Editor’s note: This op-ed was originally published in the Merced County Times print edition on June 26, 2025.
When I was first elected to the Merced County Board of Supervisors in 2015, the former Castle Air Force Base stood as both a proud reminder of our community’s military heritage and a glaring symbol of untapped potential.
Today, that same site is a living example of what vision, persistence, and partnership can achieve.
Over the past decade, we have transformed Castle into one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking redevelopment projects in the Central Valley. What was once dormant has become a growing hub of innovation, transportation, economic development, and community engagement.
Castle Commerce Center has flourished into an industrial powerhouse, home to advanced manufacturing, aviation services, and logistics operations.
Back in 2015, Google expanded its lease by 30 acres to test self-driving vehicles, and that was only the beginning. We’ve since welcomed businesses that bring good-paying jobs and long-term investment. Recognizing the need to prepare the site for new opportunity, we tackled long-neglected structures head-on. In 2022, Merced County committed over $1 million to demolish blighted dormitories and aging buildings, clearing the way for modern development. This isn’t just cleanup, it’s strategic reinvestment in our future.
The Transportation Research Center at Castle is now a magnet for autonomous vehicle testing. With its 2.2-mile oval track and vehicle dynamics testing areas, it’s already hosted companies like Tesla and is projected to create more than 140 new jobs by 2025.
The infrastructure we’ve built here puts us on the map nationally.
Castle is also on track, literally, with the establishment of a rail district through our partnership with Patriot Rail. This connection to the BNSF mainline strengthens our role as a logistics hub and will benefit agricultural producers and manufacturers across Merced County and beyond.
We haven’t ignored the past. The Air Force continues environmental remediation work to ensure this site is safe and viable for future generations. Our collaboration has helped move these efforts forward with urgency and transparency.
Castle is no longer just an industrial site. It’s becoming a destination.
Blaker Brewing’s The Tarmac taproom has reimagined an old service station into a vibrant venue filled with craft beer, food trucks, and live music. It’s a place where families gather, stories are shared, and culture thrives.
Healthcare and education are also central to Castle’s rebirth. Golden Valley Health Centers relocated
their administrative offices to Castle, further anchoring health access and employment in our community. The Merced Union High School District has made Castle its home for administrative operations, showing how adaptable and community-centered the site has become.
We even added a little fun to the mix. Cen Cal Escape Rooms, a locally owned business, offers an interactive experience in one of Castle’s repurposed buildings, complete with a real bank vault! It’s a creative reuse of space that adds entertainment and small business energy to the site.
Another significant addition is the CAL FIRE Castle Training Center, located at 3405 Hardstand Avenue in Atwater. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a regional hub for firefighter training, providing realistic, advanced scenarios to prepare our first responders.
The center also partners with Merced College to offer accredited courses that grow and strengthen our emergency workforce.
We’ve also prioritized bringing essential public services closer to the community. The Merced County Human Services Agency established a major office at Castle, providing access to CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and child welfare services. The Veterans Services Office, co-located at the same facility, offers critical benefits navigation and support to those who have served our country.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the businesses that believed in Castle long before this renaissance. These companies chose to operate here when the future was uncertain, and they helped lay the foundation for everything we are building today. From aviation service providers to specialized manufacturers and long-term tenants who have weathered the ups and downs, your loyalty and commitment to Castle have been instrumental. Your presence has given us the credibility and capacity to attract new investment, and I thank you for continuing to be part of this transformation.
Looking ahead, the completion of the Atwater-Merced Expressway (AME) is poised to further amplify Castle’s growth. This multi-phase infrastructure project will provide a direct, high-capacity link between State Route 99 and Castle Commerce Center, significantly improving access for freight, commuters, and visitors alike. By eliminating at-grade rail crossings and reducing congestion on local roads, the AME will enhance safety and efficiency. Moreover, it will bolster Castle’s role as a multimodal logistics hub, connecting air, rail, and highway networks, and supporting the continued development of the Merced County Inland Port. The expressway’s completion is not just a transportation upgrade, it’s a catalyst for economic development, job creation, and regional connectivity.
Castle’s evolution didn’t happen overnight. It’s taken leadership, collaboration, and a deep belief in our
community’s potential. I’ve been proud to lead that charge, alongside my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors, our dedicated county staff, our private-sector partners, and the people of Merced County.
We’re not done yet. But when I look at Castle today, I don’t just see what it used to be, I see what it has become, and more importantly, what it will be.
Daron McDaniel is the District 3 representative on the Merced County Board
of Supervisors.