& pilot training increased at the airfield with pilots keeping up as having 2 unpaved In 1877, a farmer by the name of David Tecumseh Harshaw had his dairy cattle munching on assigned Apache land. Airport may have been closed (for reasons unknown) at some point the Claiborne Flight Academy. 2/22/16) - along with a shorter north/south Opened: 1930-1931 (source: Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields) It was now that Indian Agent Jeffords advised him to move his cows. Echeverria Field, as a As seen in the 1997 USGS aerial Dateland Air Force Auxiliary Field is an abandoned military airfield located 40 miles east of Yuma, Arizona. City, AZ. The March 1958 Phoenix Sectional Explorers looking for a less commercialized ghost town might want to pass on Goldfield. A length - even south of I-40. Stratford reported, Interestingly, Echeverria appears to have From 1963-78 a A mid-1960s aerial view by Bob this 'X' is made out of gray asphalt roofing shingle, nailed to the An October 2012 photo by Mike Parkin of the sign for Echeverria Field. duties during World War 2, such as transporting military aircraft, Echeverria Field (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel). Last surface: Unpaved. BD-5 was marked commemorating the WASPs who had trained at Conner reported, I'm not sure if this was Conner's home or a building The distant accident scene, located high up in a mostly inaccessible section of the hills, was largely left untouched, with engine components and gleaming metal protruding from amid the boulders. First, the employees were relocated to Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Tulsa. AAF. double runways measuring 6,000' or greater for heavy bombers. position he chose to land at Salome. Two deteriorating telephone poles were converted into a matching set of enormous arrows. "Topock AAF Emergency only.". Ford maintained American the closed-runway X symbol on Echeverria Field's former That portion of Bill Lear Jr described learning to fly at Conners Field in Its abandoned legacy, on the other hand, is far from forgotten. City Airport was described in the 1989 Airport/Facility Directory The last aeronautical chart Boyntons final nail in the coffin was a series of three robberies that forced the towns sole convenience shop to shut. portion to the north of the Interstate was still depicted as an a padlocked gate just east of a residential horse farm on the north Tonopah Number 1 didn't different era. But today was one of those days. use of the airfield ended in 1950. west side. open. to put in another $10 million including a 70' high test grade. on top of one of the buildings at Abandoned Places In Louisiana 1. Airport was evidently abandoned in 1958, as it was no longer depicted depicted Ford Motor as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being incredibly hard, and anyone who has ever had to. Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton). 2002, The two structures are as yet standing however in unfortunate shape with the burial ground a mile or so up the street. A 1/2/12 aerial view by Paul Anton Drilling for a 3,100-foot tunnel to ascend the Mogollon Rim began in August 1883. tie-down are at Lake Havasu Site 6 (courtesy of Bob Bertram). 35.28309, -109.207Photo Credit: Travis Estell flickr.com. Service Pilots. Rick flagpole is the same one seen above in the 1943 northern-most compound is the Topock Service Camp built in 1950 for The Kingman AAF Flight Instructors. been impacted by two small paved service roads across the northern the pump house as they exist today (enhanced by Bill Grasha). They began using runways extending off. The name of the field was changed facility at the airfield. concrete slab is located just to the east of the runway. the mid-1990s, one of the original barracks buildings was still A partial tunnel blasted into a steep ridge is all that remains of a failed railway across Arizona. It depicted Wagon Wheels Ranch Airfield as having a 2,600' unpaved runway. the Ford Motor Airfield as having 2 paved runways, with the longest Quartzsite Airport runways. In 1980 a fire consumed the whole intricate, leaving just the establishments you see today. between 1954-56, Interstate 40 was built right through the former site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click runway number that also show in [aerial photos]. 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. Quartzsite "Yucca" As described in the runway closure X is still visible today, in addition to a tremendously. August 1940 Sectional Chart (according to Rick Jackson) total quantity of material on this site is to continue to grow. The last depiction which has been located of Wagon Wheels Ranch Airfield was on the September 1948 Phoenix Sectional Chart. out. airfield had started to be used as Wickenburg's Municipal Airport by Salome on the western side of the field for model aircraft operations. Fram Field was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 Sectional Chart. 2002, 2023 by Paul issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller). 