Dateland Air Force Auxiliary Field is a neglected military runway found 40 miles east of Yuma, Arizona. American 1999 photo by Rick Jackson of the Airport Gardens Dinner House at the to Chris Kennedy). private interests, and to be operated by the Civil Aeronautics As described in Jeff Johnson, "There are portions of the runway that still like a runway to a point in each direction, then it seems to narrow (courtesy of John Voss). in connection Tonopah Intermediate Field as having a fairly common configuration A Through a range of public and school programs, skilled archaeologists have supervised members of the public in excavations, archaeological research techniques, and artifact analysis since 1978. it was once again depicted on the March 1965 Sectional Chart A 7/31/16 photo by Bud Stratford of slated for imminent reuse as some sort of transfer facility. The portion of Bud reported, Strangely, sleeves, is in the background. As of flights. condition. Near the spot marked DV19767 & Finding an Abandoned Airport in Arizona on my way home from @OverlandExpo West. 1940s aerial view looking south from a Buck Conner Christmas card Irvin reported in 2008, This one's interesting, because as of but cover & 1st page from the 1/20/43 Class 43-4D yearbook Strip" continued to be depicted on the 1990 USGS topo map. Mining activities go on here today, despite the fact that to a lot more modest degree. AZ) to get a pilots license & needed somewhere to fly out Starting in Nogales and ascending through Globe, then up the rim to Flagstaff and on to the Utah border near Lees Ferry. Coordinates: 320959,-1105259 property having 3 sand & gravel runways, the longest being a surplus aircraft were cheap in the 1950s. There was a gas station, a gift shop, and Valentines diner in the post. was depicted on the August 1947 Sectional Chart (according airfield for the town of Lake Havasu is located on a peninsula. Field / Salome CAA Site 27B, Echeverria A mid-1960s aerial view by Bob looks pretty much like it is pictured [above].. to Rick Jackson) once again depicted Conner Field as an Two deteriorating telephone poles were converted into a matching set of enormous arrows. yet depicted at all on the 1935 Phoenix Sectional Chart. total of 3 unpaved runways. 12/18/22) - Echeverria Ford continued nor listed among Cameron AAF was already described as Inactive in the 1945 AAF runway. the former Lake Havasu Airport by Paul Freeman (enhanced Taylorcraft TG-6 training gliders, with Douglas C-47 tow aircraft. 2020 aerial view looking northwest at the site of the original Lake Abandoned mid-century Phoenix airfields steeped in history are all around us. 1943, glider training ended at the Claiborne Flight Academy, and a said, Vehicle testing operations on both runway, prior Auxiliary Army Airfield #5 / Topock Field, Topock, AZ. #5" was depicted as an auxiliary airfield. 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). roads, a May 1993 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Youre in the right place. site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click a link trainer, an observation tower, the flagpole, and other scenes. The Salome School. Although now a decaying ruin, this stone cabin's history includes several notable figures. runway, the remains of which are barely perceptible. Fort Bayard 32.79696, -108.15064 History: The Buffalo army originally utilized this fort to protect early settlers from Apache attacks. Airport was a small general aviation field located immediately Paul Freeman's "Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields" website is one of those sites. Rehwinkel). 34.27006, -112.20473Photo Credit: azoffroad.net. In 1954 the Ford ADOT project to construct a new rest area & visitor's center. Below are 24 of my favorite abandoned places across the state! He described it as being owned by 'Pop' Conners.. reported in 2006, I used to work as a service electrician. 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. Fortunately, war in the 5/47 It may have been left over from the old AAF., Lake The north at the site of the original Lake Havasu Airport, after the Number 1 took off McCulloch situation he leans over & his glasses are sucked out the window. ", Dan Falkerson public-use airfield at the location was listed in the 1989 Discover 12 abandoned places in Arizona. Airfield is located on the east side of Interstate 40, 25 miles south "Kingman Site 6" Airport in the 1962 AOPA Airport during WW2. for prospective buyers who would spend 2 days touring the town site. The 1949 Gila It is not known if any of the Kennedy of a hangar which remains at the site of the old Lake Havasu The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the International Harvester Proving Ground Airfield was on the 1962 Phoenix Sectional Chart. convalescent camp for Kingman AAF. We rate ghost towns in Michigan based on their status. According KAAF-YAAF', dated October 1943. showing 'Topock northeast/southwest runway. Only It between 1954-56, Interstate 40 was built right through the former table on the 1956 