Adak Residents Bring Life to Ghost Town
Tuesday, September 11 2012
(Alexandra Gutierrez/KUCB)
Until the late Nineties, Adak was a bustling military base. It had a bowling alley, a movie theatre, and housing for thousands. Now, with the Navy gone, the Aleutian community sits mostly empty. There’s a chance Arctic drilling could turn this ghost town into a boom town, but right now, the place still feels like a collection of modern ruins.
KUCB’s Alexandra Gutierrez traveled to Adak to find out what it’s like to live among them.
Marvin on Friday, November 23 2012:
I was stationed there for a year in 1985. It was a bustling hub at that time. I think everyone hates it when you first get there, but over time in kinda grows on you. While not having the privileged of being stationed there for 3 years like most of the military, I ended up making the best of it and on the day I flew off the island for the last time, I felt a pang of sadness. Years later while flying to Japan, I had a lay over in Anchorage and just for a few moments, while looking at the mountains above the city, I felt that I was back there. Pleasant memories.
Larry on Wednesday, September 12 2012:
Great story, Alexandra. Look forward to more from you. For folks who want to know more about Adak, check out https://www.facebook.com/groups/185451948180467/.
It has lots of reminiscences and photos from people who lived there.
It's perhaps fitting that a military base that was once top secret is still so little-known.