Military

Naval Recreation Station
Solomons Island, Maryland

Solomons Navy Recreation Center (NRC) is only an hour and a half away, and yet a world away, from the Nation's Capital. The scenic vistas of the waterfront are a part of daily life here. Nestled on a peninsula bounded by the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay in an area aptly called "the land of pleasant living," the bay and its rivers seem to be everywhere, and their influence on local lifestyles, including leisure pursuits, is profound. The relaxing drive between Solomons, MD and Washington, DC sets the stage for a memorable recreation experience. The one and a half hour trip traverses picturesque rural areas via dual-lane highways, making it a location of choice for those seeking to escape from, or venture to, the metropolitan area.

The Naval Recreation Center Solomons is the largest outdoor recreation facility in the Navy. Operated by the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) department, NRC provides a wide array of lodging, including campgrounds, cottages, bungalows, cabins, and apartment rentals. Recreational facilities such as pavilions and indoor recreational facilities, a 124-slip marina with boat rentals, fishing pier, swimming pools, miniature golf, driving range, basketball and tennis courts - are just a few of the recreational amenities available.

First used by the U.S. Navy in 1941, the site has functioned as the Naval Ordnance Laboratory and Test Facility, Naval Mine Warfare Test Station, and Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory. Solomons Complex, operated by Naval District Washington, is located 65 miles southeast of Washington D.C., near the confluence of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. The 295-acre Naval Base serves as host to the Navy Recreation Center, Navy Family Housing, and two industrial tenants. In 1971, the Navy Recreation Center was established under the Naval District Washington.

The Solomons Island Complex, NAVSTA Washington is located 55 miles south of Annapolis in Calvert County Maryland. It is near the Patuxant Rivers entrance into the Chesapeake Bay. To the south and east of Point Patience, Navy Recreation Center (NCR) at Solomons has about 4,800 feet of shoreline, on which there is a small boat harbor, a marina, and other waterfront facilities. In 1944, the second cove of Solomon's Island Naval Base was simply an insignificant inlet off the Patuxent River. By 1949, three small piers had been constructed for recreational use. One on the west side of the cove and two standing on the east bank. By 1970, a marina had been built for recreational use of the Naval Base. It consisted of permanent docks as well as a system of floating piers. The floating piers were to the north end of the marina, furthest from the open river. It was decided that the floating docks were not desirable and, in 1970, they were to be replaced with a continuation of the permanent piers already in use. As another development in 1970, the inlet was dredged to increase its use to leisure boats.