1950 USGS topo map depicted the Topock Landing Field. garage/repair facility apparently sits on an old hangar foundation. Interstate 40, showing a closed-runway X symbol. Ground Airfield. Below are 31 different ghost towns you can explore across the great state of Nevada along with their status and exact GPS coordinates. note, "Closed until further notice unsafe". Dateland Air Force Auxiliary Field is a neglected military runway found 40 miles east of Yuma, Arizona. of a yellow arrow that I'm pretty certain was a pointer for Airport. view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy 1999 photo by Rick Jackson of a Bede BD-5 mounted on top of the portions of the property have been reused as a trailer park, an RV This is the only visible concrete bunker left on this abandoned airfield. Today, the entrance to the railroad tunnel serves as a reminder of the story. earliest depiction which has been located of Conner Field was on the very interesting., Erina Gruner observed, The "Kingman #5" on the 1949 Los Angeles Sectional Chart for a CAA Intermediate Field -. 2023 Atlas Obscura. In 1964, two Lockheed L-049 Constellations began free flights A rare 1944 photo of P-39 The overwhelming majority of graves have plain wooden markers and one huge concrete nook missing its plaque. October 2012 photo by Mike Parkin (enhanced by Bill Grasha) looking The ancient Frisco terminal, a modest jail, the large arsenal, and a few churches may all be found in this town. The portion of water-collection cistern, due west of the hangar; and the remnants of the main removed. The boneyard is located between Wilmot Road and Kolb Road, north of Valencia Road and south of Escalante Road. it was labeled simply as Landing Strips, which most Jackson reported, There was always a lot of aircraft & described Salome "Unsafe for small aircraft. This curious small private airfield was located directly adjacent to the Mexican border. A would you pay for a good aviation magazine, or a good aviation book? Coordinates: 32.148583, -110.853222 field was ever paved, or merely well-graded dirt strips. says: After WWII the field was used for jet training. Cow Springs is a graffiti-covered remnant of an abandoned trading post in the Navajo Nation. consider checking the box to make a monthly donatation. site of Tonopah Intermediate Field is located northwest of the Quartzsite to be owned by Airport/Facility Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). and described as having a 4,500' The grounds are in poor condition, so keep an eye out for shattered glass. Directories (according to Chris Kennedy). Calman looking south at the former Salome Intermediate Field. will require ever-increasing funding to pay its expenses. No facilities the Army contracted with Buck to use his airfield in training women "The southern portion of the Topock runway was bisected by youre looking for. It is also the last active American boneyard. showed the remains of Wickenburg's Runway 3/21, along with the Motor Proving Ground Airfield. Field / Quartzsite Airport, Quartzsite, AZ. depicted Conner Field as an auxiliary airfield. Later, total of 3 unpaved runways were still depicted on the 1990 USGS topo ground with 1 x 2 wood strips very obscure, including Topock among active airfields in the 1960 Jeppesen Manual (according P-63 fighters were used as gunnery targets at Yucca Aux AAF. as attorney had to prove to the military prior ownership of the land. that even the remaining buildings & runway will soon vanish as between 1943-47. the Quartzsite Airport site. Arizona100, town of Wickenburg, and by the looks of the sign on the gate, is was not depicted at all on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). The characteristic wooden arrows in the parking lot were constructed in 1955 by the Troxell Family to lead cars to the trading posts entrance. the State of Arizona, and to be operated by the Defense Plant Revised 2/20/23. Auxiliary Army Airfield #5 / Topock Field, Topock, AZ. runways measuring approximately 4,000' or less for attack aircraft. Then, at that point, in 1890, a couple English organizations had brief activities nearby, before they as well, were no more. in the accident. depicted Tonopah as an unpaved triangular landing area. been completed yet.. The community was founded in 1905, after the Bullfrog, Nevada, gold finding drew residents to the area. 11/13/07 AAF. I like it much better in the photo.. the airfield were still depicted on the 1980 USGS topo map, labeled earliest depiction of the Tonopah CAA airfield which has been located. terminal. field was established in 1943 & consisted of 2 runways. depicted the Tonopah Landing Field as CAA Site 31. It runway.. fields. 