Exploring the Abandoned Alvira Bunkers in Union County

Inside one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers.

The abandoned Alvira bunkers are remnants of the American WWII war effort and reminders of what lengths the federal government will go to to seize private property for “the greater good”.

Brief History of Alvira

In the case of Alvira (originally founded as Wisetown in 1825), the federal government used the courts and eminent domain to force residents to accept buyouts of their homes, so that their entire town could be leveled and turned into a TNT manufacturing plant and storage facility known as the Pennsylvania Ordnance Works.

Sign at the site of Alvira and the abandoned munitions bunkers in Union County PA
Sign at the site of Alvira and the abandoned munitions bunkers in Union County

But just 11 months after the Pennsylvania Ordnance Works started manufacturing TNT, it was closed down due to a lack of need for the TNT being made and stored there.

And while the residents had been promised that they could buy back their land after the war, that promise was broken.

The federal government instead kept the land and gradually divvied it up, giving 4,000 acres to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to construct Allenwood Prison, and giving 3,000 acres to the state of Pennsylvania (including the land where the bunkers sit) which became State Game Lands 252.


The Alvira Bunkers Today

Today, the 149 dome-shaped concrete bunkers that once housed explosives for the US military are gradually being reclaimed by nature.

Partially hidden entrance to one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers in Union County.
Partially hidden entrance to one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers in Union County.

Designed to explode upwards in case of accidental detonation, and spaced far enough apart to prevent a chain-reaction spreading to other bunkers, these concrete igloos, nearly 80 years old now, have fared remarkably well on the inside.

View from the back of one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers.
View from the back of one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers.

The official PA Game Commission map of SGL 252 shows the location of all the bunkers – all that is required of modern explorers is to do the bushwhacking!

Locations of the Alvira Bunkers on State Game Lands 252 in Union County Pennsylvania
Locations of the Alvira bunkers on State Game Lands 252 in Union County.

Follow along as I show you exactly how to get to the abandoned Alvira bunkers, as well as answer some FAQs and show you a few of the sights you’ll encounter there.


This property is not maintained or monitored for safety conditions, and therefore this is strictly a VISIT AT YOUR OWN RISK DESTINATION!

By voluntarily exploring this location, YOU assume the risk of any personal injury or damage to personal property, and shall not hold the author liable for any injuries, loss, or damages that may occur while visiting this location.


Abandoned Alvira Bunkers FAQs

Where exactly are the abandoned Alvira bunkers located?

They Alvira bunkers are located in the Union County portion of State Game Lands 252, approximately 7 miles south of Williamsport.
The Union County line approaching the Alvira bunkers on Alvira Road.

Can I navigate to the Alvira bunkers by GPS?

Yes – use GPS coordinates 41.13618, -76.95924 to navigate to the first of several parking lots along Alvira Road.
How to find the Alvira bunkers in Union County Pennsylvania

Are any of the Alvira bunkers roadside and easy to reach?

Yes – in fact you can literally park right next to several of the bunkers along Alvira Road.

Parking spot next to one of the roadside abandoned Alvira Bunkers.

Are there any trails leading to the bunkers further back from Alvira Road?

Yes – the remnants of the access roads (now gated and covered with vegetation) serve as trails between the bunkers.
Remnants of a road through the Alvira bunkers on State Game Lands 252.

How many of the bunkers are you able to enter?

On a recent visit (Summer 2020) I was able to find and enter several dozen within a 2 hour time period.
Please note – I have never tried to find all the bunkers, or get an exact count of how many are still accessible.
Inside one of the concrete igloo-like bunkers on State Game Lands 252

Are any of the bunkers still locked?

Yes, but again I have not attempted to determine an exact count of how many are locked/unlocked.
Locked door to one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers in Union County.

Are you able to see inside the bunkers without a flashlight?

The interiors of most of the unlocked bunkers are dimly lit by a small hole in the center of the roofs, but I would strongly recommend taking a flashlight along.
Looking straight up inside one of the abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers in Union County.

Are most of the bunkers full of trash and graffiti?

No – although none of the bunkers I’ve personally entered are in pristine condition, the further away you get from Alvira Road, the less vandalized the bunkers generally become.

An empty munitions bunker at Alvira.

