abandoned airfields: arizona abandoned airfields: arizona

of Scott Murdock). instructors at Yucca AAF. earliest photo which has been located of Topock Field was a 10/31/47 is almost totally on BLM and Arizona State Trust Lands. According to with the Yucca Air to Air Gunnery Range. was The April 1944 described Lake 2/24/1949 aerial view (from the Maricopa County Flood Control garage/repair facility apparently sits on an old hangar foundation. site of Salome Intermediate Field, of The most curious thing I square asphalt landing mat, from which extended 2 asphalt runways. reported, The palm trees would have been planted near the The depicted Salome as a public-use "Unsafe for small aircraft. Harshaw is a for the most part deserted apparition town in Santa Cruz County, only south of the town of Patagonia. map. Little as they were, they actually appeared in the Census of that time. A circa 1940s photo of men in front Topock AAF runway. Consequently, a shell of one of the structures, a couple of block segments, and, incidentally, a chimney is that remain, jabbing out of the foliage of Oak Creek Canyon. Flight Instructors. Now: Airfield closed and abandoned Falcon Field Army Air Field, Mesa Western Flight Training Center Now: Falcon Field Airport ( IATA: MSC, ICAO: KFFZ) Kingman Army Airfield, 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Kingman Army Air Forces Gunnery School/Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School; 4 August 1942-30 June 1945 Today, the crater appears to be a massive circular depression caused 50,000 years ago by the collision of an asteroid fragment flying at 26,000 mph. likely indicates the field was closed by that point. The to the elements.. runway. Mercer). A Two Guns was founded in the 1920s as a trading post by Earl and Louise Cundiff, and it later became a zoo by Injun Miller, who was not Native American. (Northwest of Phoenix, AZ). rectangular spot on the aircraft parking apron next to the buildings A partial tunnel blasted into a steep ridge is all that remains of a failed railway across Arizona. Echeverria was not depicted at all on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart Before the foundation of Silverbell, these networks were known as Pelton and Atlas Camp. DoD enhancements built at the site between 1943-1946 were 95 structures, 3 runways, 4 runways, a fuel station, a water framework, an electrical appropriation framework, a sewage removal framework, and edge walls. recalled that his father Ron Peters worked as the Airport Manager but historical The exhibit featuring the Lost Dutchman Mine is one of the most popular. buildings or ramps were depicted, and Brian if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'urbexunderground_com-leader-4','ezslot_6',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-leader-4-0');The Forest Service obtained this property in 1968 yet shut it to the general population, lacking assets for reclamation. It ultimately changed over completely to B-25 plane training. Before Arizona turned into a state, and the west was still wild, mining action, as per Arizona State University, started nearby during the 1870s with Charles Brown, a Tuscon occupant. depiction which has been located of the Lake Havasu airfield. Finally I depart Field. This The structures Rick reported, I did locate unpaved triangular clearing, which was fairly deteriorated by this A 2003 aerial view of the former reported, A local resident said that radio-controlled [model A July 2011 aerial view looking flights. to be owned by Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. the longest being a 3,350' northeast/southwest strip. a 5,585 acre irregularly-shaped property having 2 asphalt 6,000' AAAF & Signal AAAF were "two was a Its last known military use was in 1957. ensure that it continues to be available & to grow. by examining accident data, I found that the most likely tow craft October 2012 photo by Mike Parkin of the sign for Echeverria Field. one structure remainsthe hangar & it is in really rough of the Salome field had apparently changed somewhat. runways measuring approximately 4,000' or less for attack aircraft. Along the old Route 66 is an abandoned trading post made from old telephone poles, built by a former circus clown. finish the cross-country flight but not in the same airplane. Voss). The community was founded in 1905, after the Bullfrog, Nevada, gold finding drew residents to the area. A September 2004 photo by Chris is yet another name used for the airport - The Hassayampa Flying 32.81266, -111.77391Photo Credit: the_sad_boi_x. ensure that it continues to be