Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:c
California: San Luis Obispo area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/6/08.
Alamo Airstrip (revised 2/22/06) - Camp Roberts Main AAF (revised 3/6/08) - Flying R Ranch Airfield (added 1/9/04)
Hearst Castle Airfield (1st location) (revised 2/24/06) - Hearst Castle Airfield (2nd location) (revised 9/25/07)
Jolon Airfield / Hearst Hacienda Airfield / Hunter Liggett Airfield (revised 2/22/06) - MacGillivray Ranch Airfield (added 4/29/06) - McMillan AAF
Sherwood Field / (Original) Paso Robles Airport (revised 4/20/07) - Schoonver Tactical Airstrip (revised 9/9/07)
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MacGillivray Ranch Airfield (Q89), Adelaida, CA
35.64 North / 120.85 West (Northwest of Los Angeles, CA)
A 1970 photo of Ronald Reagan's Aero Commander on the flightline at MacGillivray,
taken when he flew in to announce his bid for reelection of Governor of California
(Copyright 2006 MacGillivray Ranch, used by permission of Bob MacGillivray, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
According to Jonathan Westerling, “Fraser MacGillivray never had a pilot's license,
but he had an undying enthusiasm for aviation.
So much so that this safflower farmer turned entrepreneur looked to air travel
when seeking ways that his ranch could pay for itself.
In 1969 he installed an airstrip in the middle of his property with a little money from his father
and the help of friends he met while hanging out at the Paso Robles Airport.”
Fraser MacGillivray received his California Department of Aeronautics Airport Permit (courtesy of Bob MacGillivray, via Jonathan Westerling)
on January 12, 1970.
The permit was for a “Basic Utility Stage 1 Airport”,
“Restricted to Day VFR Operations”.
The state license has no expiration date.
According to Jonathan Westerling, Fraser MacGillivray “began marketing it to LA folks as a destination for hunting & fishing.
Originally is was just a 3,400' long oiled gravel road, but over the years it got more & more improvements.”
Jonathan continued, “In a classic case of 'If you build it they will come',
soon anywhere from 5-50 planes soon peppered the flight line on a given day.
According to Frasier’s son Bob MacGillivray, there were Fly in Bar-B-Ques,
flower sack bombing runs, and short landing contests.
The interest & activity helped fund a 4 room Bed & Breakfast that was built adjacent to the ramp.”
Bob MacGillivray recalled, “We had huge events attended by prominent statesmen & entertainment personalities of the day.
When Paso Robles was only 8,500 people,
4,500 of them could be found at our ranch for one of our bar-b-ques complete with air-show.
We were a real hit with the neighbors.
My father did everything he could to make that property make sense financially.”
According to Jonathan Westerling, “The biggest day in the airfield’s history was in 1970.
Ronald Regan chose MacGillivray Airfield as the location
to announce he would seek a 2nd term as the Governor of the State of California.
He was flown into the airfield in his Aero Commander & addressed the assembled crowd of over 4,000 people,
many of whom flew in for the speech as well.”
An undated photo of a Bonanza, Cessna, and Piper from a circa 1970s brochure for the MacGillivray Ranch (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
The caption said, “Park your plane a short walk away from your cottage.
It's also so close, so easy, when you fly in to the MacGillivray Ranch.”
A circa-1970s photo looking north at the MacGillivray Airfield
(Copyright 2006 MacGillivray Ranch, used by permission of Bob MacGillivray, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
The earliest chart depiction which has been located of the MacGillivray Airfield
was on the August 1976 LA Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted MacGillivray as a public-use airfield having a 3,200' unpaved runway.
The runway at MacGillivray Airfield was evidently paved at some point between 1976-81,
as the 1981 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted MacGillivray as a public-use airfield having a single 3,400' paved runway, oriented northeast/southwest.
The 1987 USGS topo depicted the runway, but labeled it simply as “Landing Strip”.
For no apparent reason the 1988 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted MacGillivray as having a 3,400' unpaved runway.
According to Jonathan Westerling, “Through the 1980s many car commercials were filmed on the airstrip & surrounding roads.
In 1989 the movie 'Arachnophobia' was filmed there.”
The 1994 USGS aerial photo showed the runway & hangar of the MacGillivray Airfield.
According to Jonathan Westerling, “In the mid-1990s Bob’s younger brother turned the Ranch into a winery
which the family then sold in 2000.
All this time, the airfield was retained, though it was rarely used.”
Jonathan continued, “The last plane to use the field was owned by a neighbor
who had invested a fair amount of money into the airfield in the exchange for the right to land there.
Unfortunately this pilot did not maintain his plane (a Piper Malibu with 15 violations).”
