Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
California: Northeastern Sacramento area
© 2002, © 2007 by Paul Freeman. Revised 4/17/07.
Fair Oaks Airport (revised 4/17/07)) - North Sacramento City Airport (revised 4/17/07)
Phoenix Field (revised 4/17/07) - Skyridge Airport (added 10/30/04)
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38.88 North / 121.07 West (Northeast of Sacramento, CA)
Skyridge Airport, as depicted on the 1954 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
Photo of the airport has not been located.
According to Dann Shively (who obtained information from Gene & Marilyn Herrington),
"In 1938 contractor Greeley Herrington purchased 300 acres of property
just south of where the Auburn fairgrounds now sit.
It overlooked the American River but was on 'the other side of the tracks',
so he couldn't get financing from local banks.
He arranged to buy the property on time from the owners.
By the end of WW2, the property was paid for.
Greeley moved his business to the area
and continued heavy construction projects with an eye toward eventually developing the property.
Greeley was also a pilot & began building his own airstrip on the highest part of his property above his shop.
Since he owned a quarry he surfaced the runway with decomposed granite.
It took nearly 3 years to complete the airport.
He, his son, some friends & eventually other pilots started using his strip."
The earliest depiction of Skyridge Airport which has been located
was on the 1954 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
It depicted Skyridge as a private field having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
The status of Skyridge Airport had apparently changed from private to public-use at some point beween 1954-61,
as that is how it was depicted on the 1961 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
The field was depicted as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
According to Dann Shively, "Greeley Herrington's dream of developing the area eventually was fulfilled.
By 1968 there were houses covering most of the property & the airport was closed to make room for more."
By the time of the 1993 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Skyridge Airport has been filled in with houses,
and not a trace of the airport remained.
A 2004 aerial photo (by Dann Shively) looking south at the site of the former Skyridge Airport.
"You can see a commercial area right in the middle of the houses [at the bottom of the photo].
That's the original site of the family business which is still in use.
Just up the hill on the east side is Herrington Drive & the runway site."
A 2004 aerial photo (by Dann Shively) looking north at the site of the former Skyridge Airport.
"At the bottom is a Mormon Church. The runway extended to the rear of the church's parking lot."
Dann Shively reported in 2004, "The area on which no bank would lend money has become one of the most desirable parts of the city now.
Today nothing remains of the airport except references in a street name that runs north of the airport site
and an elementary school that sits just to the south.
Most of the runway's location is aligned with what became Herrington Drive (named after the developer).
Gene Herrington (who's the son of Greeley & who lives on Herrington Drive)
says that the middle of the runway sat right where the middle of the street is now.
Gene & his wife Marilyn operate Herrington Pre-cast concrete
and have carried on the family construction business [at the same location - the commercial building now amidst the houses]."
A 2004 photo (by Dann Shively) of the street sign for Skyridge Drive.
A 2004 photo (by Dann Shively) of the Skyridge School.
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North Sacramento City Airport, Sacramento, CA
38.62 North / 121.47 West (Northeast of San Francisco, CA)
North Sacramento City Airport, as depicted on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
This short-lived little general aviation airfield was one of many to be established in the years immediately after the end of WW2.
North Sacramento Airport was apparently opened at some point between 1946-48,
as it was not yet depicted on the 1946 Sacramento Sectional Chart (according to Dann Shively).
The earliest depiction of North Sacramento Airport which has been located
was on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
which depicted it as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
The 1949 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
also depicted North Sacramento Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
A 1950 County Map (courtesy of Dann Shively) depicted the North Sacramento City Airport
as occupying a small plot of land bordered by the Western Pacific Railroad tracks on the west,
Sutter Street (later renamed Fairbanks Avenue) on the north, and the Arcade Canal on the South.
No runways or other details of the airport were depicted.
Dann Shively recalled, "I first heard about this airport when I owned Aeronca Champ…
a previous owner was a mechanic who said he worked out of the North Sacramento Airport in the 1950s."
The 1954 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively)
depicted North Sacramento City Airport as having a 1,700' unpaved runway.
North Sacramento Airport was closed at some point between 1954-57,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the September 1957 Sacramento Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former North Sacramento Airport has been covered with houses,
and no trace of the airport remains.
A 2004 photo (by Dann Shively) looking north at the site of the former North Sacramento City Airport.
"That's Arcade Creek on the lower portion & the railroad tracks & drainage canal on the left (west)."