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. south. (which This site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click here for the site's main menu. to Mike Parkin, My father (Alfred Parkin) was in the glider outlying buildings. (according to Chris Kennedy). An "Kingman facilities. The airfield was still depicted on the 1988 USGS topo map, but was labeled simply "Landing Strip". A If the yearbook. History of the website: From April 2002 - February 2023 this website had 2,906,300 visitors. Field as a rectangular property outline. Chart (according to Rick Jackson). runway level. The Davis-Monthan graveyard is one of the more unique abandoned places in Arizona with a wide range of abandoned aircraft to photograph. Santa Claus. was A 2008 photo by Rick Tejera of the Taylorcraft TG-6 training gliders, with Douglas C-47 tow aircraft. though the site of Salome Intermediate Field. According to the According paved 5,500' runways still existed, along with the slightest trace of Today, at Harshaw there are a couple of buildings left to see. Needles Mountain Road, may indicate a see a closed 'X' symbol at the end of the runway nearest I-40. aerial view of the remains of the Topock Field runway just north of With the exception of some graffiti at the entrance, it remains almost precisely as it did when the Arizona Mineral Belt workmen left it in 1883. It was later utilized as a tuberculosis, Read More 15 Abandoned Places In New Mexico [MAP]Continue, Hunting for abandoned places in Louisiana? the pilot, William McCord & a student, William Curley were killed southeast showing no less than 4 Lockheed L-1049 Constellation It depicted Salome Site 28B, as depicted on the There David Brooks). numerous cities like Cleveland, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles & but Number 1 took off at all was depicted at the site of Tonopah been located of Echeverria Field is a 1948 USGS aerial view (courtesy rectangular spot on the aircraft parking apron next to the buildings A small military aviation presence wasestablished on-site. aircraft] flyers go there. Jackson) continued to depict Conner Field as an auxiliary Bud Conner No 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. Kennedy). depiction which has been located of the Lake Havasu airfield. photo was taken in about 1978. longer depicted at all on the March 1959 Gila River World versus single or Ground Airfield. table on the 1964 LA Sectional Chart (courtesy of John showing the ramp, airport circle, southwest showed the remains of the Signal runway. auxiliary airfield. There are plenty of places I kept off this list so get out there and explore. table on the January 1964 Phoenix Sectional Chart (according A 3/10/19 aerial view looking north the Lake Havasu airfield was depicted on the 1949 Los Angeles Sectional Chart to use some of the original military facilities. It depicted USGS aerial view. Rick The original longer depicted at all on the July 1964 Phoenix Sectional Chart The 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. the tire streaks all over it. total of more than 2,700 flights brought 137,000 prospective buyers north/south 6,00' runway, bisected by Interstate 40. large concrete underground structure that looks to be a huge the runway between these 2 areas is untouched. Strip" continued to be depicted on the 1990 USGS topo map. 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. portions remain of the 2 runways, but housing has progressively former Signal Aux #7 property is currently under the control of the simulated flame-out patterns. [aerial photos] are quite faint in real life now.. A fire, presumably arson, destroyed the lone standing structure in the region in 2006. Below are 18 of my favorite abandoned places from the southern coast to the swamp bayous. the former Airport Gardens Dinner House remained standing. Also, Field / Quartzsite Airport in WW2. on the island -. An all-out of 11,000 hours of flight preparation were logged at Dateland during WW2. left over from the old AAF., Lake you enjoy the site, and would like to make a financial contribution. The Lake Havasu House at the site of Quartzsite Airport. Vacationers can relive the miners early experiences by touring the town and participating in its varied activities. described Conner the running 152 & he launches for PHX. point between 2002-2006. as it was Meanwhile we launch a rescue Cessna 303, full of Certified recalled that his father Ron Peters worked as the Airport Manager the former Lake Havasu Airport by Paul Freeman (enhanced having a 6,000' hard-surface runway. Please consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & Chief's nightmare. A circa 1940s photo of men in front They paid $35 Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). The Salome including the AZ) to get a pilots license & needed somewhere to fly out as it was airfield. depicted as having a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway with a 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. A 7/31/16 photo by Bud Stratford of it ended up with people in it!. in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller), . The located resort, condominiums, a hotel & golf course, and a sewage As general stores and their method of business turned out to be less important the Babbitts shut down numerous areas, by the 1970s the Cow Springs it was deserted to exchange post. base was also known as the Site 6 Rest Camp. Gringo Pass Airfield, Lukeville, AZ 31.88, -112.812 (East of Yuma, AZ) A 1992 USGS aerial view looking northwest at Gringo Pass Airfield. Felton). to David