Welcome back to the PA abandoned places bucket list! This week, we will be talking about the Bunkers of Alvira located in Allenwood, PA.

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the federal government seized the land that previously housed the Village of Alvira, displacing its residents and destroying all the buildings, to construct the Susquehanna Ordnance Depot.

Approximately 150 bunkers were built, all designed to store military weapons, such as explosives, for use in World War II.

As the war progressed, it was soon realized that the government had overestimated the amount of TNT that would be required for battle. The bunkers were quickly emptied of the munitions they previously held, and the land was given back to the State of Pennsylvania (mgstyer).

Now, the area that was once a storage space for military weapons has been designated as state game lands. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that visitors of the bunkers wear bright orange.

If you decide to travel to Alvira, you will be able to see many of the bunkers, though a large portion of them have been welded shut. However, there are still a few that remain open.

Explorers of the open bunkers will find themselves in a large, circular concrete room with an incredible echo. Additionally, there are likely to be small collections of miscellaneous items from when the bunkers were operational.

Those who do decide to investigate the bunkers that have not been closed off are also warned to proceed with caution, as a variety of wild animals could have chosen to check out the bunker as well.

While they are certainly the main feature of this abandoned location, the bunkers are not the only interesting aspect of Alvira.

Just over a mile down the road, visitors can also explore the cemetery that belonged to the razed village. While some of the tombstones have fallen over or damaged by the elements, the graveyard is still actively maintained (Cheney).

History buffs and abandoned places explorers alike will find the Bunkers of Alvira to be an interesting location. I have had my eye on this spot for a while now, and I am so excited to finally be able to explore it this spring when the weather is a bit warmer!

Works Cited

Cheney, Jim. “Exploring the Abandoned Alvira Bunkers from World War 2.” Uncovering PA, 18 Sept. 2020, uncoveringpa.com/alvira-bunkers.

mgstyer. “Bunkers of Alvira.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 20 Sept. 2013, www.atlasobscura.com/places/bunkers-of-alvira.