What else is there to see at Alvira?

Several cemeteries still stand on Game Lands 252 (see map above), including many Civil War-era graves.
Memorial in one of the cemeteries on State Game Lands 252.


Tips for Exploring the Alvira Bunkers

The Alvira bunkers are a fascinating and relatively easy ruins to explore, but keep in mind this is State Game Lands.

Entrance to one of the bunkers on State Game Lands 252 along Alvira Road.
Entrance to one of the bunkers on State Game Lands 252 along Alvira Road.

So my first recommendation is to wear a blaze orange hat/vest when hiking here, regardless of the time of year, even if you don’t “think” it’s hunting season.

Be smart and be seen!


Secondwear long pants and sturdy boots if you want to do more than the very basic roadside explorations.

Abandoned materials inside one of the Alvira bunkers on State Game Lands 252.
Abandoned materials inside one of the Alvira bunkers on State Game Lands 252.

Some of the vegetation around the bunkers is quite thick (and prickly), and there are plenty of sharp objects strewn about in and around some of the bunkers.


Thirdtake some type of compass or GPS device to keep track of your location, if you plan on exploring the bunkers away from Alvira Road.

Roadway remnants now covered with vegetation at Alvira bunkers site in Union County..
Roadway remnants now covered with vegetation at Alvira bunkers site in Union County.

Many of the old roads / trails look nearly identical, and none are marked, so it would be quite easy to get turned around out amongst the bunkers.


Fourthbe respectful of the cemeteries and gravesites you encounter.

Old Alvira cemetery on State Game Lands 252.
Old Alvira cemetery on State Game Lands 252.

This is the final resting place for generations of Americans, some who fought and died for the freedoms you now enjoy, and all of whom were loved by someone in their time.


Final Thoughts on the Alvira Bunkers

The abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers are an interesting architectural relic of WWII-era America.

Doorway to Alvira bunker number 5.
Doorway to Alvira bunker number 5.

They are also a cautionary tale for what can happen to private individuals when the government decides it wants your property.

Inside one of the abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers on State Game Lands 252.
Inside one of the abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers on State Game Lands 252.

Or in the case of Alvira, wants your ENTIRE TOWN.

And what was once a thriving little hamlet in Union County, followed by a TNT factory and munitions depot, is now slowly being reabsorbed by nature and the elements.

Doorway to Alvira bunker number 2.
Doorway to Alvira bunker number 2.

The abandoned Alvira bunkers – go see them while you still can!


Nearby Attractions

Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland in Union County is a zoo that specializes in exotic reptiles and amphibians from around the world!

A collage of photos from Clyde Peeling's Reptiland in Allenwood Pennsylvania.
Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland.

The Millmont Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in Union County.

A side view of Millmont Covered Bridge over Penns Creek.
A side view of Millmont Covered Bridge over Penns Creek in Union County.

The Hassenplug Covered Bridge in Union County is the oldest existing covered bridge in Pennsylvania, and believed to be the second oldest covered bridge in the United States!

Exploring the Hassenplug Covered Bridge the oldest covered bridge in PA.
Hassenplug Covered Bridge in Union County is the oldest covered bridge in Pennsylvania.

Factory Covered Bridge is located along Gray Hill Road in Union County, just 2 miles west of the Interstate 80 / Route 15 interchange.

Factory Covered Bridge over White Deer Creek.
factory Covered Bridge in Union County, Pennsylvania.

Hayes Covered Bridge spans Buffalo Creek in Union County, and is still open to vehicular traffic.

Winter at Hayes Covered Bridge near Mifflinburg PA
Winter at Hayes Covered Bridge near Mifflinburg, PA.

RB Winter State Park is a nearby 695 acre recreational area located in western Union County.

Exploring RB Winter State Park in Union County PA.
RB Winter State Park in Union County.

Spanning just 3 acres, Sand Bridge State Park in Union County is the smallest state park in Pennsylvania!

Exploring Sand Bridge State Park the smallest state park in Pennsylvania.
Sand Bridge State Park is the smallest state park in Pennsylvania.

33 Abandoned Places in PA You Can Legally Explore is your guide to even more great abandoned sites across Pennsylvania.

The Abandoned PA Turnpike Pike 2 Bike Trail
The Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.