Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
California: Monterey area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 7/5/08.
Carmel Valley Vintage Airfield (revised 7/5/08) - (Original) Fort Ord AAF / South Parade Ground AAF (added 6/11/07)
(Original) Morgan Hill Airport (revised 9/18/05) - Santa Cruz - Capitola Airport (revised 9/18/05)
Santa Cruz Skypark (revised 9/18/05) - (Original) Watsonville Airport (revised 7/5/08)
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(Original) Fort Ord Army Airfield / South Parade Ground Army Airfield, Marina, CA
36.65 North / 121.81 West (Southeast of San Jose, CA)
The outline of the original Fort Ord AAF was depicted on the 1947 USGS topo map (courtesy of Rex Ricks),
but it was not labeled as an airfield.
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
The original airfield for the Army's Fort Ord was located in the main garrison area of the base.
The date of establishment of the original Fort Ord Army Airfield has not been determined.
According to an article in the September 2006 issue of the CA State University Monterey Bay “Campus Connection” (courtesy of Rex Ricks),
the airfield began operation in the 1940s.
It had a short runway, which was used for Army airplanes (& eventually helicopters).
The earliest depiction which has been located of the original Fort Ord Army Airfield
was on the 1947 USGS topo map (courtesy of Rex Ricks).
It depicted the rectangular outline of the airfield area, but did not label it as an airfield.
The Fort Ord Army Airfield may have not been in official operation during the 1940s though,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the February 1949 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Fort Ord AAF
was on the September 1954 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Fort Ord AAF as having a 1,500' hard-surface runway.
A larger airfield (Fritzche AAF) was constructed for Fort Ord in the early 1960s several miles to the northwest.
This airfield would eventually replace the original Fort Ord Army Airfield.
After the opening of Fritzsche AAF to the northeast,
the original Fort Ord Army Airfield was renamed South Parade Ground Army Airfield,
as that is how it was labeled on the June 1963 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having a 1,500' hard-surface runway.
The South Parade Ground Army Airfield was evidently closed at some point between 1963-64,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the June 1964 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
According to an article in the September 2006 issue of the CA State University Monterey Bay “Campus Connection” (courtesy of Rex Ricks),
after the South Parade Ground Army Airfield was closed,
“the old aircraft maintenance hangars were relegated for use as a motor pool.
Later the site was converted to the South Parade Ground,
where graduation ceremonies were held for trainees.”
The 1968 USGS topo map (courtesy of Rex Ricks)
continued to depict the rectangular outline of the airfield area of the Fort Ord Army Airfield,
but did not label it as an airfield.
According to an article in the September 2006 issue of the CA State University Monterey Bay “Campus Connection” (courtesy of Rex Ricks),
Fort Ord was closed in 1994.
A 2005 aerial view looking west at the former runway & buildings at Ford Ord AAF.
According to an article in the September 2006 issue of the CA State University Monterey Bay “Campus Connection” (courtesy of Rex Ricks),
the last remnants of the former airfield (tie-downs & a few former hangars) were demolished in 2006.
Rex Ricks reported in 2007, “In its place is now a softball & baseball field.
Unfortunately, CSUMB has been mediocre at best at reutlizing & preservng some of the history that the Army left behind.”
The site of the original Fort Ord AAF is located southwest of the intersection of General Jim Moore Boulevard & 1st Street.
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(Original) Morgan Hill Airport (Q99), Morgan Hill, CA
37.15 North / 121.65 West (Southeast of San Jose, CA)
Morgan Hill Airport, as depicted on the September 1954 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airport has not been located.
The original Morgan Hill Airport is the tale of yet another former general aviation airport
which has been swallowed up by development.
The date of construction of the original Morgan Hill Airport is unknown,
It was evidently built at some point between 1944-49,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
Bob Hollar recalled, “Dad was a Dodge dealer in nearby Gilroy
and based his 170A there [at the Morgan Hill Airport] from 1952 to about 1960 when we moved from the area.
It must have been built around 1949 or so as it was well established when we came in 1952.
It was a very active local airport with 6 or 7 wood hangars mostly without doors,
and probably a dozen aircraft based there.
No facilities, everybody kept several drum of avgas in their hangars (can't do that any more).
I can remember many time stroking the drum pump for dad after a flight.
About 1957 everybody got together & installed a row of makeshift runway lights down the west side of the runway
and a rotating light of some kind on top of dad's hangar to get some limited night capability.
