Location: University of California at San Diego, private land: Genessee Ave to N. Torrey Pines Rd. (foundations to the south). The old main entrance is at the Torrey Pines Inn off of Torrey Pines Rd.

Camp Callan was built in November of 1940 as a Coast Artillery Corps replacement training center for new inductees. Open for business in January of 1941, it was named for Maj. Gen. Robert Callan (1874-1936), a veteran of the Spanish American War and World War I. By 1942, the post had over 297 buildings, covered 23 blocks, had 5 post exchanges, 3 theaters and 5 chapels. About 15,000 men went through a 13 week training cycle with a strong emphasis on modern coast artillery and anti-aircraft defense weapons. The Anti-Aircraft training program was moved to Ft. Bliss, Texas, in 1944 and Camp Callan was declared surplus in November 1945. Most of the buildings were purchased by the city of San Diego and sold for salvage. Today, the site contains a variety of developments including: the Torrey Pines golf course, several private businesses and research facilities, a glider port and a section of the University of California at San Diego. A few foundations remain in the area to the north of the University of California Campus.

Acquisition, Improvement and Disposal

The property was authorized for acquisition on 9 October 1940 as follows: 710 acres by lease from the City of San Diego , 0.90 acres by lease form the City of San Diego, 120.08 acres by lease from Margaret C. Hawkins, 72.12 acres by lease from F.T. Scripps, Inc., 367.00 acres by revocable permit from the City of San Diego and 12.85 acres by license from the City of San Diego. Total acreage acquired for the site was 1282.95 acres.

The site was used as an anti aircraft replacement training center. Improvements included barracks, a 910 bed station hospital, offices, storage, shops, support buildings, a landfill, small arms training ranges and artillery gun positions. No evidence of buildings or other improvements, with the exception of the landfill, were noted during the site visit.

The site was declared surplus on 1 November 1945 and disposed of as follows: 710 lease acres and 0.90 lease acres were cancelled 25 March 1946, 120.08 lease acres were
cancelled 9 August 1946, 72.12 lease acres were cancelled 30 June 1946, 376 permit acres were cancelled 13 December 1945, and 12.85 license acres were cancelled 25 March 1946.

The land under permit was released in lieu of restoration clause. Note: The landfill is not on the permit land. The site is currently owned by several hundred parties. Most of the
property is developed residentially and commercially. A park and golf course are located in the northern portion and the University of California, San Diego.

John Engels (3 from the right) and a group after extra duty due to dirty rifles - Camp Callan July, 1943

Back to Events/Documents