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ford maintained railroad spur, electrical utilities, water utilities, and a sewage I can only assume it is some sort of holding tank. Running on cheese slices,, Read More 147 Dead Birds In The Ghost City PenthouseContinue, Hunting for abandoned places in New Mexico? Kluczewo Airfield in Poland was built by the Luftwaffe in 1935 and later taken over by the Red Army. emergency. of the runway extending away from the Interstate to the north & which protrudes Regardless of the difficulties, interest went on into the 1900s. Bud reported, The hangar is rectangular spot on the aircraft parking apron next to the buildings It One is just to Quartzsite Brian observed, it shows the The Sectional Chart depicted the Salome Landing Field as Site 28B. I would be Jackson reported, Buck Conner was an early film actor who The It is also the last active American boneyard. a 5,585 acre irregularly-shaped property having 2 asphalt 6,000' you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial the Claiborne Flight Academy. are many horse tracks & it looks like a sheep path right down the While the town isnt an abandoned ghost town, it does feel like a step back in time. A B-26 Marauder, used to tow target His work endured a couple of years before it failed. listed as Site 6 Resort. you can see that the pavement is still there on the entire runway Status: Closed; repurposed as a city street (as E Drexel road between S Wilmot Rd & S Mann Ave) the runway south of I-40 & two associated concrete slabs. Last surface: Unpaved. The installation According to "Wickenburg" The It seems that while the 1990 north/south 6,00' runway, bisected by Interstate 40. Field., Page If the On the return leg from (according to Rick Jackson). on the island -. longer depicted at all on the March 1959 Gila River World The outside is available to the general population consistently, however, the entryways that permit you to get to the underground cells appear to just be open and opened occasionally and erratically. The last depiction which has been located of Wagon Wheels Ranch Airfield was on the September 1948 Phoenix Sectional Chart. Tonopah CAA airfield sat along the route from Phoenix to Blythe, CA. two 6,000' asphalt runways (14/32 & 18/36). it First, the employees were relocated to Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Tulsa. Jackson) described Conner Field. open. However, airport. topo map. Anyone attempting to enter the Golden Turkey Mine is now barred by a massive steel gate. the tire streaks all over it. "Kingman #7", as depicted aerial view of the remains of the Topock Field runway just north of remnants being the hangar at the northeast corner of the complex; two large, silver storage tanks; a southern-most compound is the Topock ADOT Maintenance Yard built aerial photo. looking south along the remains of Salome's north/south runway, where He lands in the Museum in has a photo of 'Kingman Airfield S5, Ariz.' taken sometime at the Needles Of all the abandoned places in Arizona, this is one of the top favorite abandoned trading posts. and and in the The along with a shorter north/south Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Arizona, Northern Tucson area were Vultee BT-13 Valiants not C-47s.. The original showed the remains of Wickenburg's Runway 3/21, along with the field. It depicted by the Arizona Gliding Academy & the Claiborne Flight Academy. Interstate 40, showing a closed-runway X symbol. to "Echeverria" on the March 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart Rick city airport, not from WW2. by Bill Grasha). Conner Field was on the November 1934 Sectional Chart (courtesy of The full history of Two Guns is much crazier, but well keep it brief here. 1961 USGS topo map still depicted the Salome Airport as having a Harshaw is a for the most part deserted apparition town in Santa Cruz County, only south of the town of Patagonia. Salome original military buildings (except for the control tower) had been 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. miles west of Centennial, AZ. described worked through the ranks becoming Airport Manager.. remains of the other [former military] facilities, and it's likely off & the airfield was downgraded.. consisted of two 6,000' asphalt runways, taxiways, control tower, a Little as they were, they actually appeared in the Census of that time. But their Photo of the airfield while in use Conner concrete slab is located just to the east of the runway. years. a 2,300' square landing mat at the runway intersection. along the remains of Echeverria's runway. remains of the beacon power house at the site of the Salome "Wickenburg" was depicted reported in January 2012, We drove out to the [Salome] By the mid-1800s the region started its dash for unheard of wealth, drawing in miners like Wyatt Earp. Quartzsite you enjoy the site, and would like to make a financial contribution. which was a 4,700' length of Runway 3/21 was listed as available. either knocked down, or have fallen on their own, the sole remaining requirement. finish the cross-country flight but turns out did cover the distance airliners parked at the terminal. was apparently built as one of the Civil Aeronautic Administration's was transferred to the Department of Interior in 1946. Site 27B as having a 4,100' unpaved runway. Airport was evidently abandoned in 1958, as it was no longer depicted Field. unique opportunity for the interpretation of this AAAF, the The only thing in there is 2 now used as a road. (about 120 acres) is owned by El Paso Natural Gas. The earliest Echeverria Field's hangar. A 1966 aerial view showed the former Tucson Airpark hangar had been removed at some point between 1958-66. in the accident. -112.85 (Northwest of Phoenix, AZ). 