I think they were plugged into an extension cord to a time clock on the power pole.
Not quite 'code' but it worked.
It was a nice little airport - everybody took turns mowing the grass every couple of weeks,
and usually had 3 or 4 picnics every summer.
As I remember there were some pretty healthy trees on the south end of the runway,
and power lines right on the north end road ditch;
it made operations in the marginal weather we often got with coastal fog a bit interesting.
I remember that airport well, I
made my first landing there at age 13.”
The earliest depiction of Morgan Hill Airport which has been located
was on the September 1954 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
Bob Cannon recalled, "On a cross-country to Gilroy in 1954 in my Champ I stopped in at Morgan Hill."
The 1955 USGS topo map depicted Morgan Hill as a single runway,
labeled simply as “Landing Strip”.
The Aerodromes table on the 1955 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Morgan Hill as having a single 2,400' bare runway.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Morgan Hill Airport as having a single 2,430' oiled Runway 13/31.
By 1966, the runway had been paved with asphalt & extended to 3,500',
as indicated in the Aerodromes table on the reverse side
of the 1966 San Francisco Sectional chart (courtesy of John Voss).
Morgan Hill Airport, as depicted in the 1968 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Bob Hollar recalled, “I tried to find it while stationed in Alameda around 1970 & could not,
so it must have been abandoned somewhere prior to that time frame.
Too bad, another really neat little airport swallowed up by 'civilization'.”
According to Mark Baird, Morgan Hill Airport closed at some point in the mid 1970s.
It was not listed among active airfield in the 1978 Pilot's Guide to CA Airports (according to Chris Kennedy).
On the 1978 USGS topo map, the runway was still depicted, but it was labeled simply "Landing Field".
Steve Mann recalled, “I worked for the company that bought & developed the land in 1984,
but I wasn’t a pilot then and I couldn’t do anything about it anyway.”
As can be seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo,
the site of Morgan Hill Airport has been completely redeveloped,
with not a trace of the former airport remaining.
The above 1:24,000 scale USGS topo map is dated 1999,
yet it obviously did not reflect the status of the airport site at that point in time,
as the airport was still depicted.
The airfield was shown as consisting of a single 3,000' runway,
along with a ramp area at the northwest end with six hangars & three small buildings.
Bob Cannon recalled, "A few years ago while driving back from LA I decided to find the strip.
It took a lot of looking & I had to do it by feel.
I found what was left; very little.
But there was the most interesting restaurant a little ways up the road.
It was open but there was no one in sight.
Outside were wooden carvings of old movie stars.
Inside was a very large dining area which was lined with a hundred scale model airplanes hanging on a belt that could move.
These airplanes could take a circuitous path around the dining area.
There were displays of a hundred old sparkplugs & many other aviation history items.
I could have poured myself a drink from the bar but I didn't."
After the closure of the original Morgan Hill Airport,
its name was reused for some period of time by the South County Airport.
Steve Mann reported in 2005, “The terminal end of the [original Morgan Hill] Airport is now a Mervyn’s.
There was, until very recently, a Morgan Hill Airport Association.
Many of the members & former tenants of the Morgan Hill airport can be found at the aircraft museum at South County Airport.”
The site of the original Morgan Hill Airport is south of the intersection of Interstate 101 & Cochrane Road.
Thanks to Don Rodrigues & Mark Baird for pointing out Morgan Hill Airport.
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Carmel Valley Vintage Airfield (O62), Carmel Valley, CA
36.48 North / 121.73 West (South of San Jose, CA)
A circa 1941 aerial view of Carmel Valley Airport.
In the late 1930s, local real estate developer Byington Ford bought the northeast corner of Rancho Las Laureles
in the little town of Carmel Valley to establish an airpark.
He was convinced that mass production of small aircraft would put a plane
within the reach of anyone who could afford a car.
Byington Ford developed a tailor-made project for pilot-owners
who would want to be at home a minute or two after getting out of their planes.
The grassy piece of acreage he chose had served bush pilots for landings even before Ford identified it for his venture.
The planned strip enjoyed a "channel" wind up-valley all day long.
Ford recorded house lots adjacent to the airfield that would constitute a village of "hangar houses",
and his brother Tirey built a prototype hangar house off Ford Road
at the west end of the airfield to serve as an example for the airborne community of the future.
With timing that was quite unfortunate,
Byington Ford held the grand opening of Airway Ranch on December 7, 1941,
a day of infamy for the United States as well as for Ford's Airpark.
President Roosevelt declared war on Japan the next day.
Building materials became scarce, and civilian flights were prohibited along the West Coast.
Airway Ranch became known as the Double "F" Ranch - "Ford's Folly".
The project was put on hold while Byington Ford joined the Army Air Corps to aid the war effort.
Carmel Valley was depicted as an auxiliary airfield
on the March 1945 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Planes at Carmel Valley Airport in 1945.
Following the War it became apparent that there would not be a plane in every garage,
so Ford had to adjust his enterprise, combining sales to plane owners with sales to home seekers,
and he enjoyed a brisk trade.
Only two true hangar houses were ever built: Tirey's (which later burned),
and one other, still standing, on the north side of the runway.
Non-pilots bought up many of the runway Airpark sites,
and to suit their many tastes Byington created ranch-house sites of 1-3 acres
and envisioned hillside homes where residents could look down on incoming planes.
A clubhouse built for the Airpark later became an integral part of the Village's Blue Sky Lodge.
The State of California licensed the airport in 1949.
The 1956 USGS topo map depicted the Carmel Valley airfield as a single runway,
labeled simply as “Landing Strip”, with buildings along the south side of the field.
Byington Ford retired a few years later, and the airpark was purchased by Peter Delfino.
Delfino liked having an airport available for flyers, although he did not own a plane himself.
He hosted a number of aviation events, including antique fly-ins.
Throughout the 1980s he charged no fees, offered no services, no control tower,
no radio communications or navigation aids, no lights, no gas pump, no mechanic, no telephone, and no office.
Running the airport was largely a grassroots effort.
Delfino shooed horseback riders off the runway, work parties cleaned up the runway & filled potholes,
and donations were collected to keep the grass mowed.
A perimeter trail around the field was enjoyed by countless people for walking, running, horseback riding & dog walking.
Santa Claus deplaned at Carmel Valley each Christmas during the annual Santa's Fly-In.
Carmel Valley also served as important staging area for firefighting & medical helicopters.
The 1974 Flight Guide (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted Carmel Valley as having a 2,500' unpaved Runway 11/29,
with a parallel taxiway on the northeast side, and a ramp & single building on the southeast side of the field.
The runway at Carmel Valley was evidently paved at some point between 1974-77,
as the 1977 Pilot’s Guide to CA Airports (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted the field as having a single 2,500' paved Runway 11/29.
The 1987 Flight Guide (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling) still listed the runway as 2,475’ long,
but the westernmost 650’ had been downgraded to a dirt overrun,
and even the paved portion was described as “Ruf”.
The 1989 San Francisco Sectional (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
showed the official length of Carmel Valley’s paved runway had been shortened to 1,800'.
A circa 1990s aerial view of the vintage aircraft which operated from Carmel Valley:
a DeHavilland DH 82A Tiger Moth & Jars de Lounge's Klemm 35D.
In 1994, Lars de Jounge moved to Carmel Valley,
bought a home alongside the airport & leased the airport from the Delfinos.
De Jounge also dreamed of an airpark,
and sought approval from the county planning commission for ten home sites.
Unfortunately, de Jounge's plan was a little too ambitious for the slow-growth temperament of Monterey County,
and eventually their foot-dragging killed the project.
Meanwhile, developers & so-called environmentalists began eyeing the property,
and their vision did not include airplanes.
A circa 1995-98 photo of an Ercoupe & several other light aircraft at the Carmel Valley Vintage Airfield (courtesy of Jerry Fargo).
A circa 1997 air-to-air photo of Jars de Lounge's Klemm 35D overflying the Carmel Valley Vintage Airfield,
from a postcard by Jars de Lounge (courtesy of Jerry Fargo).
The logo of Carmel Valley Vintage Airfield, from a postcard by Jars de Lounge (courtesy of Jerry Fargo).
Jerry Fargo recalled, “Carmel Valley Airport... was my backyard for 17 years.
In fact I learned to fly out of Carmel Valley and my first airplane crashed just off the east end of the field on the Berta Ranch.
For many years Lou Allaire & I were responsible to keep the airfield mowed & looking good.
We had an old Ford Tractor & later on Lars added a Model B John Deere.
I acted as the 'control tower' for those pilots unfamiliar with the field
so if you ever flew in you probably talked to me.
