Camp 33: The Forgotten American Lodge That Still Haunts the Forest

The Place That Wasn’t on Any Map

Deep in the wilderness near Corner Brook, hidden by thick birch trees and reclaimed by moss and fog, there was once a place known only to a few:

Camp 33.

Officially, it was a recreational hunting and fishing lodge leased by the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s and 60s. It was part of the morale-and-welfare offerings for American servicemen stationed at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville.

Built in partnership with the Bowater Pulp and Paper Company, Camp 33 reportedly featured:

• 8 full-sized cabins

• A 40-man bunkhouse

• A mess hall and kitchen

• Access to remote trout streams and moose trails

It was supposed to be relaxing. Peaceful. A place to unwind from the nuclear alert drills, the long winters, and the stress of guarding Atlantic airspace during the Cold War.

But here’s where things get weird.

There are no photos. No travel logs. No posted schedules. And almost no one remembers it.

The Disappearing Act

Despite being a large, well-equipped facility, very few local Newfoundlanders recall ever seeing American troops travel to or from Camp 33. A few former Bowater employees claimed they saw trucks headed “east of Corner Brook” with U.S. license plates, but no one ever stopped to chat. One logger said he was paid to “clear access trails” in 1962 but was told never to enter the site once construction was finished.

And now? The only remnants are whispered:

• A cement foundation swallowed by moss.

• A half-sunken steel staircase that leads to nothing.

• A capped shaft, reportedly filled with concrete.

Some say the camp burned down. Others say it was intentionally erased.

Than Moose and Beer?

Online sleuths on Reddit and niche Cold War forums have latched onto the Camp 33 mystery for years. Here are the leading theories: