CASCADE – Historic Fort Ritchie, a hallmark of South Mountain life for over a century, is undergoing a transformation with an ambitious plan to revitalize it into a vibrant mixed-use community that integrates history, wellness, commerce and quality of life.
Through new business openings, cultural enrichment, and significant private investment, planners envision the prominent former military base and training center as a hub for business growth in Cascade, as well as in nearby Highfield and Blue Ridge Summit, Virginia.
According to Washington County officials, several local businesses have recently opened at the site, contributing to its growing energy. The Ritchie History Museum continues to preserve and share the site’s unique legacy, welcoming visitors throughout the week.
“The revitalization of Fort Ritchie represents an exciting chapter for Cascade and the broader community,” said Jonathan Horowitz, director of business and economic development. “With new businesses opening, historic sites being preserved, and hundreds of jobs coming to the region, Fort Ritchie is emerging as a hub where history, commerce, and community come together.”
A key development is SJ Incorporation’s 35,000-square-foot medical and device component production facility, the most significant commercial investment at Fort Ritchie to date.
This project is expected to create approximately 300 full-time jobs over the next four years, thereby strengthening the regional economy. Community engagement remains central to Fort Ritchie’s revival.
Upcoming events include the Ritchie Boy Reunion, craft bazaars, holiday markets, and the creation of a memorial garden. Restoration efforts are underway on several historic buildings, with plans to expand residential, commercial, and recreational opportunities across the site.
Amid the northeastern slopes of South Mountain, Fort Ritchie has a rich history. Its elevation of nearly 1,400 feet and its being surrounded by peaks over 2,000 feet was ideal for ice production. In 1889, the Buena Vista Ice Company created two artificial lakes to supply ice for cities such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
In 1926, the Maryland National Guard acquired the site, renaming it Camp Ritchie. Gov. Albert C. Ritchie transformed it into a training center. He made significant contributions to the design of the signature fieldstone buildings, which were created by a local architect and remain in place today.
During World War II, it became a pivotal U.S. Army installation, serving as the Military Intelligence Training Center, which prepared approximately 19,600 troops to provide battlefield intelligence that contributed significantly to the great Allied victories, including D-Day.
The fort later assumed a new role, serving as a communications hub for the Army’s Military District of Washington and supporting the Air Force’s Alternate National Military Command Center until its decommissioning in 1998.
Cascade and its neighboring town have suffered economic challenges as a result of the closure and failed attempts to reinvigorate it. Many of the fort’s barracks and other infrastructure were left abandoned for years.
In 2021, developer John Krumpotich, through his company Cascade Properties, acquired some 500 acres of the former base that year, emphasizing historic preservation, business attraction, and residential growth.
Krumpotich’s vision, under the Ritchie Revival initiative, prioritizes rehabilitating the site’s stone buildings to maintain their integrity while introducing mixed-use elements like housing, retail, wellness facilities, and recreational spaces.
Key milestones in the revival have included the opening of the Ritchie History Museum in 2023 funded by state grants, private donations, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The museum features digital archives, military exhibits, and events, such as the Ritchie Boy Family Reunion, to educate visitors on the site’s rich heritage.
Community events, such as craft bazaars, holiday markets, and a planned memorial garden, further engage residents, while restoration of historic structures expands opportunities for residential, commercial, and recreational use. A major economic boost was provided by the 2025 announcement of SJ Incorporation’s 35,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, the largest commercial investment to date.
An international holistic wellness and medical manufacturing company with a global footprint will produce affordable medicine and medical device components using advanced technology.
The complex is projected to create 300 full-time jobs over a four-year period, supported by state incentives, including a $1 million conditional loan from the state Department of Commerce, a $100,000 loan from Washington County, and Job Creation Tax Credits. It promises to anchor Fort Ritchie’s shift into a sustainable mixed-use hub, blending its storied past with modern commerce and community life.