After a night takeoff from MacGillivray on February 20, 2001,
it crashed near the airfield, killing the pilot.
The NTSB examination described the MacGillivray runway as paved with asphalt, and unlighted.
According to the California Division of Aeronautics, the Runways were designated 4 & 22.
The MacGillivray Airfield was evidently closed at some point between 2001-2004,
as it was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 2004 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling looking east along MacGillivray's Runway 4,
showing that the pavement remains intact, in fine condition.
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling of a sign at MacGillivray which still warns winery workers of the runway there.
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling of the former hangar at MacGillivray,
which “has been converted for wine-making operations. Note the wooden storage casks at right.”
Jonathan Westerling reported in 2006, “The airport is still licensed by the state,
but no longer registered with the FAA.”
Thus it is no longer depicted on aeronautical charts.
Jonathan Westerling reported in 2006, “The Frasier MacGillivray Airfield is now property of the Halter Ranch Winery.
Surprisingly, the new owners have elected to keep the runway intact,
and are happy to talk about it when asked.
The representative I spoke with said no one has landed there in a few years,
although the owner of the winery has a plane which he keeps elsewhere.
And while they don’t want to loose the license for the airfield,
there are no current plans to allow anything except emergency landings.
I didn’t ask her whether a great deal on a few bottles of merlot counts as a valid reason for an emergency landing!”
The MacGillivray Airfield is located north of the intersection of Adelaida Road & Vineyard Drive.
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Sherwood Field / (Original) Paso Robles Airport, Paso Robles, CA
35.61 North / 120.66 West (Northwest of Los Angeles, CA)
The original Paso Robles Airport, as depicted on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
Sherwood Field was began in the late 1920s as a private airport owned by T A Osborne.
It had two dirt strips with a few locally-owned aircraft.
In those days it was quite an event to have "barnstormers" visit Paso Robles,
and when they did, the whole city turned out to see them.
Rides were offered for only $1.
At some point, the field became known as Paso Robles Airport.
The Standard Oil Company's 1929 "Airplane Landing Fields of the Pacific West" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Paso Robles as a commercial airport operated by Perry Tucker.
The airfield configuration was said to consist of a 2,000' northeast/southwest runway,
along with auxiliary runways on the north & east.
A small hangar was said to be on the northeast corner of the field.
The earliest depiction of the Paso Robles which has been located
was on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Paso Robles as a commercial/municipal airfield.
Paso Robles was also used as a stopover for Goodyear blimps traveling up & down the coast in the 1930s.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Paso Robles Municipal Airport as having three dirt runways,
with the longest being a 3,300' northeast/southwest strip.
In 1940, a flying club, in joint ownership with the Paso Robles airport, was planned.
The committee anticipated a $10,000 improvement program tentatively promised by the CAA.
A field survey by the CAA was completed with the team recommending a beacon,
radio signal tower, and weather station.
The runways at Sherwood were then 3,400' & 1,600' long.
In late 1940, the City of Paso Robles & the War Department came to an agreement
to have the City lease the Paso Robles Airport to the military for $1 / year.
One week later the private planes were moved to other cities, most went to San Luis Obispo.
Ground was broken for the first buildings of an estimated $300,000 construction project.
More than 5,000' of concrete drain tile & corrugated iron culverts
lined both sides of the two main runways.
The first unit to move into the new government-run airport
was the 115th Observation Squadron of the California National Guard.
The unit was attached to the 40th Division, at the time stationed at Camp San Luis Obispo.
Early in 1941, the government appropriated an additional $254,346 for the construction
of a new 4,200' east-west runway, for which the City of Paso Robles purchased 20 additional acres.
The runway was of sufficient size to accommodate any type of landplane then in use.
All runways were hard-surfaced with a concrete apron.
Later in 1941, the Air Corps turned the field over to the Navy,
who used it only as an emergency field - a full complement was never stationed there.
The December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Sherwood Field as a military airfield.
A motion picture, with actor Robert Taylor in the role of an Air Corps cadet,
was made early in WW2, and part of it was filmed at Sherwood Field.
Legendary stunt pilot Paul Mantz flew the air scenes in place of Taylor
(who actually later was a Navy pilot in the Pacific theater).
One morning all airplanes were moved out of the hangar, both doors slid open,
then Mantz took off, circled the field once, dove, and flew through one door & out the other.
Hundreds of townspeople had heard about the planned scene,
and were there to watch the action being filmed - Paso Robles' first air show!
"Paso Robles" Airport was described by the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
as having a 3,300' hard-surface runway.
In 1945, the Navy returned the field to the City of Paso Robles.
The airport fell into general disrepair after the war, since most aviation activity had shifted to Estrella -
by then the official Paso Robles airport - and housing was fast encroaching.
