The Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) is located in Richmond, Kentucky on 14,494 acres of mostly open fields with some wooded areas. The Depot provides industrial services support, ammunition maintenance, Air Force bomb thermal arc coating, ultrasonic testing for mortar ammunition, logistics support and is a training site for U.S. military personnel.
Quick Facts
| Coordinates | 37° 40' 47.97" N 84° 14' 53.52" W |
|---|---|
| City | Richmond, KY 40475 |
| Phone | — |
| DSN | — |
History & Depot Information
Address: 431 Battlefield Memorial Hwy, Richmond, KY 40475
General information: (859) 779-6391
Visitors: You must undergo a background check to access the Blue Grass Army Depot. The appropriate vetting forms must be filled out to begin the background check process. For visitation questions you can call (859) 779-6934.
Jobs: All open jobs at Blue Grass Army Depot are posted on USAjobs.gov and can be located by entering the corresponding zip code for the area (40475).
The Blue Grass Army Depot was built in 1941 and was a fully-functioning ammunition and general supply cache by 1942. In 1964, BGAD merged with the Lexington Signal Depot and became the Lexington-Blue Grass Army Depot. In 1999, per a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision, the Lexington portion of the 1964 merger was designated for closure leaving the Blue Grass Army Depot as a standalone installation.
BGAD is home to the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, the site responsible for the handling and storage of chemical weapons; it is also one of very few U.S. military posts that stores chemical munitions. The Department of Defense (DoD) utilizes the Depot as a primary locale for receiving, storing and issuing chemical defense equipment in addition to using more than 850 igloos (made of concrete, not ice) to store chemically enhanced weapons that were produced prior to 1968. BGAD also makes combat lock tools and has been producing Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles since 2010. Due, in part, to multiple gas leaks (including mustard and sarin gases) in the past few years, BGAD is expected to begin disposing of its chemical munitions in 2018.
Housing & Lodging
There is no on-post housing at BGAD. However, there are a couple of hotels within 10 miles of the base including:
- Best Western Richmond Hotel, (859) 623-9220
- Comfort Suites Richmond, (859) 624-0770
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Richmond, (859) 624-4055
- Quality Inn Richmond, (859) 623-0063
- Hampton Inn Richmond, (859) 626-1002
Schools
- Kingston Elementary School, (859) 986-4668
- Clark-Moores Middle School, (859) 624-4545
- Madison Middle School, (859) 624-4550
- Madison Central High School, (859) 624-4505
Banks
- Peoples Bank & Trust Company, (859) 986-6860
Things To Do & Places To See
Fort Boonesborough State Park, named after American pioneer Daniel Boone, is a historical site featuring a museum, pool and campground. It is open daily from 9a-5p April through October. You can call (859) 527-3131 for more information.
Paradise Cove Aquatic Center is a water amusement park featuring a 12 foot rock climbing wall, water slides and child-friendly rides and swimming areas. Paradise Cove can be contacted at (859) 626-7665.
White Hall State Historic Site offers mansion tours, English tea (by reservation), local history and park grounds. White Hall can be reached at (859) 623-9178.
Morale, Welfare & Recreation
The Blue Grass Army Depot MWR offers equipment rental for boating, camping and other outdoor recreational activities. You can also rent games (like giant Jenga and Cornhole boards) and water sports gear in addition to campers and boats. The Outdoor Recreation Office can be reached at (859) 779-7333.
BGAD MWR also has a season pool for use that's open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11a-7p daily and features a fitness center (859-779-6403), leisure travel services (LTS, 859-779-6164) and fishing lakes for recreational use.