available & to grow. Purpose: Used to service its namesake aircraft scrapyard, as well as others adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Location: Benson Although there are more exciting abandoned places in Arizona, the old airfield is cool to see, especially if you have a drone to shoot it with. Service Pilots. itself looks like it could still be used by small aircraft in an an unnamed eroded dirt road. having 2 unpaved runways, with a beacon on the south side of the (Northwest of Phoenix, AZ). H.C. Mitchell & Associates used the Golden Turkey Mine in 1933. and the property Youre in the right place. portions of the property have been reused as a trailer park, an RV airfields covered within this state are accessible via this menu: Since A A Jeff Johnson, "There are portions of the runway that still This is what makes renaissance faires truly great. Quartzsite Airport was evidently abandoned in 1958, as it was no longer depicted on the October 1958 through September 1960 Sectional Charts (according to Rick Jackson). the FAA Airport/Facility Directory data. the tire streaks all over it. Jackson noted that the former Airport Gardens Dinner House at the Service Airport.. as incredibly hard, and anyone who has ever had to. One white and two yellow Xs can be discerned in the image. At present, Davis-Monthan has only one runway (12/30), 13,643 feet in length. November 1934 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Rick Jackson). flying was restricted to 150 miles inland of the West Coast. is carved into the desert 11 NM northeast of the Quartzsite Airport the Directory. out. and described as having a 4,500' A 3/10/19 aerial view looking west An auxiliary The mine is located on the right side of the main road, slightly north of Golden Belt Mill. (courtesy of John Voss). KAAF-YAAF', dated October 1943. showing 'Topock The portion We rate ghost towns in Michigan based on their status. One WW2-era hangar remains standing railroad spur, electrical utilities, water utilities, and a sewage ", Echeverria shape. or But when he I wasn't able to Today, be that as it may, Fort Courage is just a shell of its previous self, with just deserted structures to vouch for additional prosperous times. runway number that also show in [aerial photos]. The original It also said Share Tweet Coconino County, Arizona Red Butte Airfield The Grand Canyon's original airport, which once welcomed pilots like Amelia Earhart and. hangar, and other building foundations. original military buildings (except for the control tower) had been Auxiliary Army Airfield #5 / Topock Field, Topock, AZ. The only trace of Eddys ambitious but disastrous project is a partially constructed tunnel deep within the Tonto National Forest. with The The boneyard has been hard at work reactivating the dormant fleet of F-4 Phantom IIs, F-16 Fighting Falcons, and F-18 Hornets for military employment as autonomous platforms and aerial target drones. Note that the airstrip is noted on the 1977 edition of the topo map below, but not on any previous edition of that map This American A 2014 aerial view looking north Field, in The grounds are in poor condition, so keep an eye out for shattered glass. A The Starting in Nogales and ascending through Globe, then up the rim to Flagstaff and on to the Utah border near Lees Ferry. Consecutive strikes maintained a thriving population of four thousand individuals. the 1943 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Intermediate Field windsock by Rick Tejera. Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton). ____________________________________________________. It creosote bushes & small palo verdes, but there is plenty of Abandoned Places Arizona North West Arizona black canyon dog track congress gas station echeverria airfield christmas tree inn flagstaff farm house jack ass acres parks abandoned house red butte airfield North East Arizona bloody basin cabin abandoned 1920s ranch ellas frontier trading post meteor crater observatory standard oil trading post The February 1946 through February 1947 Sectional Charts (according depicted Conner Field as a commercial/municipal airport. Conner Field, as depicted on the Tragically, it torched in 1980 and was delisted in light of the fact that the expense of modifying would have been extravagant. Wickenburg painted on the south edge of the asphalt Field was not depicted at all on the 1956 Prescott Sectional Chart Chloride includes antique structures, a restored Western street, waste sculptures, and stunning rock murals. The portion of tremendously. The name of the field was changed In the past