CFS Shelburne
Encyclopedia
Canadian Forces Station Shelburne, also known as CFS Shelburne, is a former Canadian Forces Station located in Shelburne County
, Nova Scotia
.
The facility operated from two locations within the Municipality of the District of Shelburne
:
opened a naval station in the community of Sandy Point named HMCS Shelburne on the eastern shore of Shelburne Harbour immediately south of the town of Shelburne. Located at the mouth of the Roseway River, this station consisted of a deepwater pier and associated shore facilities, including barracks and residences. It was connected by Canadian National Railways via a short spur from the government wharf spur off its Yarmouth
to Halifax
main line.
On May 13, 1945 the commanding officer of U-889, Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Braeucker formally surrendered to the RCN at HMCS Shelburne after being escorted there from Bay Bulls, Newfoundland
on May 10 by and . On May 14 U-889 was taken by the RCN to Halifax.
HMCS Shelburne was closed in 1946 as part of the RCN's post-World War II budget cuts and force draw-down. The facility was converted into an industrial park with buildings sold for private use.
Approximately 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of the Sandy Point property was purchased by the Government of Nova Scotia
in 1948 for construction of the "Nova Scotia School for Boys" - a modern penal facility to replace the "Halifax Industrial School for Boys", a penal facility that had closed in 1947. The Nova Scotia School for Boys would close in 1988 upon the opening of the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville, NS
and the Shelburne facility would later be embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal.
, the Royal Canadian Air Force
constructed a seaplane
base in Sandy Point
, immediately south of HMCS Shelburne.
It was intended for operational use by the United States Navy
for conducting anti-submarine patrols off southern Nova Scotia for the shipping lanes to Boston
and the Gulf of Maine
as part of the Battle of the Atlantic. The USN decided against using the facility prior to its completion, thus it was commissioned as RCAF Station Shelburne and opened in June 1942 as a training base that saw occasional operational use.
RCAF Station Shelburne hosted the No. 3 Operational Training Unit using the Consolidated PBY Catalina with No. 116 Squadron RCAF being the first to train at the facility. In June 1943 No. 116 Squadron deployed to RCAF Station Botwood. Throughout the rest of 1943 the station was used occasionally by No. 117 Squadron RCAF and the No. 6 Coast Artillery Co-operation Detachment. In March 1944 the station was taken over by the Royal Canadian Navy and consolidated into the adjacent HMCS Shelburne.
network (SOund SUrveillance System) by the United States Navy
and later other NATO navies for monitoring submarines of Warsaw Pact
navies. The research and development phase of SOSUS ended with success and it began to be operationally deployed in 1952, beginning with the creation of 6 arrays in the North Atlantic basin. Deployment of SOSUS and the larger Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) was likely spurred by development of ballistic missile submarines and associated missile technology in the Soviet Union
during the mid-1950s.
Each array required a shore-based facility to be constructed, which the USN termed a "Naval Facility" (NAVFAC). The first NAVFAC built under the "Caesar Program" was commissioned in September 1954 at Ramey Air Force Base
, Puerto Rico
. Similar stations were established that year at Grand Turk Island
(Turks and Caicos) and San Salvador Island
(Bahamas).
One of the original 6 SOSUS arrays in the Atlantic basin was deployed off Nova Scotia and northern New England, requiring a NAVFAC to be constructed in southern Nova Scotia. As a result, the RCN reactivated HMCS Shelburne as a lodger unit on April 1, 1955.
The RCN reacquired 23 of its former buildings in the industrial park at the original HMCS Shelburne in Sandy Point and constructed several new buildings including residences. Additionally, a new property was acquired 14 km (8.7 mi) to the south in Lower Sandy Point on a headland named Government Point where the NAVFAC was constructed as a joint RCN/USN "Oceanographic Research Station" - a cover for what would become the first SOSUS station in Canada (Naval Station Argentia
would become the second).
HMCS Shelburne became operational on August 14, 1955 with the Commanding Officer of HMCS Shelburne being appointed the Officer-in-Charge of the Oceanographic Research Station (aka the NAVFAC). As such, HMCS Shelburne was also the first SOSUS station to not fall under direct command of the USN.
HMCS Shelburne would undergo numerous changes during the remainder of the 1950s and through the 1960s as the World War II
-era quonset huts were replaced with modern facilities.
One of the most notable events involving HMCS Shelburne was a reported UFO crash on October 4, 1967 that was witnessed in the waters of the Gulf of Maine
off Shag Harbour, NS
, a fishing community in western Shelburne County approximately 50 km (31.1 mi) southwest of the military facilities at Shelburne Harbour. What would come to be called the Shag Harbour UFO incident reportedly also involved a coordinated military operation by the RCN and USN in the waters off the Shelburne NAVFAC at Government Point in the days following this incident.
