Camp David is a secluded retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains for the use of the US President. It has guest cabins, sports facilities, and is used for business and international conferences. The site is managed by the Department of the Navy and is one of the safest facilities in the world.
Camp David is a private retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains that is reserved for the use of the President of the United States. The site is located close enough to Washington, DC, to be conveniently accessible to the President and the First Family, yet has a remarkably secluded and remote feel, according to people who have been privileged to visit. Although the facility is designated as a retreat, it is often used for business, with guests from the United States hosted at Camp David for lectures and workshops to discuss issues of international importance.
The site was turned over to the use of the president in 1942 and christened Shangri-La by President Roosevelt. President Eisenhower later renamed the site after his grandson David, and the site is officially known as Naval Support Facility Thurmont. Camp David is managed and operated by the Department of the Navy, with a Marine Guard in place to protect the facility. The budget for the maintenance of the field also comes from the Navy.
In some ways, Camp David is like a presidential summer camp. In addition to the main lodge, the site has a number of guest cabins, sports facilities and a network of paths and gardens. All in all, the complex covers approximately 200 acres (81 hectares) and is widely regarded as one of the safest facilities in the world, thanks to the elite protective guard and multiple fence barriers around the site.
Presidents spend varying amounts of time at Camp David. The site tends to be especially popular in the summer months, when the cool mountain air is a refreshing change from Washington’s sometimes oppressive heat. Some Presidents have spent considerable time at the site, while others have preferred to visit other locations for private retreats. Many Presidents have also contributed to the overall look of the facility with an assortment of renovations and innovations.
This site is also popular as a place to host conferences and discussions. The remote location makes it easier to focus on serious matters without outside influence and can foster more private and detailed discussions between international leaders. The site has been used as a neutral site for the purpose of developing international treaties such as the Camp David Accords and for informal conferences between the president and heads of state from around the world.
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