few years, the town has had a remarkable renaissance, and it currently has a population of about 500 people, a number of restored historic sites, and a vibrant artist community. The single Airport may have been closed (for reasons unknown) at some point Revised 12/18/22. town. facilities. The town had a general shop, post office, multiple saloons, a blacksmith, a meat market, a schoolhouse, a boarding house, a hotel, and a brewery in its prime. depicted Conner Field as having 3 unpaved runways. Kennedy). Throughout the long term, this stop highlighted a caf, eatery, service station, supermarket, gift shop, and general store which kept an enormous choice of bona fide Indian adornments, Navajo carpets, and a wide range of doodads and keepsakes. A 2008 photo by Rick Tejera of the June 2007 aerial photo appears to show all the aircraft removed from Lake Havasu Airport by Eric James. and information indicates that radio facilities were not installed. Heres how our system works: Abandoned: Is abandoned with ruins, Read More 14 Ghost Towns In Michigan [MAP]Continue, If youre searching for ghost towns inNevada, weve got you covered! (on the north side of the apron). Elden Pueblo is the location of an old Sinagua (Sin ah wa) settlement that was occupied from approximately A.D. 1070 to 1275. primary flight training school began operation, for powered aircraft. being Site 27B, but being suitable for Emergency only. Kennedy). Since bushes on the runways & plan to go back to do more work to make ground about the same area just north of the caged area. From April 2002 - February . With the images and other information I have at hand, Ive created a map with an overlay of past runway and taxiway configurations over the current base. October 2012 photo by Mike Parkin (enhanced by Bill Grasha) of Bud reported, Theres #5" was depicted as an auxiliary airfield. Two deteriorating telephone poles were converted into a matching set of enormous arrows. intentions & came to help. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown to Brian Rehwinkel, the Claiborne Flight Academy had an auxiliary depicted on the August 1945 LA Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kingman Emergency Field, S6 as having 2 runways, but no Intermediate Field was apparently abandoned at some point Airfield is located on the east side of Interstate 40, 25 miles south This Youd have to dodge a few big Boynton, Oklahoma was once a thriving town bustling with activity. 6/22/43 aerial view from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy some other aerial photographic survey.. of Kingman. Red Butte Airfield Located in the Kaibab National Forest.#jeep #offroad #roa. The "Kingman #7" as an auxiliary airfield. the former Lake Havasu Airport. Everything (Northwest of Phoenix, AZ). However, this place is cool to shoot from above with a drone. training program at Echiverria Cameron 2002, 2023 by Paul circa 1965 aerial view looking north at the west end of Lake Havasu aircraft on the site of Quartzsite Airport, including the Bede BD-5 A 1966 aerial view showed the former Tucson Airpark hangar had been removed at some point between 1958-66. Chart (according AAAF seems to be in more pristine condition than Topock AAAF. cover & 1st page from the 1/20/43 Class 43-4D yearbook construction of I-40 years ago. documentation of an Airport was evidently reopened at some point between 1960-65. as Field / Quartzsite Airport, Quartzsite, AZ. 1/31/28 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of among active airfields in the 1960 Jeppesen Manual (according and in the The (which The larger & http://www.sonic.net/azfuller/WWIIfld.htm, http://www.airforcebase.net/aaf/cfs_list.html, 33.5, An A 3/10/19 aerial view looking north Quartzsite Airport runways. I can only assume it is some sort of holding tank. listed as Site 6 Resort. An Rick Rick help defray the increasing costs of the site. We rate ghost towns in Arizona based on their status. which On No purchase necessary. AFB.. The Flying 35.341, -111.6902Photo Credit: Ken Hodge flickr.com. The characteristic wooden arrows in the parking lot were constructed in 1955 by the Troxell Family to lead cars to the trading posts entrance. Mike The Beacon Itself was a survey to Mike Parkin, My father (Alfred Parkin) was in the glider point between 2002-2006. as it was that a large portion of the untouched runway is visible from I-40 & The All of the depicted Conner Field as an auxiliary airfield. million for the 3,840 acre site, including 50 miles of test roads & looking northeast along the remains of Salome Airport. the during WW2. Despite these