Patching the runway & painting the numbers were also part of the job.
You wouldn't believe what we went thru trying to develop Carmel Valley.
It is a real shame that Lars was not able to complete his dream to build the 11 homes
and keep the open space available for the community.
He invested thousand of his own money in cleaning up the area
and making it safe for the community & they didn't appreciate it.”
The potholed surface of Runway 29 in 1999.
A circa 2000 aerial view of the airport, just two years before its closure.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors was intent on shutting down the airport,
and a handful of Carmel Valley residents also aligned themselves toward the same goal.
A group of local pilots & concerned citizens formed the Carmel Valley Historic Airpark Society (CVHAS) in 2000,
grabbed some petitions, started talking to the neighbors & set out to fight city hall.
In a fitting ironic twist, the CVHAS used one of city hall's favorite tactics to push their cause -
they turned to environmental protection - a strategy not commonly used to protect an airport.
Unfortunately, local politics & greed conspired against the airport,
and it was closed in 2002.
At the time of the field's closure in 2002,
the Airport Facility Directory listed a total of 7 aircraft as being based at Carmel Valley.
Runway 11/29 was listed as 1,820' long,
along with the description: "In poor condition, pavement extremely thin & broken up with numerous potholes."
Steve Mann recalled, “The Carmel Valley Airport didn’t have to close,
but the Airpark developer had a deal with Monterey County -
if he could get 10 buyers lined up for his project, they would give him the use permit.
His mistake was that he would not entertain possible buyers that did not own a vintage aircraft.
He never got more than 1 or 2 committed buyers. It’s a real shame, too.”
Jerry Fargo reported in 2005, “When I visited there two years ago the field was just sitting there idle.”
A 2006 panoramic photo by Jonathan Westerling looking west at the former Carmel Valley Airfield.
Jonathan reported, “Note that the hangars & grounds have been well kept-up.
The only thing missing is the pilots & their planes.”
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling looking east at the former Carmel Valley Airfield.
Jonathan reported, “One can see the pavement is quite broken up,
however the property as a whole remains well maintained, and is used by the residents basically as a park.
Behind me as I snapped this picture, a family had staged an afternoon picnic & were flying a kite.”
A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at 3 former T-hangars which remain at the site of Carmey Valley.
Note the Runway 29 markings, with a “X” painted through the numbers.
The site of the airport is north of East Carmel Valley Road, south of Ford Road.
Thanks to Joe Pace for pointing out the closure of Carmel Valley.
See also:
http://www.vintageairfield.com/history.htm
http://www.avweb.com/articles/cvva
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(Original) Watsonville Airport, Watsonville, CA
36.87 North / 121.77 West (South of San Jose, CA)
The original Watsonville Airport as depicted on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
"Watsonville Airport Incorporated" was formed in 1930 to develop the town's first airport.
Five thousand shares of stock were bought by 400 "largely civic minded citizens"
to purchase land to build an airport.
An 85-acre site southwest of the city, near the junction of Highway 1 & Salinas road in Monterey County,
was chosen for the airport because it was the only land available "at a reasonable price."
In 1931, Governor James "Sunny Jim" Rolph, riding in a Stinson Monoplane piloted by W.W. Bendell,
made a low pass over the runway & cut a ribbon stretched across the field to officially open the airport.
Harlow Ford was the first president of the board of directors,
and Claude Wilson was the first airport manager & flight instructor.
Other people who were active in establishing the airport were Perry Andrews,
William Bendell, Pete Calaghan, Basil & Kenneth Clark, Floyd McFarlane,
Bill Russell, Charles Tharp, William Waters & Dr. Henry G. Watters.
Some pilots & their planes were Watters (Curtiss Robin), McFarlane, Russell, and Roy Martelli (Eagle Rock),
Clark Brothers (Stinson & later a Ford Tri-Motor), Lou & Harold Foote (Monocoupe), Roy Waugaman (Ryan),
Manager Wilson & Bert Scott (Bird), Russell Kemper (Lincoln Paige), William Neibling (TravelAir),
and Jack Irwin, a later airport manager (Irwin Special).
The earliest depiction of the Watsonville Airport which has been located
was on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Watsonville as a commercial/municipal airport.
A 1939 aerial view of the Watsonville Airport (from the Alexandria Digital Library @ UC Santa Barbara, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
showing the original configuration of three runways, with a hangar on the east side of the field.