. As part of the unification, HMCS Shelburne was renamed to Canadian Forces Station Shelburne, or CFS Shelburne.
CFS Shelburne continued operations much as before, supporting the NAVFAC and the SOSUS array as part of IUSS; in fact CFS Shelburne was the smallest NAVFAC in the Atlantic basin. CFS Shelburne was placed under control of Maritime Command
(MARCOM) which was the new name for naval forces in Canada. Operationally, CFS Shelburne was part of Maritime Forces Atlantic
(MARLANT) which operated the Atlantic Fleet and associated support facilities.
The reunification of Germany and dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the end of the Cold War
, resulting in numerous defence budget cutbacks in NATO nations, including Canada and the United States. This period also coincided with numerous technological changes that made remote operation of sensor systems such as SOSUS possible from further distances.
The IUSS underwent significant changes in 1994 when Commander Undersea Surveillance Atlantic and Pacific consolidated into a single command located in Dam Neck, Virginia
, leading to remote operation of the SOSUS arrays and closure of associated NAVFACs.
In support of this process, the Canadian Forces established the Canadian Forces IUSS Centre or CFIC which was housed in a new lodger unit named HMCS Trinity located at CFB Halifax
. CFIC was created to operate the two SOSUS arrays at NAVFAC Shelburne (located at CFS Shelburne) and NAVFAC Argentia (located at Naval Station Argentia
). NAVFAC Shelburne's monitoring operations for its SOSUS array was transferred to the CFIC/HMCS Trinity by remote operation in summer 1994 with NAVFAC Argentia following that fall.
On August 1, 1994 the NAVFAC at CFS Shelburne was disestablished with USN personnel departing. The station itself was decommissioned entirely as a military facility by the Canadian Forces on March 13, 1995.
to the Government of Nova Scotia
which in turn transferred them to the Shelburne Park Development Agency, who operated them as Shelburne Park.
The Shelburne Park Development Agency was made a subsidiary of the Shelburne Area Industrial Commission, which has since been merged with the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission and Clare Area Industrial Commission to form the South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA).
Shelburne Park is operated by SWSDA as a business park from the two former military facilities at Sandy Point and Lower Sandy Point. Several of the buildings at the Lower Sandy Point road location (the former NAVFAC) have been transformed into the Shelburne Film Production Centre, which opened on 9 July 2000. It was listed for sale by the SWDA for $5 million and sold in 2008 to Seacoast Entertainment Arts Inc. for development as a film production studio.
In late November 2011, the facility was sold to Tri-County Construction, a marine construction contracting company, for $125,000, plus $48,442.58 in back taxes, as well as undisclosed sales taxes and a municipal deed transfer tax. Shortly after the purchase, the buyer said he had no immediate plans for the property.
Reportedly numerous buildings at the former NAVFAC sit in derelict condition open to the elements.
Shelburne County, Nova Scotia
Shelburne County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:Shelburne County was founded in 1784 shortly following the influx of Loyalist settlers evacuated from the newly independent United States of America...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
The facility operated from two locations within the Municipality of the District of Shelburne
Shelburne, Nova Scotia (municipal district)
Municipality of the District of Shelburne is a municipal district comprising the eastern section of Shelburne County, Nova Scotia.-Demographics:Population trendMother tongue language Ethnic Groups -Communities:...
:
- The original facility opened during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was located on the eastern shore of Shelburne Harbour in the community of Sandy PointSandy Point, Nova ScotiaSandy Point is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Shelburne municipal district of Shelburne County.-External links:*...
, immediately south of the boundary for the town of ShelburneShelburne, Nova ScotiaShelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Shelburne County.-History:-Settlers:...
. This facility included a deepwater port and shore facilities including barracks and residences.
- The newer facility opened during the Cold WarCold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
(part of the original Sandy Point facility was reactivated as well) and was located in the community of Lower Sandy PointLower Sandy Point, Nova ScotiaLower Sandy Point, Nova Scotia is a community in the Shelburne County, Nova Scotia, Canada....
, approximately 14 km (8.7 mi) south of the town of ShelburneShelburne, Nova ScotiaShelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Shelburne County.-History:-Settlers:...
, on Government Point at the southern tip of a peninsula separating Shelburne Harbour from Jordan Bay.
HMCS Shelburne (1941 - 1946)
In December 1941 the Royal Canadian NavyRoyal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
opened a naval station in the community of Sandy Point named HMCS Shelburne on the eastern shore of Shelburne Harbour immediately south of the town of Shelburne. Located at the mouth of the Roseway River, this station consisted of a deepwater pier and associated shore facilities, including barracks and residences. It was connected by Canadian National Railways via a short spur from the government wharf spur off its Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
main line.