"Paso Robles" was depicted as an auxiliary airfield on the March 1945 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The last aeronautical chart depiction of Paso Robes as an active airfield which has been located
was on the January 1948 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Dean Billing).
It depicted Paso Robes as having a 3,500' hard-surface runway.
Paso Robles Serwood Field was closed at some point between 1948-55.
In the mid-1950s, a housing tract was constructed on the property,
where some residents trying to plant trees in their yard hit the old runway & parking ramps.
Bob Cannon recalled, "On a cross-country to Gilroy in 1954 in my Champ,
I was depending upon getting gas at Sherwood, but I never could find it; maybe it was gone by then?"
No airfield at the site was depicted on the 1955 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1971 aerial view of the site of Sherwood Field (from the Alexandria Digital Library @ UC Santa Barbara, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
showing the still-extant remains of 4 runways, as well as the hangars along the north side of the field.
The 1979 USGS topo map still depicted the paved east/west ramp, as well as the hangar on its north side,
and the paved north/south runway.
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo, the former ramp was still visible in the center, with the hangar to the north of it.
A pre-2001 aerial view looking west at what remains of Sherwood Field.
The outline of the former main runway runs diagonally across the picture,
with the small portion that is still visible highlighted by the arrow.
The rest of the runway lies buried under houses & commercial buildings.
The still-extant ramp & hangars are on the right side of the picture.
Sherwood Field is still with us today in visible reminders.
The old Officers Mess is in use by the Paso Robles Shriners,
and the big hangar remains, now occupied by Ennis Co,
as does the original apron where the planes were tied down.
The hangar & ramp can be viewed from Santa Fe Avenue, off Creston Road,
where the apron is bisected by a chain-like fence from Ennis Co property.
The concrete was just too much trouble to break up & remove,
so it remains as a reminder of bygone days when the sounds of aircraft engines chattered
in the soft, clear air over what was then open pasture land.
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling, looking at the front of the impressive hangar which remains at the site of Sherwood Field.
Jonathan Westerling reported, “As of 2006, Sherwood field is still very much in evidence & accessible for viewing.
One half of the shorter east/west runway (divided longways!) is legally drivable as part of Santa Fe Road.
The other half is used for parking by nearby businesses.
A fence runs the length of this remaining runway.
By far the most interesting aspect of the airfield that remains is the huge hangar building,
now reused as part of the Ennis Printing Company.
The 10 panels of its monstrous doors have been fairly well maintained & dwarf all other buildings in the vicinity.
Large red globe lights still mark each corner of the building
and its architecture is a perfect example of a WWII hangar structure.
Unfortunately, the end of the remaining portion of the diagonal runway evidenced in the aerial photo [several paragraphs above]
has been removed in favor of another industrial building.”
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling, a “120 degree panoramic view looking northwest
from the eastern part of the remaining runway at Sherwood Field.
The large blue building was the airport hangar.
The remains of the concrete runway have been divided lengthwise by a fence to be used for parking.”
The site of Sherwood Field is bordered by Creston Road on the West, Sherwood Road on the North,
Fontana Road on the East, and Scott Street on the South.
See also: http://ewarbirds.org/sherwood.html
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Flying R Ranch Airfield, San Miguel, CA
35.76 North / 120.69 West (Southwest of Fresno, CA)
USGS topo map 1979.
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
The date of construction of what was evidently a former private airfield has not been determined.
It was not depicted at all on the 1966 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The earliest depiction of an airfield at this site which has been located
was on the 1979 USGS topo map,
which depicted a single 1,900' runway, labeled simply as "Landing Field".
No airfield at this location was listed here in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury).
It was also still depicted on the 1989 USGS topo map,
but once again simply labeled as "Landing Strip".
As seen in the 1994 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield consisted of a single runway & a small hangar.
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler, of the sign in front of a house on a bluff overlooking the airfield on the opposite side of Indian Valley Road.
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of the remains of the runway & hangar.
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of the airfield, from the hillside on the opposite side of the road.
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of the newer of the two hangars at the airfield.
Note the windsock frame atop the hangar.
Tim Tyler visited this former airfield in 2003.
He reported that it consisted of one "Old gravel runway, with remains of one old, and one newer hangar,
plus a partially demolished trailer home.
Both hangars have remains of windsocks on their roofs.
The newer hangar is Butler type building & looks like it is now used to do mechanical work on machinery.
The older, smaller open-faced hangar looks like it was most recently used as an animal pen.
The runway isn’t flight-ready."
The Flying R Ranch Airfield is located northwest of the intersection of Indian Valley Road & River Road.