The 1940 USGS topo map depicted the original “Watsonville Airport”
as having three runways, with two buildings on the east side of the field.
The December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Watsonville as Intermediate Field Site 28.
The Watsonville Airport was leased by the Navy in 1942 to serve as an auxiliary field
to support antisubmarine blimp operations from Moffett Field.
The Navy made improvements to the airfield,
which eventually consisted of three runways (the largest was 2,300')
and three blimp mooring circles,
all of which were situated within a large irregularly-shaped asphalt area.
Barracks were constructed a total of 116 personnel.
The Navy used the airport's existing 60' x 60' hangar.
A 1943 aerial view of NAAF Watsonville (National Archives photo).
Typical operations at Watsonville during WW2
consisted of a one or two blimp detachment of K-ships from Moffett's ZP-32.
The blimps would operate 12-hour antisubmarine patrols, convoy escort flights,
or assist in air-sea rescues.
Crews were stationed at Wastonville for a month before being rotated with another crew & blimp.
Local men stationed at Watsonville were Don Wilson, George Davis, Vern Dietz & Ron Hill.
"NAAF (LTA) Watsonville" was described by the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
as having a 2,300' hard-surface runway, with two mooring circles.
The March 1945 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted both the original Watsonville Airport to the southwest of the town, and the new airport to the northwest.
Confusingly, both airfields had the same name on the chart: "Watsonville (Navy)".
With the end of hostilities, the Navy base at the original Watsonville Airport was closed down in late 1945,
and the 87 acres were returned to the corporation that had built the airport.
A June 1946 Department of Commerce Airman's Guide (according to Chris Kennedy)
redesignated “Watsonville NAAF (LTA)” to “Watsonville Airport #2”, as of May 27, 1946.
However, when the larger Navy airfield northwest of town was closed, it became the new Watsonville Airport,
and the old airport was closed.
In 1947, the corporation sold the land to Edwin & Flora Peterson, who used it for a cattle feed lot.
By the time of the 1954 USGS topo map,
the runways of the former airfield were no longer depicted at all.
The former airfield buildings were still depicted, though, along with a “beacon”.
The 1993 USGS aerial photo has been annotated by Ben Mundell of the Army Corps of Engineers
to show the property outline of the former Watsonville Airport.
The precise location of the former airfield was determined by extensive records research
and the acquisition of historic assessor's parcel maps.
Several large agricultural buildings have been erected over the site.
A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo of the site of the original Watsonville Airport.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at what appears to be a former hangar which remains standing on the east side of the Watsonville Airport site.
This building is noticeably older in appearance than all of the other agricultural buildings on the site,
and it also appears to be the northern of the 2 hangars depicted in the 1943 aerial photo.
See also: http://www.watsonvilleairport.com/History.html
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Santa Cruz - Capitola Airport, Santa Cruz, CA
36.98 North / 121.94 West (South of San Francisco, CA)
A 1926 aerial view looking west at the Capitola Airport (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
In the 1920s on the site of the first Capitola schoolhouse & grounds,
Santa Cruz County's first airport was established.
According to Carolyn Swift at the Capitola Historical Museum (via Jonathan Westerling),
the Santa Cruz - Capitola Airport was adjacent to Camp McQuaide in the mid-1920s.
Camp McQuaide, part of the 250th Coast Artillery, used the airstrip.
In 1926, the airport site became the home of Santa Cruz Glider Club,
under the direction of Russell & Ester Rice.
A well-known Santa Cruz County flier,
Rice & his wife operated the under lease to Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce.
The 1929 Rand-McNally Air Trails Map of CA (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Santa Cruz Airport as an auxiliary airfield, operated by the California Coast Artillery.
The field was said to measure 2,000' x 1,500'.
As described in the Chronology of Airport Development in Santa Cruz County,
the Capitola Airport was in operation in 1931, under lease to Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce.
“Santa Cruz” was depicted as a commercial/municipal airport on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1934 aerial view looking northeast at the Capitola Airport (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
Improvements in 1934 along with the relocation of Camp McQuaide
led to the city officially establishing the Santa Cruz-Capitola Airport as its civil airfield.
In 1934 the City of Santa Cruz approved an application
to the Emergency Relief Administration for funds for work on Capitola Airport.
The 1940 USGS topo map depicted the Stanta Cruz Airport as having three runways,
with a cluster of small buildings north of the runway intersection.