On May 13, 1945 the commanding officer of U-889, Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Braeucker formally surrendered to the RCN at HMCS Shelburne after being escorted there from Bay Bulls, Newfoundland
Bay Bulls, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bay Bulls is a small fishing community in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Geography:Located in sheltered bay it has been home to many fishermen and a strategic location in early times as it is located just a few miles from the capital, St. John's.-History:Bay Bulls first appears...
on May 10 by and . On May 14 U-889 was taken by the RCN to Halifax.
HMCS Shelburne was closed in 1946 as part of the RCN's post-World War II budget cuts and force draw-down. The facility was converted into an industrial park with buildings sold for private use.
Approximately 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of the Sandy Point property was purchased by the Government of Nova Scotia
Government of Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia refers to the provincial government of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
in 1948 for construction of the "Nova Scotia School for Boys" - a modern penal facility to replace the "Halifax Industrial School for Boys", a penal facility that had closed in 1947. The Nova Scotia School for Boys would close in 1988 upon the opening of the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville, NS
Waterville, Nova Scotia
Waterville is a Canadian community in Kings County, Nova Scotia.Located on the Cornwallis River, the community is located 15 kilometres west of Kentville and is home to the Waterville/Kings County Municipal Airport, a Michelin tire factory, as well as the provincial youth detention facility.As of...
and the Shelburne facility would later be embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal.
RCAF Station Shelburne (1942 - 1944)
Throughout the winter of 1942 during the months following the Attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
constructed a seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
base in Sandy Point
Sandy Point, Nova Scotia
Sandy Point is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Shelburne municipal district of Shelburne County.-External links:*...
, immediately south of HMCS Shelburne.
It was intended for operational use by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for conducting anti-submarine patrols off southern Nova Scotia for the shipping lanes to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
as part of the Battle of the Atlantic. The USN decided against using the facility prior to its completion, thus it was commissioned as RCAF Station Shelburne and opened in June 1942 as a training base that saw occasional operational use.
RCAF Station Shelburne hosted the No. 3 Operational Training Unit using the Consolidated PBY Catalina with No. 116 Squadron RCAF being the first to train at the facility. In June 1943 No. 116 Squadron deployed to RCAF Station Botwood. Throughout the rest of 1943 the station was used occasionally by No. 117 Squadron RCAF and the No. 6 Coast Artillery Co-operation Detachment. In March 1944 the station was taken over by the Royal Canadian Navy and consolidated into the adjacent HMCS Shelburne.
HMCS Shelburne (1955-1968)
The creation of NATO in 1949 coincided with the development of the SOSUSSOSUS
SOSUS, an acronym for Sound Surveillance System, is a chain of underwater listening posts across the northern Atlantic Ocean near Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom — the GIUK gap. It was originally operated by the United States Navy for tracking Soviet submarines, which had to pass...
network (SOund SUrveillance System) by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and later other NATO navies for monitoring submarines of Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
navies. The research and development phase of SOSUS ended with success and it began to be operationally deployed in 1952, beginning with the creation of 6 arrays in the North Atlantic basin. Deployment of SOSUS and the larger Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) was likely spurred by development of ballistic missile submarines and associated missile technology in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during the mid-1950s.
Each array required a shore-based facility to be constructed, which the USN termed a "Naval Facility" (NAVFAC). The first NAVFAC built under the "Caesar Program" was commissioned in September 1954 at Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. In addition to a small on-site Air Force detachment, and occasional operations by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, a portion of the former Air Force Base is operated by the United States Coast Guard as Coast...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Similar stations were established that year at Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands with . It contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town and the JAGS McCartney International Airport...
(Turks and Caicos) and San Salvador Island
San Salvador Island
San Salvador Island, also known as Watlings Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas. Until 1986, when the National Geographic Society suggested Samana Cay, it was widely believed that during his first expedition to the New World, San Salvador Island was the first land sighted and visited...
(Bahamas).
One of the original 6 SOSUS arrays in the Atlantic basin was deployed off Nova Scotia and northern New England, requiring a NAVFAC to be constructed in southern Nova Scotia. As a result, the RCN reactivated HMCS Shelburne as a lodger unit on April 1, 1955.
The RCN reacquired 23 of its former buildings in the industrial park at the original HMCS Shelburne in Sandy Point and constructed several new buildings including residences. Additionally, a new property was acquired 14 km (8.7 mi) to the south in Lower Sandy Point on a headland named Government Point where the NAVFAC was constructed as a joint RCN/USN "Oceanographic Research Station" - a cover for what would become the first SOSUS station in Canada (Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province .-Construction:Established under the British-U.S...
would become the second).
