King Salmon was a U.S. Air Force base during World War II and remained a major military installation until 1994, when the base closed. Now, only a skeleton maintenance crew of nonmilitary people remains, but the community that grew up around the base continues to do just fine, thanks to the superior runway. People stop here en route to other villages or backcountry destinations in nearby Katmai National Park and Preserve. Fewer than 400 people live here year-round (about 15 percent are Alaska Natives). The nature of the town changes dramatically in summer, when seasonal workers arrive to work in Bristol Bay's fishing or tourism industries. Sure, there are restaurants and rustic lodges in and around town, but for visitors the emphasis here is on wilderness: From June through September, thousands of tourists come from around the world bound for fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, river floating, and backcountry trekking adventures. Many people come with their sites (and hearts) set on experiencing the region's natural spectacles, such as The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, the tremendous sockeye salmon runs—and the coastal brown bears that follow in their wake. Some of the best bear viewing in Alaska can be seen each July through September at Katmai's famous Brooks Camp.