It was established in World War II as Naval Auxiliary Air Station Harvey Point, an operating base for sea planes conducting anti-submarine surveillance off the Atlantic coast.

The project was cancelled in August 1959 when the Navy determined the aircraft wasn't successful enough for it to continue providing support for the program.

The FAA Charlotte Sectional Aeronautical Chart identifies this area as Special Use Airspace R-5301, which is continuously restricted from general aviation traffic from the surface to an altitude of 14,000 feet above Mean Sea Level.

Harvey Point is also used for CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) paramilitary and counter-terrorism courses that involve high explosives and ballistics.

"SEAL Team Six") to train for the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, in a scale mockup of his secret compound.