Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:Thompson
California: Western Riverside County
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 5/8/08.
Murrieta Hot Springs Airport (revised 5/8/08) - Norconian Club (revised 10/14/07)
Rancho California Airport (revised 5/8/08) - Thompson Field / Bear Creek Airport (revised 5/8/08)
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Rancho California Airport (2L0), Temecula, CA
33.5 North / 117.16 West (North of San Diego, CA)
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Rancho California Airport was a 1967 aerial view.
A 1947 aerial view did not yet depict any sign of an airfield at this location.
According to a report prepared by Anne Miller for the Temecula Valley Historical Society,
“In the mid-1960s, the LA Times began running large advertisements about Rancho California,
a new 87,000-acre planned community in the Temecula Valley.
In the Times on November 6, 1966, there was a photograph that showed a helicopter 'towing' an antique plow
at the groundbreaking of the Rancho California Airport.”
According to the report by Anne Miller, “Bill Harker flew into he airport in the early years.
He reported that the first time he landed there,
it was just a 1,200' gravel strip with one hangar, a small office, and a few planes tied down.
He was told that the airport was originally graded by some of the contractors
who were building the original Ranch California Plaza (now Tower Plaza)
because they commuted by plane to the job site.”
The earliest depiction of Rancho California Airport which has been located was a 1967 aerial photo,
It depicted the airport with a single paved runway & at least one paved taxiway.
There did not yet appear to be any hangars or other buildings at the airfield,
and there also did not yet appear to be any aircraft based at the field.
According to K.O. Eckland, Rancho California Airport
was described in a 1968 Jeppesen Airport Directory as having a 3,465' paved runway.
Rancho California Airport,
as depicted on the September 1971 USAF Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to the report by Anne Miller, “When Bill Harker flew into Rancho California Airport again in 1974,
it had been lengthened & paved.
He noted that the Unicom transceiver was located in the office of the old Rancho Inn
in the old Plaza on the edge of the pond (where the Tower Plaza is located today).”
A 1976 aerial photo of a portion of the Rancho California Airport
depicted the field as having a single paved runway,
with several paved taxiways leading to hangars.
At least two small aircraft were visible parked on the field.
Rancho California Airport was listed among active airports in the 1977 Pilot's Guide to CA Airports (according to Chris Kennedy).
Rancho California Airport was described in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
as having a single 3,000' asphalt Runway 12/30.
The operators were listed as Airmech Industries & Rancho Aviation.
It was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1987 CA Aeronautical chart,
with a single 3,500' paved runway.
In 1987 Rancho California was the site of a hard landing accident by a Beechcraft Bonanza,
in which turbulent crosswinds were identified as a contributing factor.
According to the report by Anne Miller, “In 1989 Rancho California Airport was closed
just a week after the new French Valley Airport opened.
Don Vierta noted that he was the last one to fly out of Rancho California as he moved his plane to French Valley.
The hangars from the old airport were later moved to French Valley.”
Tom Kramer noted, “The airport was closed due to it being in the middle of the town.
However, its closure was linked to the opening of one of the few new airports
in Southern California in the last few decades, French Valley Airport, just up I-215.”
Rancho California Airport was still depicted on the 1989 San Diego Terminal Area Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
but it was labeled "Closed".
The 1996 USGS aerial photo of the site showed that the property had been redeveloped,
and not a trace appeared to remain of the former airport.
A new road, Business Park Drive, had been built over the former runway area.
A circa 2001 aerial photo of the site of the former airport.
Chris Kennedy reported in 2003, "I have visited this site on the ground & found nothing."
The airport site is located northwest of the intersection of Interstate 15 & Rancho California Road.
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Murrieta Hot Springs Airport, Murrieta, CA
33.56 North / 117.2 West (North of San Diego, CA)
Murrietta Hot Springs Airport,
as depicted on the 1953 San Diego-San Francisco Flight Chart (courtesy of Scott O'Donnell).
This short-lived little airport was apparently opened at some point between 1951-53,
as it was not yet depicted on the March 1951 San Diego USAF Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the airport which has been located
is the 1953 San Diego-San Francisco Flight Chart (courtesy of Scott O'Donnell)
which described the field as having an unpaved 2,200' runway.
Murrieta Hot Springs Airport was listed among active airports in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
which described the field as having a single unpaved 2,200' Runway 9/27.
The Murrieta Hot Springs Airport may have closed as a public airport by 1966,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1966 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was eventually replaced by the newly constructed Murrieta Temecula Airport, a few miles southeast.