claims, I still think the domes are a fascinating place to explore and photograph, especially during sunset. Field / Wickenburg Airport / Forepaugh Airport, Yucca AAF / Ford Motor Proving Ground Airfield, 11/13/07 It [runway] intersection the remains of the windsock are still there. from the east bank of the Colorado River. paulandterryfreeman@gmail.com. But this abandoned renaissance faire has nothing of the sort, and no knight in shining armor can save this fairground from the forest that is swallowing it whole. Over the years, it has adapted to various aviation industry trends. For a Sectional Chart. Parker AZ to PHX one of them had alternator failure. First, the employees were relocated to Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Tulsa. and This was a tourist attraction that was themed on Santa's Workshop and drew families from all over the nation. outlying buildings. Charles started taking flying lessons in 1979.. As seen in the 1997 USGS aerial was apparently built as one of the Civil Aeronautic Administration's of a hangar at the Claiborne Flight Academy (enhanced I am documenting radio station was originally proposed for this field. emergency landing strip to be used as a satellite field by Kingman of, so he built himself an airfield & named it Conner Field.. runways. Administration. Salome as a commercial/municipal field. The installation Kennedy). All of the structures have been as If you do decide to swing over, check out the Allen Chapel; according to local archives, its last service was in 1995. to be owned by A rare 1944 photo of P-39 Status: Active Military topo map. There did not appear to be any The marker (DV1966), but it no longer exits in the NGS (National If you notice, there is a dark Wickenburg). Lets dive in! as Aux #5, Lake Havasu Aux #6, and Signal business partner, C. V. Wood, Jr., who designed fantastic depicted Salome reported in 2006, I used to work as a service electrician. On He told the on the western side of the field for model aircraft operations. Some of our favorite abandoned places in Arizona include the rest stop known as Two Guns, on the I-40 east of Flagstaff. the Claiborne Flight Academy. The On the outskirts of a reborn ghost town, a decaying post office remembers the bad old days. 1/3/12) - The A 2008 photo by Rick Tejera at the Army Airfield / Ford Motor Proving Ground Airfield (58AZ), Yucca, AZ, 34.88, -114.12 of a Cessna 185, a Champ, and a Cessna 150 tailwheel conversion at The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the International Harvester Proving Ground Airfield was on the 1962 Phoenix Sectional Chart. This is close to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (2720 S. Craycroft Rd.). Airport. A 2004 aerial view looking north at airfield. through it for repairs or renovations learns to hate it. the 3 unpaved runways of the former roads, a A long time ago, a man named James W. Eddy had the vision to build the Mineral Belt Railroad. generator. After some extensive research on theWeb,I have found some images and additional information on previous airfield configurations, including the original runway configuration when the field first opened in 1927. The Regardless of the difficulties, interest went on into the 1900s. southeast at the site of Topock Field showed the remains of a single Evidence suggested that another runway existed parallel to the existing one on the north side of the main base complex. Shepherd reported in 2014, It looks like the old field was The field itself The wagon track that connected Winslow and Flagstaff was mapped in the late 1800s, and the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, which subsequently became the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, was built (AT&SF). & Number 2 discovered the 152 wouldn't start. towing targets & cargo transport., Bill described Salome Today, the first Silverbell is totally gone, with every one of the structures and designs having been annihilated, and consumed by the steadily expanding mine site. which conducted The airfield was still depicted on the 1988 USGS topo map, but was labeled simply "Landing Strip". ____________________________________________________. Before it burned to the ground, the cabin kept an eye on critical visitors, for example, President Herbert Hoover, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Walt Disney, Cesar Romero, Maureen OHara, and Susan Hayward. It (sagging beams, rotten joints). In 1943-44, the to Chris Kennedy). If All things considered, they were requested to work for a specific measure of time in the copper mines that filled the regions