The United States Army Corps of Engineers built the original facilities to supply ammunition for Allied Forces during World War II.
Sixteen TNT batch process lines and associated nitric and sulfuric acid facilities operated until August 1945.
Between the Korean and Vietnam Wars there was considerable residential development north of VAAP and adjacent to the Chickamauga Lake (IT Corp 1994).
In 1962, CFI used the existing acid facilities and built an ammonia plant on the 824-acre lease area to produce ammonium nitrate fertilizer, urea, and related products (Army 2003a).
In 1972, a carbon dioxide plant was constructed at the CFI Lease Area and an industrial waste water system was built to treat and recycle ammonium nitrate wastewater (IT Corp 1994; USATHAMA 1978).
By January 1975, all batch process lines stopped and, in 1977, TNT production at VAAP ceased altogether and the plant was placed on inactive status (Army 2003a).
The Hamilton County Schools executed a lease on the old administration buildings at VAAP, renovating the facilities for their central office.
The land where the nature park is located was originally used for storing explosives manufactured at the VAAP, and most of the storage bunkers still remain.
On October 14, 2010 it was announced that CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway would again serve the site following the completion of a $6.6 million project to provide dual rail service to the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant.
Work included "the biggest rail overhaul in and around the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant since the tracks were laid during World War II.
"[9] Direct switching activities for the site is handled by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's wholly owned subsidiary Tyner Terminal Railway Company,[10] which transfers railcars to NS and CSX trains.