Fort Bliss Welcomes El Paso All The Time, Not Just Special Events

On a military base like Fort Bliss, security is always a priority but El Paso is pretty much always welcome to visit almost any time at all.

Fort Bliss, Texas is one of the largest military training grounds in the USA and, even though it's actually just barely in Texas, it's the city of El Paso's largest employer. This "city within a city" is pretty freakin' big all the way around.

We're not talking some super, top secret base here though. Fort Bliss wants all El Paso peeps to know they are pretty much free to come and go as they please, whether there is something big happening or not.

Fort Bliss has pretty much always had an "open door policy" when it came to folks wanting to go on base. Only military/DOD could use certain facilities, like the PX for example, but anyone could visit the museums, eat at the restaurants, visit friends living on base, etc.

There was a brief interruption in this following 911 and another during the COVID 19 pandemic but Fort Bliss wants everyone to know that, as of 2022, the doors are once again, (almost), wide open.

Today the post has 24/7 access through the Buffalo Soldier Gate, located on the east side of Fort Bliss. El Pasoans can also go through the Chaffee Visitor Control Center open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., located on the northside of Fort Bliss. (Map)

Before entering the post, visitors can enter if they are sponsored by a servicemember or if they sign up for a recreational pass, which can be applied for at either visitor center at each gate. elpasoinc

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Your, (valid), driver license is all you need to apply for a pass which can be for a special event, work related visits or for a visitors pass that's good for one year. I did it in just a couple of minutes, easy peasy.

On top of special events like the Pop Goes The Fort and all the Freedom Crossing concerts, you can also attend the 2025 Amigo Air Sho and visit other places like the Freedom Crossing mall, the Rod and Gun Club, and the Bowling Center. Which, FYI, is the largest in the DOD.

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