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Phoenix Field / Fair Oaks - Phoenix Field, Fair Oaks, CA
38.65 North / 121.22 West (Northeast of Sacramento, CA)
Phoenix Field, as depicted on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
This general aviation airfield was apparently opened at some point between 1946-48,
as it was not yet depicted on the September 1946 Sacramento Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Phoenix Field which has been located
was on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
which described it as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
The 1949 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
also described Phoenix Field as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
The field was labeled as "Fair Oaks-Phoenix" on the March 1954 USAF Sacramento Sectional Chart.
An advertisement for "Phoenix Field Fair Oaks" from a December 1957 telephone directory (courtesy of Dann Shively).
The field was labeled as "Fair Oaks-Phoenix" on the 1957 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Dann Shively said, "As I recall from old timers around the area,
the strip began as the Phoenix Flying (or Fliers) Club.
One of the founders was the father of former ABC newswoman Joan Lunden.
He was a local physician. He & his family lived in a house adjacent to the field.
He could keep a plane in his yard & taxi right onto the taxiway.
Tragically, he was killed in a plane crash."
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Phoenix Field
as having a single 2,300' oiled Runway 18/36, and listed the operator as Engle Flying Service.
Phoenix Field was depicted on the 1967 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
with a single 2,600' concrete runway.
An October 1967 FAA Airport Facilities Record (courtesy of Stanley Dodge)
depicted Phoenix Field as having a single 2,600' paved north/south runway,
with a parallel taxiway on the west side.
Paved aprons on the southeast & southwest sides of the field each had adjacent T-hangars.
The owner & operator was listed as the Fair Oaks Flying Club,
and the operator was listed as Glenn Engle.
The 1968 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Phoenix Field as having a single 2,600' paved Runway 18/36,
with a parallel taxiway on the west side.
Paved aprons were on the southeast & southwest sides of the field,
and 2 rows of T-hangars were depicted on the west side.
Jim Vanicek recalled of Phoenix Field, “I grew up there with my father. In 1969 I was a very young kid.
I remember being able to walk all over the place.
I used to walk from the tarmac across the runway to the fuel pump to talk to everyone.
My Dad would fly with all his friends & sometimes we would have pie at the cafe at Hazel & Sunset.”
John Hockenbury recalled, "Before I bought my aircraft in 1978,
I used to go to Phoenix just to watch all the activity, those were the days.
Hundreds of airplanes were based there.
When these old airports go away, it is like losing an old friend."
Tim Carter recalled, "I got out of the Air Force in 1977 while living in Sacramento,
and went to work as a CFI at Phoenix Field.
I worked at Engle flying service which was owned by Don House.
Chief Pilot then was Marty Keene & the assistant was Lincoln White, both retired Air Force, I believe."
Greg Avella recalled, “I worked at Phoenix Field from 1978-80.
I started at the gas pumps & eventually became Parts Manager for the field.
Tim Carter was my first flight instructor, followed by Lincoln White. I did my checkride with Marty Keene.
Greg Anderson (a mechanic) & I would rent the Cessna 152s
and see who could land on Runway 36 & make the 1st exit on to the taxiway.
That required you touch the oleanders at the end of the runway.
Don House caught us & gave us the business because we were wearing out his brakes.
Every now & then a plane would land hot on Runway 18 and end up nose first into the oleanders.
What a fun place to learn to fly it was. Glenn Engle would come out & do some instructing at times. He was a character.”
Nearby resident Jason Evart recalled, "I remember this airport since I was a little boy.
I am now 21 years old, but this airport inspired me to become a pilot (airline pilot specifically).
I remember walking along the tarmac with my dad watching the planes take off -
in fact, I live about a quarter mile northeast away from the airport,
so would see planes fly over my house every day."
A 1981 aerial view looking north at Phoenix Field, copyright by John Hockenbury (used by permission).
"Sunset Avenue still runs across the foreground.
You can see tall bushes off the approach end of 36.
I've seen aircraft drag their wheels through them on landing.
This was one exciting airport."
Terry Knouff recalled, “In the early 1980s my family lived next to Phoenix Field, on Skyway Drive.
I remember spending many happy hours just looking over the back fence watching airplanes coming & going.
Once we had a special treat when a beautifully restored Stearman flew in for a special event at the airport.
