LSAAP & RRAD
The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant (LSAAP) and the Red River Army Depot (RRAD) were adjacent Army installations located on nearly 40,000 acres in the heart of Bowie County, Texas. The land was acquired in the late 1930s and developed in the early 1940s as a military ordinance depot, evolving later into two separate installations for munitions production/storage, and military vehicle maintenance.Pursuant to the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure process, certain missions at the RRAD were realigned, and 765 acres of land and buildings were determined to be surplus to the government's needs. Bowie County officials developed a comprehensive plan to acquire the property and develop it into a mixed-use commercial park. County and city officials then sought special legislation to establish the Red River Redevelopment Authority (RRRA). In 1998, the RRRA was created with the express purpose of acquiring and redeveloping the surplus military property.
The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the closure of the LSAAP and the realignment of the RRAD, resulting in the loss of 406 Army civilian positions, and 251 contractor positions. The impact was felt across the region, affecting communities in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.