here's joe rosado, junior. >> a locked gate, barbed wire. silent road send an unhospitable welcome to the visitors of scaggs island. for 70 years, this former navy communications base, shunned outside attention. >> we would have been entering in the housing area ebb and administrative area. >> reporter: nal year ago this land was dotted with rotting navy buildings. >> bowling alley, basketball courts. they also had barracks here for enlisted personnel. >> reporter: when the base closed in 1993, those buildings became a favorite of vandals. >> there was a school, a housing area, a number of houses, a small store and such. >> reporter: but don shows the results of decent demolition to cleanse the land of its naval past. >> you are seeing wildlife habitat in terms of puddles and such. >> reporter: the buildings are gone and at the end of the month the navy will turn over the 3300 acre island to the san pablo bay national wildlife refuge. >> it was a self-contained community. >> reporter: he hopes once that is done, bird watchers, history buffs