HMCS Shelburne became operational on August 14, 1955 with the Commanding Officer of HMCS Shelburne being appointed the Officer-in-Charge of the Oceanographic Research Station (aka the NAVFAC). As such, HMCS Shelburne was also the first SOSUS station to not fall under direct command of the USN.
HMCS Shelburne would undergo numerous changes during the remainder of the 1950s and through the 1960s as the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era quonset huts were replaced with modern facilities.
One of the most notable events involving HMCS Shelburne was a reported UFO crash on October 4, 1967 that was witnessed in the waters of the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
off Shag Harbour, NS
Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia
Shag Harbour is a small fishing village found along the South Shore of Nova Scotia. It is one of several small villages found in the Municipality of Barrington, Shelburne County. It has a population of roughly 400-450...
, a fishing community in western Shelburne County approximately 50 km (31.1 mi) southwest of the military facilities at Shelburne Harbour. What would come to be called the Shag Harbour UFO incident reportedly also involved a coordinated military operation by the RCN and USN in the waters off the Shelburne NAVFAC at Government Point in the days following this incident.
CFS Shelburne (1968-1995)
On February 1, 1968 the RCN merged with the RCAF and the Canadian Army to form the Canadian Armed ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. As part of the unification, HMCS Shelburne was renamed to Canadian Forces Station Shelburne, or CFS Shelburne.
CFS Shelburne continued operations much as before, supporting the NAVFAC and the SOSUS array as part of IUSS; in fact CFS Shelburne was the smallest NAVFAC in the Atlantic basin. CFS Shelburne was placed under control of Maritime Command
Canadian Forces Maritime Command
The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...
(MARCOM) which was the new name for naval forces in Canada. Operationally, CFS Shelburne was part of Maritime Forces Atlantic
Maritime Forces Atlantic
In the Canadian Forces, Maritime Forces Atlantic is responsible for the fleet and operations of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. The Commander of MARLANT is a two-star Rear Admiral....
(MARLANT) which operated the Atlantic Fleet and associated support facilities.
The reunification of Germany and dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, resulting in numerous defence budget cutbacks in NATO nations, including Canada and the United States. This period also coincided with numerous technological changes that made remote operation of sensor systems such as SOSUS possible from further distances.
The IUSS underwent significant changes in 1994 when Commander Undersea Surveillance Atlantic and Pacific consolidated into a single command located in Dam Neck, Virginia
Naval Air Station Oceana
Naval Air Station Oceana or NAS Oceana is a military airport located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is a United States Navy Master Jet Base. It is also known as Apollo Soucek Field, named after Lieutenant Apollo Soucek, a Navy Test Pilot who set the global altitude record in 1930 by flying a...
, leading to remote operation of the SOSUS arrays and closure of associated NAVFACs.
In support of this process, the Canadian Forces established the Canadian Forces IUSS Centre or CFIC which was housed in a new lodger unit named HMCS Trinity located at CFB Halifax
CFB Halifax
Canadian Forces Base Halifax is Canada's east coast navy base and home port to the Atlantic fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic....
. CFIC was created to operate the two SOSUS arrays at NAVFAC Shelburne (located at CFS Shelburne) and NAVFAC Argentia (located at Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province .-Construction:Established under the British-U.S...
). NAVFAC Shelburne's monitoring operations for its SOSUS array was transferred to the CFIC/HMCS Trinity by remote operation in summer 1994 with NAVFAC Argentia following that fall.
On August 1, 1994 the NAVFAC at CFS Shelburne was disestablished with USN personnel departing. The station itself was decommissioned entirely as a military facility by the Canadian Forces on March 13, 1995.
Civilian use (1995-present)
After its decommissioning, the properties comprising the former CFS Shelburne were transferred by the Government of CanadaGovernment of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
to the Government of Nova Scotia
Government of Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia refers to the provincial government of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
which in turn transferred them to the Shelburne Park Development Agency, who operated them as Shelburne Park.
The Shelburne Park Development Agency was made a subsidiary of the Shelburne Area Industrial Commission, which has since been merged with the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission and Clare Area Industrial Commission to form the South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA).
Shelburne Park is operated by SWSDA as a business park from the two former military facilities at Sandy Point and Lower Sandy Point. Several of the buildings at the Lower Sandy Point road location (the former NAVFAC) have been transformed into the Shelburne Film Production Centre, which opened on 9 July 2000. It was listed for sale by the SWDA for $5 million and sold in 2008 to Seacoast Entertainment Arts Inc. for development as a film production studio.
In late November 2011, the facility was sold to Tri-County Construction, a marine construction contracting company, for $125,000, plus $48,442.58 in back taxes, as well as undisclosed sales taxes and a municipal deed transfer tax. Shortly after the purchase, the buyer said he had no immediate plans for the property.
Reportedly numerous buildings at the former NAVFAC sit in derelict condition open to the elements.