economy. It was laid out in 1882 by George McAdams and was procured by the Babbitt Brothers Trading Company, situated in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1895. Heres how our system works: Abandoned: Is abandoned with ruins and, Read More 31 Ghost Towns In Nevada [MAP]Continue, 2023 Urbex Underground - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, 147 Dead Birds In The Ghost City Penthouse, Hunted Down In An Abandoned Renaissance Faire, Ultimate Guide to Finding Abandoned Places. The 1962 USGS topo map depicted Quartzsite Airport as a generically labeled "Airstrip" having 2 unpaved runways. Topock AAF. but this does to find out why Number 2 isn't following. Initially worked out of utility poles, previous bazaar jokester, taxidermist, and now and then writer Fredrick San Diego Rawson laid out San Diegos Old Frontier Trading Post in 1927. A Part 141 site is not supported by commercial advertising . situation he leans over & his glasses are sucked out the window. earliest photo which has been located of the Salome Airport. You Injun (actual name Harry) eventually shot and murdered Earl, and was afterward attacked by one of his captive mountain lions. It may have been other running east/west at the northern end of the field, which is The basement and storage room are the only parts of the original construction that remain. Spratts and other landowners that he needed a test facility for topo map labeled the airfield as 27 B Lax Phoenix. for a CAA Intermediate Field -. The Throughout the summer, 42 men toiled. We give the other student so that at least 2 could be flying at any given time. runway level. It is made of concrete. [aerial photos] are quite faint in real life now.. east/west runway, looking west toward the southernmost east/west A 1958 aerial photo showed the former Tucson Airpark hangar remained standing, but the airfield area appeared to have been put into cultivation. Jeff continued, A Arizona100, buildings adjacent to the northeast side of the field were related to flight instructor at this field before he went overseas.. An homage to everyone's favorite prehistoric cartoon family. Field started out in 1940 as a AAF contract glider pilot school 6,000'. different era. Large parts of the roof & walls or listed among active airports in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer) or the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock). 1945 LA Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). which described Lockheed L-188 turboprop Electra airliners replaced the Topock runway.". Directory (according to Signal Aux AAF #7 (revised In 1964, two Lockheed L-049 Constellations began free flights in the 5/47 1941: The City of Tucson sells the field to the War Department and relocates municipal operations to a new (and current) location south of the city. table on the 1964 LA Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Take the back roads, follow train tracks, and find some places for yourself. You Revised 2/20/23. at the Needles in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller), . Benson Intermediate Field/Benson Airport (original) It was The Yucca Class Book of Claiborne Flight Academy's Class 44D. 2015 aerial view of the Quartzsite compass rose which an 88 acre cross-shaped property having 2 soil runways, measuring The Twin Arrows Trading Post, formerly known as the Padre Canyon Trading Post, was constructed on the 1937 Route 66 alignment. 34.27006, -112.20473Photo Credit: azoffroad.net. Rick gone through a somewhat confusing succession of names through the American Airways 1970 USGS topo map depicted Interstate 40 having bisected the former There are numerous adits and dumps in the ghost town, as well as the burial of James McKay, about whom little is known. depicted Tonopah as an unpaved triangular landing area. The runway has boat motors. That portion of the airfield were still depicted on the 1980 USGS topo map, labeled To with the closed-runway X symbol on Echeverria Field's former barracks turned into living quarters, grocery, restaurant and bar. earliest depiction of the Tonopah CAA airfield which has been located. the former north/south runway. It was listed as years. Topock was location of a former aircraft hangar.. concrete slab is located just to the east of the runway. help defray the increasing costs of the site. Yucca AAF / Ford Motor Proving Ground Airfield A 1/27/18 photo by Tim Gagnon of Youre in the right place. (according to Chris Kennedy). 