Korean War marked and massive increase in camps population, starting in 1950. The normal route was high in the mountains near Leadville, over Ute Pass and into Camp Hale where further training would continue.Īt the end of World War II, the permanent personnel at Camp Carson dwindled to less than 600. From 1942 to 1956 the mule teams trained for winter warfare in the nearby mountains and practice transporting heavy and awkward equipment through narrow mountain passes. Axis prisoners of war performed logging work in the area and helped out with farming and processing of local crops like corn and tomatoes.Ĭamp Carson was a regular training area for the pack mule teams used in early field artillery units. The camp housed nearly 9,000 Italian and German prisoners of war for several years. An internment center was operated at the camp, starting in 1943. Armor battalions, a Greek infantry company, Italian Ordinance troops, mule packers and cooks all trained at the mountain post. As US involvement in World War deepened, Camp Carson became a hotbed of activity. The name Camp Carson was taken in honor of US Army frontier scout General Christopher “Kit” Carson. Construction was undertaken at a feverish pace, and in less than two months the headquarters building was completed. HistoryĬamp Carson was established soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

After Fort Lewis in Washington State, Fort Carson is second most requested duty station in the United States Army. The base and its support staff make up a large portion of the Colorado Springs population as well, and have helped shape the face of the city. The sprawling Army base is one of the major landmarks is the second most populous area of Colorado.

Fort Carson is located in El Paso Country, Colorado Springs.

Fort carson housing map