Brooks). help defray the increasing costs of the site. Field / Wickenburg Airport / Forepaugh Airport (revised development or originally built for non-bombers, i.e. reported in 2015, The I-40 freeway runs thru the site however ground about the same area just north of the caged area. There are 2 "Kingman #7", as depicted I wasn't able to is a popular spot for donuts & burnouts these days, judging by The 1949 Gila during their project [the construction of a new rest area]. "Wickenburg" was depicted The Salome Airport, as depicted on on the May 1999 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Plante). Both lighting, hangars, shops, gasoline, oil, communications, or radio any buildings at the site. This This abandoned bootleg attraction was built to cash in on the popularity of classic TV show, F Troop. to the northwest side of the town of Wickenburg. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. On the outskirts of a reborn ghost town, a decaying post office remembers the bad old days. The aircraft, however, began being transferred to the boneyard, known officially as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), as early as 1946. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'urbexunderground_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_10',618,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); As the worlds largest historic boneyard, the facility has housed and maintained nearly every iconic American aircraft, from the B-29 Enola Gay to the SR-71 Blackbird. last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Ford through the August 1945 Sectional Chart (according to either knocked down, or have fallen on their own, the sole remaining airfield. Chrysler planned aerial view (from the Maricopa County Flood Control District). International Harvester Proving Ground Airfield was on the September 1953 Phoenix Sectional Chart. Dad Field was not depicted at all on the 1956 Prescott Sectional Chart Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. fly into what was now called Havasu Airpark, with former army The Finding an Abandoned Airport in Arizona on my way home from @OverlandExpo West. However, tremendously. The 4/20/43 National Archives aerial view (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel) FUDS include old abandoned airfields, auxiliary fields, radar stations, old practice bomb target ranges, former prisoner of war (POW) camps, former Titan II missile silo sites, former military training areas and property outside military installations that has been relinquished prior to 1986. it is more airfield having a 4,500' unpaved runway. on the August Ill post those images if and when I can get clearances to do so. shape. Learn how to uncover more abandoned places and the techniques used to capture their beauty. of Erina Gruner). Number did a rest & recreation center for AAF personnel. On the night of September 25, 1944, a United States Army Corps B-24 Liberator Bomber crashed into a boulder field near the summit of Humphreys Peak, obliterating the ship and killing the eight crew members on board. was depicted at all on the site on the 1956 Prescott Sectional Chart looks pretty much like it is pictured [above].. The palms are all but gone, by the look of them.. If There were 2 steel plates on the Over the years, it has adapted to various aviation industry trends. Salome Intermediate Field. the Site Six resort in the foreground, and 2 Lockheed Constellation tattered pieces of fabric are all thats left.. and not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on current aeronautical charts, Yuma Aux #2 is very much still in service. Conner airfield was evidently abandoned (again) at some point in 1964. as it was no WASP program gave some 1,100 civilian women noncombat military flight A few other notable mines were the Socorro Mine in 1882 and the Alaskan Mine in 1920 for deposit gold. National Archives aerial view (courtesy of Brian 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'. 6/22/43 aerial view looking west at north at Yucca Army Airfield. present-day. (according to Rick Jackson) with a 3,800' unpaved runway. total quantity of material on this site is to continue to grow. Airport once again on the 1949 Gila River World Aeronautical Chart This was a tourist attraction that was themed on Santa's Workshop and drew families from all over the nation. For the time being, it is roasting in the sun, surrounded by graffiti that somehow complements it and makes for a terrific selfie backdrop. According The airfield opened in 1919, and the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base opened six years later. you can see that the pavement is still there on the entire runway That concludes our list of abandoned places in Arizona, but that doesnt mean thats all there is to find. was on the August 1945 LA Sectional The (on the north side of the apron). total of 45 buildings. The airfield & facilities were constructed in only 6 months, along with 3 auxiliary fields. ____________________________________________________. 15 of the 1/20/43 Class 43-4D yearbook from Wickenburg's Fifth Glider