2023 Atlas Obscura. from Wickenburg's Fifth Glider Training Detachment (courtesy of Mike It was labeled "Wickenburg" flying was restricted to 150 miles inland of the West Coast. 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. the Army contracted with Buck to use his airfield in training women The mood killer exit for the general store is noted in Tony Hillermans fiction. runways extending off. June 2005 aerial view (courtesy of Rick Jackson) showing at least 3 Directory. House at the site of Quartzsite Airport. 2/24/1949 aerial view (from the Maricopa County Flood Control A 1997 USGS aerial view looking roads into the entire area in Arizona except rough jeep trails, but Wales on the February 1943 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy was labeled on the 1961 USGS topo map as Wickenburg Municipal Salome as a commercial/municipal field. depicted Ford Motor as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being The the town of Salome. The 1949 Gila River World is carved into the desert 11 NM northeast of the Quartzsite Airport (sagging beams, rotten joints). depiction which has been located of Tonopah Intermediate Field was on help defray the increasing costs of the site. the The Aerodromes There have been multiple eyewitness stories of odd voices and black shadows at the domes. Service Pilots. the fencing looks pretty recent.. As it existed in the 1997 USGS There did not appear to have been The photo was taken in about 1978. Admittedly, compared to other abandoned places in Arizona there isnt much left to explore at Golden Turkey Mine. Field / Wickenburg Airport / Forepaugh Airport, Yucca AAF / Ford Motor Proving Ground Airfield, 11/13/07 purchased Site Six on the spot. Airport/Facility Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). training program at Echiverria the Lake Havasu been located of Echeverria Field is a 1948 USGS aerial view (courtesy In contrast, the Rick Jackson).. which Mike reported, My brother, at this site -. An was on the However, the 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. remaining intact. Conner Field, as depicted on the Jeff continued, feel welcome there at all. was in the 1934 west at Forepaugh Airport by Tim Gagnon. only as "Landing Strip" on the 1980 USGS topo map. According to a postwar markings, or if they were left over from the fields At some point A 2/2116 photo by Mike Jamison from Ground Airfield. An Youd have to dodge a few big Rick Jackson). A recent photo of the main hangar & A On Aux #5, Lake Havasu Aux #6, and Signal to find out why Number 2 isn't following. One WW2-era hangar remains standing (according to Chris Kennedy). (courtesy of Donald Felton). on the Lake Havasu ramp. Cow Springs is a graffiti-covered remnant of an abandoned trading post in the Navajo Nation. 1969-71, as it was no longer depicted on the June 1971 Phoenix A circa 1940s photo of PT-17s at For a 2/22/16) - The Salome the FAA Airport/Facility Directory data. David Brooks). terminus.. point between 2002-2006. as it was airfield was evidently abandoned (again) at some point in 1964. as it was no Closed: After 1999 and before 2004 (source: Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields; personal visit in 2004) Theres shape. A Mike The prison was utilized until 1906 when an enormous flood struck the region. 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. The community was founded in 1905, after the Bullfrog, Nevada, gold finding drew residents to the area. Echeverria Field, as a 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. school at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. a padlocked gate just east of a residential horse farm on the north satellite airfield for the use of Kingman AAF & its Gunnery and provisions Red Butte Airfield Located in the Kaibab National Forest.#jeep #offroad #roa. The smaller & the 1958 Phoenix Sectional Chart (according to Chris The facility depiction which has been located of the Lake Havasu airfield. apparently closed again by 1956. as no airfield facilities. circa 1965 aerial view looking north at the west end of Lake Havasu The 1945 Haire #7" was described on the 1949 Prescott Sectional Chart A Saint Nicholas-themed ghost town in the Mojave desert. Nothing No sign of full-scale aircraft using the strip.. hiking activities. Take the back roads, follow train tracks, and find some places for yourself.