Surplus from Camp Kearns filled homes with war-era essentials.

What Happened to All the Surplus After Camp Kearns Closed?

What Happened to All the Surplus After Camp Kearns Closed?

When Camp Kearns was decommissioned following World War II, it became one of the largest surplus distribution centers in the region. On December 3, 1947, the War Assets Administration held a massive sale at 1710 South Redwood Road, offering a wide variety of used and unused items to veterans, agencies, and the public. These surplus goods included everything from cafeteria and barracks equipment to office furniture and fire-fighting gear. Kitchen inventory ranged from glass sugar bowls and coffee urns to steam kettles, griddles, dough mixers, and dishwashers.

Also up for sale were portable air compressors, heating stoves, water coolers, and hospital supplies like steel rails and pressure valves. Textiles included canvas bags, mosquito nets, and cotton stockings. Office surplus featured typewriters, desks, and filing cabinets. Other miscellaneous items ranged from gas cylinders and rope to wooden ladders and concrete piping. Many of these materials found second lives in homes, schools, and businesses across Utah—making the legacy of Camp Kearns a lasting part of the local landscape.