The earliest photo that has been located of the Murrieta Hot Springs Airport was a 1967 aerial view.
It depicted the field as having a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway.
A few small buildings were on the northwest side of the runway,
and 6 light aircraft were parked on the southeast side of the field.
Murrieta Hot Springs Airport was labeled simply as "Landing Strip" on the 1979 USGS topo map.
It was depicted as having a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway,
with a few small buildings along the west side of the field.
Tom Kramer recalled, “When I used to drive up Interstate 15, if you knew just when to look,
you'd see a few aircraft parked there with a hangar or two.
I do recall seeing a large piston engine passenger type aircraft there back in the 1980s.”
As depicted in the circa 2000 aerial photo,
the airfield consisted of a 3,500' asphalt runway, an asphalt ramp north of the west end of the runway,
and several small buildings & hangars.
The airfield still exists largely intact, but is now surrounded by houses,
which was probably the reason for its closure.
Chris Kennedy reported in 2003, "I went by the Murietta Hot Springs Airport
and it looks pretty much like the [above] aerial photo,
although there are For Sale signs along the runway."
The airport site is located east of the intersection of Los Alamos Road & Monroe Avenue.
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Thompson Field / Bear Creek Airport (L86), Murrieta, CA
33.57 North / 117.24 West (North of San Diego, CA)
Thompson Field, as depicted on the 1979 USGS topo map.
This general aviation airfield was apparently built at some point between 1967-78,
as it was not depicted on the 1966 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
nor depicted on a 1967 aerial photo.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in the 1978 Pilot's Guide to CA Airports (according to Chris Kennedy),
which listed it in the "Unattended Airports" section as the "Thompson Transportation Center".
It was described as having a single 2,700' dirt Runway 15/33.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Thompson Field
was on the 1979 USGS topo map.
According to Bob Butt, "About Thompson Field - It was owned by Curt Thompson a local farmer.
Several of the farmers would come & sit in some old couches under the oak trees in the evenings & drink beer.
They had a pile about five feet high.
The runway was surrounded by the wild wheat that Curt would harvest & bail as feed.
I did my early flight training there in a Taylorcraft & a C-140
and we would go to the Temecula airport for fuel.
When Skylark airport flooded, the skydiving operation moved there until the waters receded.
The DC-3's are still owned & operated by the same person, they are at Skylark (Elsinore).
The last one to fly out of there landed at Skylark & has not flown since."
Bob Cannon recalled, "Thompson Field… I did all of my test flying for my banner tow mechanism there.
I believe [the owner's] name was Carl. He offered me the entire property for $1M.
The new Jack Nicklaus golf course nearby ran a large paved road right up to mid-field where their property ended.
I think they fully intended to buy the property eventually.
It was a fun place where one could also do some target shooting & have a picnic."
The earliest photo which had been located of Thompson Field was a 1982 aerial view.
It depicted the field as having a single northwest/southeast runway.
A few very small buildings were on the southeast side of the field.
A total of 15 aircraft were visible on the field,
including several gliders, and what appears to be an aircraft towing a glider on the runway.
It was listed as "Thompson Transportation Center" in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
with a single 2,800' dirt Runway 15/33,
and the operator listed as Skylark Gliderport.
In its last few years it was used for parachuting & ultralight aircraft operations.
Thompson Field was depicted as an active airfield on the 1989 San Diego Terminal Area Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
with a 2,700' unpaved runway.
In the above 1996 USGS aerial photo, a total of 10 aircraft are visible parked outside, including three DC-3s!
One of those DC-3s was the last aircraft to fly out of the airport before its closure.
In addition to the single dirt runway, the airfield had several small buildings & hangars along the east side.
In its later years, the airfield was known as Bear Creek Airport.
Bear Creek Airport closed in 1997.
It eventually was surrounded by housing developments, which was most likely the reason for its closure.
In the June 2002 USGS aerial photo, the runway & airport buildings were still completely intact,
just devoid of any aircraft.
Jere Vandewalle reported, “Aunt Lucy claims that as recently as 2002 (when she moved in) there were light aircraft operating there,
and since she saw lots of both kinds, I think she knows the distinction between those & ultralights.
There is still lots of traffic in the area & I wouldn't be surprised if landings continued after the closure for some time.”
According to Bob Butt, "Curt fought the city council over the construction of a bridge too close to the end of the runway
but although he won a judgment the bridge is still there.
When he died his brother did not have the strength to fight the city council
and sold it in 2002 or 2003 but it was actively in use by ultralights until the summer of 2003.
The post for the deposit of the landing fee is still there.
The buildings are being sold, dismantled, and moved."
Chris Kennedy reported in 2003, "I went by the Bear Creek Airport last week & it is still there,
although fenced & inaccessible.
There are houses up to within a hundred yards or so of it to the east."
A 2005 photo by Chris Kennedy, taken just west of the bridge, looking South-Southeast at the former Bear Creek Airport.
The runway is still visible, as well as one former hangar.
Anne Miller reported in 2005, “Any evidence of the old runway is 'fading away'
and the site surrounded by new homes.
The high Calle Del Oso Oro bridge across the Murrieta Creek just off the north end of the runway virtually ended flying there.
The last DC-3 must been broken down & hauled out.”
A 2005 photo by Jere Vandewalle looking along the remains of the former runway of Thompson Field.
Jere observed, “Standing on the runway it is hard to imagine DC-3s there.”
A 2005 photo by Jere Vandewalle looking east at the remains of a former hangar at the site of Thompson Field.
A 2005 photo by Jere Vandewalle looking northwest at ruins in front of a former hangar at the site of Thompson Field.
The airport site is located west of the intersection of Magnolia Street & Washington Avenue.
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Norconian Club Airport, Norco, CA
33.93 North / 117.57 West (East of Los Angeles, CA)
A January 26, 1933 photo of the fatal crash of Marshal Boggs in an unidentified aircraft at the Lake Norconian Club.
This was once a playground for the rich & famous.
The Norconian Club, a 700-acre luxury resort, was built by Rex Clark in 1928.
Frequented by silent-screen stars, the complex sported a gambling casino, golf course,
55 acre lake, a hot sulfur spring spa, a magnificent 5-story hotel, and its own airport.
Sitting atop a knoll, the hotel had a commanding view of Lake Norconian & the surrounding countryside.
The date of construction of the Norconian Club Airport has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the airfield which has been located
was in the Standard Oil Company's 1929 "Airplane Landing Fields of the Pacific West" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described the Norconian Lake Club Airfield as having two dirt runways,
with the longest being a 2,400' east/west strip.
After the stock market crash of 1929, the Norconian resort plunged into a 12-year decline.
On January 26, 1933, Marshal Boggs was killed in a crash of an unidentified aircraft at the Lake Norconian Club.
Boggs, an inspector for the Civil Aeronautics Administration, was reported to be the 1st test pilot to use radio navigation.
In the 1930s, Will Rogers was reported to be a regular guest at the hotel, using the airfield to arrive & depart.
Amelia Earhart also used the Norconian air field to practice landings & takeoffs.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Norconian Club Airport
was on the 1934 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Scott O'Donnell).
It depicted “Norconian Club” as an auxiliary airfield.
A 1936 Commerce Department "Descriptions of Airports & Landing Fields in the US" (courtesy of Dan MacPherson)
described the "Norconian Club Field" as having a single north/south sod 2,000' x 400' runway.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Norconian Airfield in the same manner.
It was still depicted as a commercial airfield on the 1939 LA Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jon Karkow).
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Norconian Club Airport
was on the 1940 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Norconian” as a commercial/municipal airport.
Owner Rex Clark eventually agreed to sell the complex to the Navy for $1.6 million in 1941.
The posh former resort was transformed by the Navy into a Naval Hospital,
and presumably the airfield was abandoned.
During WW2, some of the facilities at the Norconian also were used for early guided missile research.
The installation was eventually named the Corona Naval Weapons Center.
A 1948 aerial view showed that the site of the runway had been covered by buildings
(most of which are still on the site as of 2005).
According to Troy Lyman, the site previously occupied by the airfield
was reused by the Navy in the to construct hospital overflow buildings to accommodate patients coming home from overseas.
These buildings were eventually reused as a prison, labeled the California Rehabilitation Center on topo maps.
A 1985 aerial photo by Dan MacPherson looking south at the former Norconian Club.
A circa 2001 aerial photo, annotated by Troy Lyman to show the location of the former Norconian Club runway.
No remains of the former airport were still perceptible.
Troy Lyman reported in 2005, “I have in our possession 2 photos showing the hotel & the old airfield.
The airfield was located just to the north of the hotel.
It would have been located just to the south of what is today 5th Street.”
In 2005, the Navy's Corona Naval Weapons Center was placed on the Base Realignment & Closure Commission list.
However, Tim Alsky reported in 2006 that “I'm happy to say that the Base Realignment & Closure Commission
decided last month that the Naval Surface Warfare Center will NOT be closed after all.
The historical site (former Norconian Club) was spared from the chopping block & will remain fully operational.”
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