Caretaker Says 'Pokemon Go' Players Are Damaging Historic Fort Phoenix

FAIRHAVEN (CBS) – Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven dates back to the Revolutionary War, but in the past three weeks, most of the visitors to the site haven't even looked at the bronze plaques or historic markers.

Most have scarcely looked up from their phones because they're playing Pokémon Go.

"It's fun," one woman said. "It's something other to do than social media."

But there's a problem in the making. It seems that the heavy foot traffic, and at times there are hundreds of players there, has destroyed the grass.

Then, there's some of the goings on at night. "We're finding holes in the ground, and pieces of the historic stone walls are missing," says Gary Lavallette of the Fairhaven Historic Commission.

"Every day I'm picking up pieces of concrete from the walls."

The players say they are not the ones causing the damage, and the game is a great way to socialize. "It just brings out the good in a lot of people," a player said.

Every night at 10 pm the fort's gates are closed and a detail police officer has been present for the past two weeks. But still, the Pokemon Go players are able to find their way in and occupy the fort.