“Santa Cruz” was depicted as a commercial/municipal airport
on the on the December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Capitola Airport continued operations through WW2.
A 1948 aerial view looking southeast at Capitola Airport (courtesy of Timothy Aanerud).
“Santa Cruz - Capitola” Airport was depicted on the 1951 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
The 1954 USGS topo map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted the Capitola Airport as having two perpendicular runways,
with a cluster of small buildings north of the runway intersection.
Note that the construction of Route 1 had shortened the primary runway,
compared to the 1940 USGS topo map.
“Santa Cruz - Capitola” Airport was depicted on the September 1954 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
Capitola Airport was abandoned in September 1954,
after owners Russell & Ester Rice transferred their airport operations to the nearby Sky Park.
This was likely due to the increased post war development which happened in the area.
By the time of the March 1955 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
Capitola Airport was no longer depicted at all.
The 1968 USGS topo map depicted a grid of streets having replaced the former Capitola Airport.
As seen in the 1993 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Capitola Airport has been densely redeveloped,
and not a trace appears to remain of the former airport.
The site of Capitola Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Route 1 & Park Avenue.
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Santa Cruz Skypark (SRU), Scotts Valley, CA
37.05 North / 122.03 West (South of San Francisco, CA)
Santa Cruz Airport, as depicted on the September 1954 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
As described in the Chronology of Airport Development in Santa Cruz County,
Sky Park Airport began operation in 1947 as a privately-owned field built by Jack & Lola Graham on their property.
One of its primary purposes was to provide a facility for training of pilots under terms of the G.I. Bill.
According to K.O. Eckland, Santa Cruz Skypark was depicted on a 1948 Sectional Chart as having a 2,100' runway.
In 1953, the State Director of Aeronautics submitted a report which recommended Sky Park
as the most feasible site for development of a municipal airport for the City of Santa Cruz.
In 1954 the nearby Capitola Airport was abandoned,
and owners Russell & Ester Rice transferred their airport operations to Sky Park,
which they had been leasing from the Grahams.
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The March 1955 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Santa Cruz Airport as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
In 1957 the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution
encouraging the City to sell lands originally acquired for the planned Swanton Airport
and to use the money for acquisition & operation of Sky Park.
An accompanying study cited the advantages of Sky Park.
A heliport could be developed there to provide short-haul public transportation
with connections to Watsonville Airport "which can be expanded to meet the needs of the jet age".
In 1960 the City of Santa Cruz was again urged to acquire Sky Park,
this time in a citizens' group report called "Santa Cruz of Tomorrow".
Realignment of the Sky Park runway to add 500 feet was proposed.
In 1961 H.K. Friedland & Associates completed a Preliminary Airport Site Selection Study
under contract to the City of Santa Cruz.
Sky Park was deemed inadequate because many FAA criteria could not be met
and federal aid therefore would not be obtainable.
Later in 1961 the Santa Cruz Airport Commission noted that Sky Park was for sale,
and that it was the best facility for airport purposes.
The City - in cooperation with the County, if possible - was urged to acquire the Airport.
The Santa Cruz City Council requested the California Aeronautics Commission
to grant waivers of certain Sky Park deficiencies,
and, in the event the City and/or the County of Santa Cruz purchase the airport,
to reissue an airport permit.
In 1962 the Santa Cruz City Council approved a resolution to acquire Sky Park,
and the City Council approved an agreement to purchase the 45.8 acre Sky Park property
from owner Jack Graham for $197,000.
The existing lease between Graham & Russell & Esther Rice for operation of the airport
was to be honored by the City.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Santa Cruz Skypark
as having a 2,100' oiled runway, and the operator listed as Russell Rice.
Ray Stewart, seen returning in 1963 to Scotts Valley Sky Park Airport after a flight to Cuyama Valley in a Navion.
Photo by Ester Rice, courtesy of Mike Townsend.
The Sky Park property was annexed to the City of Santa Cruz in 1964.
In 1965, James Dahm took over the Rices' lease for operation of Sky Park.
In 1966 the Master Plan of the Santa Cruz Municipal Airport (Sky Park)
was approved by Santa Cruz City Council.
In the same year the City of Santa Cruz requested $11,700 in federal aid
for construction of a realigned runway & parallel taxiway at Sky Park.
Total project cost was estimated at $23,400.