The plane was being flown by Mr. Stearman himself, and his copilot was the actor Bob Cummings.
Bob had been taught to fly by his godfather, non other than Orville Wright!
Supposedly he also held flight instructors license #1, the first issued by the U.S. Government.
I can also recall seeing a few planes clipping the oleanders at the south end of the field.”
The 1985 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively)
depicted Phoenix Field as having a single 2,600' paved runway.
Dann Shively recalled, "I don't know how the ownership progressed
but the last owner who operated the airport was Don House.
It was very sad when it closed."
Jason Evart recalled, "I believe it was around 1987 when Phoenix Field was shut down
and built up with weeds & then eventually demolished.
For about two years it turned into a makeshift 4X4/dirtbike area of mud & dirt.
Soon the housing development started construction (the housing development is actually called "Phoenix Field")
with every street named with some aviation related word,
like Immelman Court, Flyway Drive, Airport Circle, etc.
I have a friend that lives about 100 feet away from where the original runway used to be."
Matt Strand recalled in 2003, "I grew up at the old Phoenix Field,
in fact from 1990-99 I lived about 1/4 mile from the approach end of what used to be Runway 18.
That subdivision was home to me until I went away to college; my parents still live there.
Before the southeast 1/4 of the subdivision was built,
the ramp was still there & my friends & I would ride bikes around trying to avoid the weeds.
At one point I found a tip of a prop & some rusty parts, not much else.
That area was razed & developed in 1996 or so."
Showing that you can't always trust the USGS topo maps,
Phoenix Field was still depicted on the 1995 USGS topo map,
with a single 2,600' runway & a parallel taxiway.
A 1998 USGS aerial photo of the site,
overlaid with the layout of the former Phoenix Field, by Jason Evart.
The site has been totally redeveloped as a housing development,
with not a trace remaining of the former airport.
A 2004 photo (by Dann Shively) of the sign at the entrance to the housing development which occupies the site of Phoenix Field.
A 2004 photo (by Dann Shively) of the approximate location of the former airport entrance.
"Just to the right side of the house was the entrance."
The site of the former airport is located southeast of the intersection of Phoenix Avenue & Hazel Avenue.
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Fair Oaks Airport, Rancho Cordova, CA
38.61 North / 121.27 West (Northeast of Sacramento, CA)
Fair Oaks Airport, as depicted on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
This small general aviation airport is not to be confused with the nearby Phoenix - Fair Oaks Airport
(located a few miles to the northwest).
The Fair Oaks Airport was evidently opened at some point between 1946-48,
as it was not depicted on the 1946 Sacramento Sectional Chart (according to Dann Shively).
The earliest depiction of Fair Oaks Airport which has been located
was on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
which depicted it as having a 2,100' unpaved runway.
The 1949 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
also depicted Fair Oaks Airport as having a 2,100' unpaved runway.
A 1950 County Map (courtesy of Dann Shively) depicted "Fairoaks Airport" as a rectangular property running along Folsom Boulevard,
but it did not depict any runways or other airport details.
The 1954 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively)
depicted the Fair Oaks Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
Note that it also showed that the nearby Phoenix Field was depicted as "Fair Oaks - Phoenix",
which undoubtedly must have caused some confusion at the time.
The last depiction of the Fair Oaks Airport which has been located
was on the 1957 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Fair Oaks Airport evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1957-61,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1961 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
According to Dann Shively, the portion of Highway 50 which is adjacent to the airport was opened in 1973 or 1974,
forming the northern & western boundary of what was the airport site.
From 1973-83, the site of the former airport was occupied by the Thunderbird Drive-In movie theatre.
Matt Strand recalled, "I saw my first movie there when I was very, very young,
and it was closed not long after in 1983, which, for a 5-year old, was tragic."
According to Dann Shively, "The 1990's saw extensive development in the area."
By the time of the 1998 USGS aerial photo, not a trace of the former Fair Oaks Airport remained.
As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo, not a trace of the former Fair Oaks Airport remained.
A 2004 photo (by Dann Shively) looking south at the site of Fair Oaks Airport.
"The site now contains several businesses including a storage facility,
a Holiday Inn, a closed up home improvement center, a convenience store & gas station.
There is no evidence an airport ever existed there."
The site of Fair Oaks Airport is bordered by Highway 50 on the north & west,
Folsom Boulevard on the south, and Sunrise Boulevard on the east. ____________________________________________________
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