The site known as Camp Hero, or the Montauk Air Force Station, was initially commissioned by the U.S. Army in 1942.

Camp Hero was initially a coastal defense station disguised as a fishing village, and its location was chosen to prevent a potential invasion of New York from the sea.

All three batteries consisted mainly of a large concrete bunker covered with earth, containing ammunition magazines and fire control equipment.

[7] Local environmental activists protested, claiming that the site had many unique ecosystems and animal habitats.

Camp Hero State Park offers picnic areas, a beach, and trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing.