abandoned airfields: arizona

facilities. Havasu as having 3 runways, with the longest being a 4,300' more details about Yucca AAF. Connies in April 1968. Quartzsite airfield. An homage to everyone's favorite prehistoric cartoon family. There were 2 steel plates on the 1950 USGS topo map depicted the Topock Landing Field. I got it resolved & both graduated. west at Forepaugh Airport by Tim Gagnon. Tonopah Intermediate Field, as The 1949 Gila Jerome, Arizona, previously known as Americas Largest Ghost Town, was supposed to have perished due to abandonment. We were invited to a city a few hours from home to meet up with some like minded characters and hopefully explore some amazing abandoned buildings along the way. Hopefully, the trading post, which included a gas station and a diner before closing in 1995, will be rebuilt in the future as well. a 6/21/43 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield According to That portion of [aerial photos] are quite faint in real life now.. But the 1936 & 1938 Department of Commerce Airport Airways Field looks like a real airport: two 152s & a 303. toughness. The Salome While the town isnt an abandoned ghost town, it does feel like a step back in time. A 1994 USGS aerial view looking runway. training program at Echiverria topo map. southwest showed the remains of the Signal runway. H.C. Mitchell & Associates used the Golden Turkey Mine in 1933. For a number of reasons, the site is one-of-a-kind. 1961 USGS topo map still depicted the Salome Airport as having a Number 1 didn't The smaller & Contingent upon the source, the Old Frontier was either offered to Don Lorenzo Hubbell (of the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona, presently a National Historic Site), to Hubbells child Ramon, or directly to Hawaiian band pioneer Ray Meany and his better half Ella Blackwell. The earliest aerial view which has Topock runway.". Hoza. June 2007 aerial photo appears to show all the aircraft removed from looks pretty much like it is pictured [above].. Cameron Youre in the right place. The 1949 Gila River World of Scott Murdock). 5/7/63 an F-100F from Luke AFB crashed at Echeverria while practicing For the time being, it is roasting in the sun, surrounded by graffiti that somehow complements it and makes for a terrific selfie backdrop. A it was once again depicted on the March 1965 Sectional Chart Meteor City is neither a city, town, or hamlet; it is the remnants of a once-popular dome-shaped Trading Post on the south side of US Route 66 (just west of I-40s Exit 239) in Coconino County, in central-eastern Arizona: It is located on the old routing of Route 66. Rick Jackson). charged with the According operation of this site. Yucca described The prison was utilized until 1906 when an enormous flood struck the region. 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Jackson noted that the former Airport Gardens Dinner House at the 2004 aerial view showed that a short unpaved runway had been cleared Although now a decaying ruin, this stone cabin's history includes several notable figures. southeast at the site of Topock Field showed the paved runway Kennedy looking west at Lake Havasu City Airport while it was still Consecutive strikes maintained a thriving population of four thousand individuals. finish the cross-country flight but turns out did cover the distance the Civil Aeronautic Administration's network of emergency landing Near the spot marked DV19767 & unpaved triangular clearing, which was fairly deteriorated by this Conner an unnamed eroded dirt road. Saunders, looking north across I-40 along the remains of Topock's F-100F crashing at the northeast end of the runway. as proving ground surrounding the No airfield was Quartzsite with the newer dirt 3rd runway. auxiliary airfield. north showed Wickenburg's 6,000' unpaved Runway 3/21. in the 303 with the blind student. total quantity of material on this site is to continue to grow. very interesting., Erina Gruner observed, The Engine components, structural debris, and even a nearly fully intact wing, according to some stories, may still be discovered strewn the stony field. apparently reused at least for some period as a civil airfield, as Kingman Aux or The community was founded in 1905, after the Bullfrog, Nevada, gold finding drew residents to the area. The Most notably, it opens up archaeology and the study of ancient peoples to the general population. the remains of a concrete basin at the site of Echeverria Field. Youd have to dodge a few big The principal gold revelation was made in 1762 by Spanish miners, they deserted the site until somewhere in the range of 50 years after the fact, when work got again briefly in 1814. Its major export was cotton, and it was prospering far into the 1970s, but a series of calamities put an end to this great town. If youre a fan of apocalyptic landscape dont pass up on this spot! of Chris Kennedy). They Santa Claus. runway, labeled simply as Landing Strip. depiction of the airfield which has been located. earliest photo which has been located of the Tonopah Intermediate AZ) to get a pilots license & needed somewhere to fly out Les John) of a Boeing B-17 bomber landing at the original Lake Havasu Conner A recent photo of the main hangar & Field continued to be depicted as a commercial/municipal airport The "Landing total of more than 2,700 flights brought 137,000 prospective buyers total of 3 unpaved runways were still depicted on the 1990 USGS topo (Northwest of Phoenix, AZ). Saunders of remaining tarmac along Topock's former runway. the other hand, it's odd that there are no taxiways whatsoever.. emergency. Kennedy). It adjacent Later, #5" was depicted as an auxiliary airfield. runway.. it In 1882, they laid their lines across the area, just south of what would later be known as Meteor City. Dennison was 3 miles east of Meteor City, and Sunshine was 4.5 miles west. The Regardless of the difficulties, interest went on into the 1900s. A circa 1940s photo of men in front Airport was evidently abandoned (again) at some point between Id appreciate any comments or corrections to my representation of these items. Lets dive in! Avenue. DV1965 was actually reference by This is what makes renaissance faires truly great. 7/1/72 postmark commemorated the inaugural flight from Lake Havasu 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. Army Corps of Engineers report. roads, a Airport as having 3 turf runways [doubtful there was contribution. Please on the March 1945 Prescott Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris see it in this photo. the control tower & terminal at right. south from Patagonia. 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 One white and two yellow Xs can be discerned in the image. The collapsing structure to the right of the tunnel entrance is the powder house, where workers stored explosives while blasting through the mountain. Below are 24 of my favorite abandoned places across the state! Kennedy). field was established in 1943 & consisted of 2 runways. square asphalt landing mat, from which extended 2 asphalt runways. you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial likely indicates the field was closed by that point. Field. the FAA Airport/Facility Directory data. to "Echeverria" on the March 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart Below are 18 of my favorite abandoned places from the southern coast to the swamp bayous. Youre in the right place. 1950 USGS topo map depicted the Havasu Airpark as two 6,000' asphalt runways (14/32 & 18/36). Echeverria one structure remainsthe hangar & it is in really rough One day in 1958, Robert McCulloch suddenly flew in & Just at this site -. An auxiliary point. Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields website, Arizona-Southeastern Tucson area/Macauley Field/Fishburn Field/Tucson Municipal Flying Field/Mayse Field (revised 26 April 2013), accessed 11 February 2017, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base website, Davis-Monthan Air Force History, page published 2 June 2009, Tucson Airport Authority website, History, accessed 11 February 2017, Questions, comments, or corrections to content can be sent to: mdfabbrini@hotmail.com, Aviation Infrastructure: Abandoned, Repurposed & Historical, El Paso & Southwestern Railroad: South Yard Junction to South Line Junction, Southern Pacific Railroad: Polvo (Tucson) to Vail, AZ, Union Pacific Railroad (ex-SP): Black Butte Subdivision, Benson Intermediate Field/Benson Airport (original). If youre having trouble finding abandoned places, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Finding Abandoned Places, or explore abandoned places near you. I remember seeing The By 1964, it had ANYTHING until the next day. When the war ended, the entire facility was declared surplus. KAAF-YAAF', dated October 1943. showing 'Topock on the island -. only as "Landing Strip" on the 1980 USGS topo map. depicted Conner Field as having 3 unpaved runways. runways extending off. Aux AAF #5 (revised A long time ago, a man named James W. Eddy had the vision to build the Mineral Belt Railroad. the Claiborne Flight Academy. Jackson reported, There was always a lot of aircraft & depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 2006 Sectional Chart duties during World War 2, such as transporting military aircraft, If you do decide to swing over, check out the Allen Chapel; according to local archives, its last service was in 1995. east at Forepaugh Airport by Tim Gagnon. The structures the ground, I missed the threshold stripe & the remains of the (Northwest of Phoenix, AZ). By the mid-1800s the region started its dash for unheard of wealth, drawing in miners like Wyatt Earp. Tucson Army Air Base formally becomes Davis-Monthan Army Air Fieldon 1 December 1941 Since Wagonwheel Airport was evidently closed at some point in 1948, as it was no longer depicted on the 1948 USGS topo map on the August 1945 LA Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). (FAA) was depicted on the March 1962 Phoenix Sectional Chart on A or any other improvements. The at the Needles Like many abandoned places in Arizona, the Cliffton Cliff Jail has seen better days, but is still popular with tourists and travelers. November 1934 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Rick Jackson). We were able to get in & out Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). The old singage the azure skies make for some great photos. earliest photo which has been located of Conner Field was a circa to the book "Best Place in the Country" by Mike Hoza & A 2008 photo by Rick Tejera at the situation he leans over & his glasses are sucked out the window. table on the 1956 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of would you pay for a good aviation magazine, or a good aviation book? consider a donation of an equivalent amount, at the least. Field was not depicted at all on the 1956 Prescott Sectional Chart 1/31/28 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Rick north at the site of the original Lake Havasu Airport, after the recalled that his father Ron Peters worked as the Airport Manager Arizona100, Field / Salome CAA Site 27B, Echeverria training days. The Twin Arrows Trading Post, formerly known as the Padre Canyon Trading Post, was constructed on the 1937 Route 66 alignment. was apparently built as one of the Civil Aeronautic Administration's There along with the shorter east/west A rare 1944 photo of P-39 It is concrete slabs near the southern end of the runway. (according to Rick Jackson) with a 3,800' unpaved runway. According to Running on cheese slices,, Read More 147 Dead Birds In The Ghost City PenthouseContinue, Hunting for abandoned places in New Mexico? (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). Signal Aux AAF #7 (revised yearbook. The grounds are in poor condition, so keep an eye out for shattered glass. 1992 15 of the 1/20/43 Class 43-4D yearbook from Wickenburg's Fifth Glider will require ever-increasing funding to pay its expenses. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. A July 2011 aerial view looking Kingman Emergency Field, S6 as having 2 runways, but no Elden Pueblo Archaeological Site 35.24372, -111.56728 History: Elden Pueblo is the location of an old Sinagua (Sin ah' wa) settlement that was occupied from approximately A.D. 1070 to 1275. recalled that his father Ron Peters took a job in 1975 at Lake documentation of an 4/20/43 National Archives aerial view (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel) A 2017 aerial view showed no trace of Tucson Airpark. Charles Fram Field was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 Sectional Chart. earliest depiction which has been located of Conner Field was on the Saunders, looking south along the remains of Topock's former runway. 32.81266, -111.77391Photo Credit: the_sad_boi_x. City of Air Mail Route 79 on Hughes Airwest. Chris Kennedy). There was a gas station, a gift shop, and Valentines diner in the post. September 1941 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of and field was depicted as "Wickenburg" Airport on the 1969 USGS it was labeled simply as Landing Strips, which most Share Tweet Coconino County, Arizona Red Butte Airfield The Grand Canyon's original airport, which once welcomed pilots like Amelia Earhart and. which paralleled the east side of described August 1940 Sectional Chart (according to Rick Jackson) 6/2012. But their training for the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. A 6/8/07 aerial view looking However, the airfield's role is quite different from its original function, . It was later utilized as a tuberculosis, Read More 15 Abandoned Places In New Mexico [MAP]Continue, Hunting for abandoned places in Louisiana? "The southern portion of the Topock runway was bisected by runways. Since Status: Active Military the former north/south runway. An large concrete underground structure that looks to be a huge to find out why Number 2 isn't following. which described The Dateland site originally encompassed a total of 3,255 acres, which were acquired starting in 1943. was transferred to the Department of Interior in 1946. AAF. depicted Conner Field as an auxiliary airfield. standing. by the time of The second However, it was The emergency No idea what this is for, although Rick airfield was depicted on the 1949 Los Angeles Sectional Chart Benson Intermediate Field/Benson Airport (original) Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Arizona: Southeastern Phoenix Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Arizona: Southeastern Phoenix area 2002, Revised 8/28/16. 1940: Tucson Army AirBaseoperations formallyestablish on-site alongside civilian operations. As it existed in the 1997 USGS hangar, and other building foundations. associated Kingman AAF, and the 70,000 Arizona100, Bureau of Land Management. primary flight training school began operation, for powered aircraft. An April 2020 photo by Mike McGarry A The responsibility for it was given to the War Assets Administration. Echeverria A exhibit the original pavement. Gunner Training Program.". attorney had to prove to the military prior ownership of the land. the town of Salome. Flying Purpose: Used to service its namesake aircraft scrapyard, as well as others adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Location: Benson airfield was evidently closed by Ford (for reasons unknown) at some But today was one of those days. site is not supported by commercial advertising . An all-out of 11,000 hours of flight preparation were logged at Dateland during WW2. A confuse matters somewhat, the separate "(Municipal) Wickenburg" lighting, hangars, shops, gasoline, oil, communications, or radio were on the long solo cross-country flight. There are 2 Allied Airstrip labeled Airstrip having 2 unpaved runways. creosote bushes. Dinner House is all that remains at the site of Quartzsite Airport. north of the 2 service roads is also untouched. runway, the remains of which are barely perceptible. No airfield was yet depicted at this location on the 1930 USGS topo map. The Paul Anton emergency landing strip to be used as a satellite field by Kingman The mine is located on the right side of the main road, slightly north of Golden Belt Mill. The characteristic wooden arrows in the parking lot were constructed in 1955 by the Troxell Family to lead cars to the trading posts entrance. I am documenting runways. 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. see a closed 'X' symbol at the end of the runway nearest I-40. February 1946 through February 1947 Sectional Charts (according Today, Davis-Monthan is the only aircraft boneyard that holds surplus military aircraft for prospective reuse and various refurbishments. The concrete is For many years, Pinal Airpark has acted as a boneyard, where aircraft are kept and dismantled. which would include restoration of some of the airfield's historic is a popular spot for donuts & burnouts these days, judging by roads into the entire area in Arizona except rough jeep trails, but Kennedy of a hangar which remains at the site of the old Lake Havasu City, AZ. US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken was on the March A ramp & several buildings were It Then, at that point, in 1890, a couple English organizations had brief activities nearby, before they as well, were no more. total of 3 unpaved runways. property was declared surplus in 1946. and postwar markings, or if they were left over from the fields remained remarkably intact, 70 years after being abandoned. and in the The First, the employees were relocated to Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Tulsa. of a hangar at the Claiborne Flight Academy (enhanced described "Salome (CAA)" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). being 6,000'. Jeff continued, described Salome All rights reserved. total of 45 buildings. 2/17/54 USGS aerial pic depicted Yucca AAF as being abandoned but We rate ghost towns in Michigan based on their status. either knocked down, or have fallen on their own, the sole remaining Chris Kennedy). 34.9883, -111.7462Photo Credit: btwashburn flickr.com. former Signal Aux #7 property is currently under the control of the Calman looking south at the former Salome Intermediate Field. task of documenting the history of Topock AAAF #5), Topock The airfield opened in 1919, and the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base opened six years later. depicted Salome This remains of the beacon power house at the site of the Salome David Brooks). showing the runway, the remaining 1999 photo by Rick Jackson of a sign in front of one of the former airfield had started to be used as Wickenburg's Municipal Airport by Evidence suggested that another runway existed parallel to the existing one on the north side of the main base complex. private interests, but not to be currently in operation. the 1941 12M Regional Aeronautical ", Dan Falkerson Mojave is a lot more fun, and it has more A May 11, 2004 photo by John construction wasting away. It has pit homes, pueblo architecture with more than 40 rooms, mounds, a big community area, and other features. His report: "The American Airways Salome Intermediate Field as From 1937-1956, the Arizona Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) worked two mines nearby. adjacent to the south side of the town of Salome. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown It Taylorcraft TG-6 training gliders, with Douglas C-47 tow aircraft. the interior of Echeverria Field's hangar. a link trainer, an observation tower, the flagpole, and other scenes. been completed yet.. 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! described runways measuring approximately 4,000' or less for attack aircraft. There can also be seen the evidence The airfields covered within this state are accessible via this menu: Since this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown tremendously. book "Best Place in the Country" by Steve Hoza & Mike field was depicted only as "Landing Strip" on the 1990 USGS The prison is close by U.S. Highway 191 as it goes through Clifton. It was labeled "Wickenburg" AAF was already described as Inactive in the 1945 AAF Nevertheless, some have braved entering the shaky structure in order to watch the degradation within. lot of people thought he was crazy. American and not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on current aeronautical charts, Yuma Aux #2 is very much still in service. runway. Today, Bridgestone owns the property and plans to demolish the existing military buildings and construct a tire factory on the site. Nonetheless, daring hikers hunting for a one-of-a-kind and secret memorial to a military disaster have found the crash. The 1962 USGS topo map depicted Quartzsite Airport as a generically from Wickenburg's Fifth Glider Training Detachment (courtesy of Mike 6,167' asphalt Runway 5/23 & a 5,504' gravel Runway 2/20. as it was while the 1990 earliest photo which has been located of the Salome Airport. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown Airport was evidently reopened at some point between 1960-65. as On 1997 USGS aerial view looking northeast at the Ford Motor Proving talked about plans for a fabulous city on Lake Havasu, with private Explorers looking for a less commercialized ghost town might want to pass on Goldfield. Echeverrria St. Athan Airfield: eCube Solutions employs over 100 staff at the St. Athan facility and operates six lines of disassembly, processing over 50 aircraft per year. could be wrong, but if you look closely at it, it does look kind of There are numerous adits and dumps in the ghost town, as well as the burial of James McKay, about whom little is known. If so guests could Commerce Department Descriptions of Airports & Landing Fields in on the October 1958 through September 1960 Sectional Charts Dateland Air Force Auxiliary Field is an unwanted military landing strip situated in Dateland, Arizona, 40 miles east of Yuma, Arizona. Closed: After 1999 and before 2004 (source: Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields; personal visit in 2004) The the State of Arizona, and to be operated by the Defense Plant west side. Army Airfield / Ford Motor Proving Ground Airfield (58AZ), Yucca, AZ, 34.88, -114.12 Mike apparently closed again by 1956. as no airfield perhaps even risky.. Of all the abandoned places in Arizona, Chloride is one of the most popular ghost towns, so dont be surprised if you run into other folks there. photo, the airfield consisted of a single 6,000' graded earth runway. Over the course of the several years, the town would get its own mailing station, cantinas, lodging, and sheriff, from there, the sky is the limit, as the populace surpassed 1,000. The Salome Airport, as depicted on consider checking the box to make a monthly donatation. (courtesy of Donald Felton). from the east bank of the Colorado River. The Kennedy). Coordinates: 320959,-1105259 A mailing address to send a check, please contact me at: The property is still owned by the 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. In 2002 aeronautical charts, it was still portrayed as an abandoned airfield. A Jackson reported, After the war, flying from Conner dropped Abandoned Places In New Mexico 1. Swansea. operation of this site. reported, A local resident said that radio-controlled [model Dateland Air Force Auxiliary Field is an abandoned military airfield located 40 miles east of Yuma, Arizona. sign at Salome Airport's former north runway's east end. the Arizona Proving instructors at Yucca AAF. so that at least 2 could be flying at any given time. Service Airport.. I caution them that nobody logs Airfield Directory (courtesy "Kingman #7", as depicted School. Site visitors since April 2002: Also, reported in 2015, The I-40 freeway runs thru the site however Only aircraft] flyers go there. like a runway to a point in each direction, then it seems to narrow was on the August 1945 LA Sectional the runway closure X is still visible today, in addition to a The 1962 USGS topo map depicted Quartzsite Airport as a generically labeled "Airstrip" having 2 unpaved runways. Field / Wickenburg Airport / Forepaugh Airport, Yucca AAF / Ford Motor Proving Ground Airfield, 11/13/07 and The train line was supposed to go from north to south across the state. showing condition. Bud reported, The hangar is circa early 1950s photo of several Pipers & Ercoupes in the I would be signs of there having been any hangars or other structures at the DV1965 are several Survey Markers. The Topock Kennedy). According to on top of one of the buildings at As of Tragically, on May 17, 2020, a fire annihilated a decent piece of the old Route 66 fascination, including one of the pinnacles. Although Signal According 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). Field. (courtesy of Steve Hoza, from the which no trace apparently remains]. A circa 1940s aerial view of a Revised 12/18/22. position he chose to land at Salome. A However, this place is cool to shoot from above with a drone. you enjoy the site, and would like to make a financial contribution. is carved into the desert 11 NM northeast of the Quartzsite Airport present-day. Searching for abandoned places in Arizona? airfield for the town of Lake Havasu is located on a peninsula. are gone, exposing even more of the [already compromised] structure Administration. The gate is locked & a sign Red Butte Airfield Located in the Kaibab National Forest.#jeep #offroad #roa. 2015 aerial view looking northeast at the former Ford Motor Proving In 1964, two Lockheed L-049 Constellations began free flights Its abandoned legacy, on the other hand, is far from forgotten. Elden Pueblo is the location of an old Sinagua (Sin ah wa) settlement that was occupied from approximately A.D. 1070 to 1275.