The Federal Aviation Administration turned down the Sky Park grant application
because the proposed construction would not meet federal standards.
By 1966, the runway had been paved with asphalt,
as indicated in the Aerodromes table on the reverse side
of the 1966 San Francisco Sectional chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The 1968 USGS topo map depicted the original runway at Sky Park,
along with the realigned runway which replaced it.
In 1968 a 25 year lease agreement between City of Santa Cruz & James Dahm
for operation of Sky Park was signed.
Stuart Till recalled, "Until it was closed, it was managed/operated by Jim Dahm.
Jim ran a flying school there where I obtained my instrument rating under the GI bill in about 1972,
using an old WW2 military surplus Link Trainer for simulator time.
The runway had lights,
but Jim would not turn them on unless he knew you & knew you were competent to land there at night.
He would turn them on after a call on Unicom.
Jim lived on the field in a mobile home."
An undated (circa 1970s?) aerial photo looking southeast at Santa Cruz Skypark (courtesy of Dan Dawson),
showing a paved runway, several hangars, and about a dozen light aircraft.
In 1975 the County performed a "Preliminary Initial Study" of Sky Park
to provide background for development of airport policies to be included in the County Regional Transportation Plan.
The policy as ultimately adopted by the County Regional Transportation Commission
recommended that Sky Park remain a recreational airport operating at a level no greater that it then was.
The 1980 USGS topo map depicted “Skypark Airport” as having a a single runway,
with a number of hangars along the east side of the field.
Santa Cruz Skypark was listed in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
which described the field as consisting of a single 2,520' asphalt Runway 13/31,
and listed the operator as Sky Park Airport.
Don Rodrigues recalled, "We used to land regularly at Santa Cruz Skypark which was a challenging little strip.
If I'm not mistaken, the combination of development & some unfortunate crashes doomed the airport."
Steve Mann recalled, “The crash at the Scot’s Valley Airport that doomed it was by none other than Steve Wozniak, of Apple fame.”
This was on February 7, 1981, when Wozniak crashed his Beechcraft Bonanza while taking off from Skypark.
His injuries forced his temporary departure from Apple Computer.
Santa Cruz Skypark closed in January 1983.
It was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 1990 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
In the 1991 USGS aerial photo, the airport had already been closed,
but the entire length of the runway still remained intact.
Furthermore, a small segment of the original runway (used from 1947-66) was still visible as well,
just northeast of the south end of the primary runway.
However, recent aerial pictures show that the northern half of the runway had been largely removed & redeveloped,
with only the southern end of the runway remaining.
It is still depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2003 aeronautical charts.
Matt Humphrey observed in 2003, "Having lived here all my life,
I have seen it go from a nearly intact airport to just another large scale housing development.
There is however about a 100 yard section of the runway left,
and remnants of taxiways & a few tie-downs.
Sadly even this will be gone within a few years,
as there are plans to build another shopping center right over it."
A 2003 photo by Jonathan Westerling.
"A look east at the remains of the original (1950s) paved runway at SkyPark.
This runway was 2,100 feet & was abandoned in the mid 1960s when the runway was realigned to add about 500 feet.
The yellow centerline is still visible, but the white numbers at the end were impossible to make out."
A 2003 photo by Jonathan Westerling.
"Looking south at the remaining few hundred feet of pavement [of the primary runway] at SkyPark.
The yellow lines are from the city's road painting crew who used the strip for practice."
A 2003 photo by Jonathan Westerling.
"Looking north from the end of the remaining pavement [of the primary runway] at SkyPark.
The pavement was in fair condition & broken up in spots.
A pile of debris, perhaps remnants of the airport, are visible off to the right.
Notice the looming hill which made approaches to the little field quite challenging."
A 2003 photo by Jonathan Westerling.
"East of the runway (where the ramp used to be) there is now a park with a playground, soccer field and dog area.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any plaques explaining the history of the airport that gave the park its name."
A 2003 photo by Jonathan Westerling.
"There is now a housing development at the north end of the airfield.
Some of the streets have names which hearken back to the history of the airfield…
SkyPark Drive, Navigator Drive, Aviator Court, and Airstream Court."
Jonathan's sporty Porsche 944 is in the foreground.
A February 2005 aerial photo by Jonathan Westerling, looking northwest along the remains of the runways at Santa Cruz Skypark.
Thanks to Timothy Aanerud for pointing out this airfield.
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