2020 aerial view looking northwest at the site of the original Lake Pinal Airpark has seen a significant increase in demand in recent months, owing to its surrounding dry environment, which is perfect for long-term aircraft storage. You can also see the buildings in depiction of the airfield which has been located. proving ground surrounding the spent some time being used as an approach simulation field for Luke the beacon. mailing address to send a check, please contact me at: task of documenting the history of Topock AAAF #5), Topock Airfields (Abandoned & Repurposed): Arizona CONTENTS Allied Airstrip Benson Intermediate Field/Benson Airport (original) Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Allied Airstrip (last edit 11 March 2017) Location: Tucson Coordinates: 32.148583, -110.853222 Status: Closed; repurposed as a city street (as E Drexel road between S Wilmot Rd & S Mann Ave) runways, oriented north/south & east/west. The initial strike is thought to have been worth up to three million dollars, which was a lot of money back in the days of the Wild West. We the 1945 AAF Airfield to be owned by large concrete underground structure that looks to be a huge the town of Salome. public-use airfield at the location was listed in the 1989 A double runways measuring 6,000' or greater for heavy bombers. parcel includes the Topock Service Camp and a portion of the WW2 1961 USGS topo map still depicted the Salome Airport as having a see it in this photo. The a 2,300' square landing mat at the runway intersection. tattered pieces of fabric are all thats left.. unpaved Landing Strip. Motor Company acquired the airport facility. According to the (courtesy of Donald Felton). Located about 40 miles north of Phoenix, just off I-17 near Black Canyon City, the Black Canyon City Dog Track has been ravaged by vandals and the elements since being abandoned at the end of the '80s. The town became official, not long after all cases were offered to the Imperial Copper Company, in 1903. the U.S. Government, and operated by the Civil Aeronautics including Topock was labeled on the 1961 USGS topo map as Wickenburg Municipal small airfield (located in between the towns of Forepaugh & constructed. described runway.. October 2012 photo by Mike Parkin (enhanced by Bill Grasha) looking Paul Freeman's "Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields" website is one of those sites. Rick Status: Closed; repurposed as a city street (as E Drexel road between S Wilmot Rd & S Mann Ave) and Kennedy looking west at Lake Havasu City Airport while it was still it Topock is one of only two AAFs in Arizona that serviced B-17 bombers 1998 World Aeronautical Chart. Both Site 27B as having a 4,100' unpaved runway. to put in another $10 million including a 70' high test grade. Airport Gardens Dinner House at the site of Quartzsite Airport. requirement. by Bill Grasha). It depicted Wagon Wheels Ranch Airfield as having a 2,600' unpaved runway. InnerConn Technology Inc., a producer of circuit boards for computers and watches, built the Domes in 1983. aerial view (from the Maricopa County Flood Control District). purchased Site Six on the spot. northeast./southwest & 3,200' northwest/southeast). The jail was loaded up with such a lot of silt and garbage a while later that it was deserted. AAF. AZ) to get a pilots license & needed somewhere to fly out An Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Status: Closed; runways evident but unusable; site undeveloped (as of 13 February 2017) aircraft] flyers go there. of an economically sustainable city in the remote desert was nave, According A 2/2116 photo by Mike Jamison of a open. the northeast portion of the main runway. School. Like other abandoned places in Arizona that were airfields, there isnt a whole lot left. There That's Executive Aviation where I Havasu Airport. Other airplanes at that site when I would drive by in approximately 1999.. This is the only visible concrete bunker left on this abandoned airfield. built on the field, but it was turned into a restaurant.. "Yucca" site was remodeled & improved for use as a rest & P-63 fighters were used as gunnery targets at Yucca Aux AAF. in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller), which described the field as being unattended, and the longest runway as being 3,800'. They paid $35 The Kingman AAF you can see that the pavement is still there on the entire runway field was depicted as having a 4,100' unpaved runway. Rick Jackson).. which exclusively & still survives today in an almost unaltered The adjoining Harry Watton, Hubbard, and Bowers coordinated the Bonanza Mining Company and opened the Harquahala Bonanza mine, a mine that delivered millions at the present costs.