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Camp Roberts (Main) Army Airfield, Camp Roberts, CA
35.79 North / 120.74 West (Southwest of Fresno, CA)
A circa 1950s photo of a General's L-23 at the Camp Roberts Main Airfield (courtesy of Bob Cannon).
Camp Roberts originally had two airfields: "East" & "Main".
The "Main" airfield was originally the camp's parade grounds.
The dates of construction of the two Camp Roberts airfields are unknown.
They were evidently built at some point between 1944-52,
as they were not listed among active airfields in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
Bob Cannon recalled, "On the Camp Roberts airstrips:
I flew out of both of them in 1952-58 with the CA National Guard.
I was in the 111th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
The main strip was used mainly for parades or for the 'biggies' like Goodwin Knight,
and the short strip across the road was used for air traffic,
except the doggy L-17 Navions were limited to 3 persons on board due to the short strip."
The 1955 & 1956 San Francisco Sectional Charts (according to Chris Kennedy)
depicted the Camp Roberts East airfield as "Roberts AAF".
The Aerodromes table described the field as consisting of a single 1,700' hard-surface runway,
and with the remarks, "Closed to all aircraft except L type."
The Camp Roberts West (Main) Airfield may not have yet been officially activated,
as it was not yet depicted on the chart.
The earliest photo which has been located of the Camp Robert Main Airfield
was a 1956 aerial view of the Livermore Airport, from the Alexandria Digital Library @ UC Santa Barbara (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
It depicted the field as a single (very wide) northwest/southeast runway.
Dick Landgraff recalled, "My National Guard unit spent a couple of summers up there in the late 1950s.
Since my unit was the 111th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
we naturally had a couple of Pipers as part of our Recon equipment.
But whether they used the East or West Fields, I don't know."
"But I believe the West (Main) Field was the longest of the two.
I think it's runway was over a mile long because the 160th Armored Infantry Battalion
needed a flat piece of asphalt or concrete with a measured mile on it.
They stripped the governor off the engine of an M-41 Walker Bulldog tank & clocked it at high speed.
They did it twice to make sure their stopwatches & math was correct.
They had a crackerjack driver zip that 25 ton tank down the airstrip at 72 mph.
At least that was ONE use for the air strip."
The June 1963 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Roberts AAF Main as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway.
The two Camp Roberts airfields,
as depicted on the 1966 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The 1966 San Francisco Sectional chart (courtesy of John Voss)
depicted Roberts AAF Main as having a single 3,000' paved runway,
and depicted Roberts AAF East as having a single 2,500' paved runway.
Strangely enough, the Aerodromes table on the reverse side of the 1966 Sectional Chart
included the following remark for both Camp Roberts fields: "Closed until further notice."
John Christie was stationed at Camp Roberts from 1980-2000.
Of the Camp Roberts Main Airfield, he recalled,
"In my years of training there it was primarily used as a helipad, and mostly for medevac.
If you look on your aerial photo, there is, at center of the lower long side some buildings,
that was the dispensary, next to which they parked said helicopters.
On the lower short side is a recently constructed (1996? or so) fuel point (Vehicle, wheeled).
In fact I never saw a fixed wing aircraft use it in the years between 1980 & 2000."
The Camp Roberts Main Airfield was closed at an unknown date, apparently between 1987-91.
Both the East & Main Airfields were depicted on the 1987 CA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss),
but only the East Airfield was still depicted on the 1991 Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Robin Ziegler).
The Camp Roberts East airfield is the one which remains in use today,
known as Roberts Army Heliport.
Aerial photos from 1994 & 2001 show that the airfield had been lengthened to 4,000'.
The asphalt runway was also very wide: 1,300'.
The Camp Roberts Main Airfield circa 2001, after its closure.
The Camp Roberts Main Airfield is located south of the intersection of Montana Boulevard & California Boulevard,
a quarter-mile west of Interstate 101.
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McMillan Army Airfield (CA62), Camp Roberts, CA
35.72 North / 120.77 West (Southwest of Fresno, CA)
McMillian Airfield was depicted simply as “Landing Strip” on the 1989 USGS topo map.
This small military airstrip on the property of Camp Roberts was built originally
as a dirt assault strip used by the Army & Air Force for tactical C-130 training.
McMillan airfield was built in 1986
by elements of the Army’s 14th & 864th Engineering Battalions (according to Dirk Hale).
It was named after 2nd Lt. Charles McMillan, who died in action in Aug 1950 during the Korean War.
There is a small monument to McMillan in the patch of grass between the hangar & the runway.
The McMillan Airfield was not depicted at all on the 1987 CA Aeronautical Chart.
The earliest depiction of McMillian Airfield which has been located was on the 1989 USGS topo map.
It depicted a single northwest/southeast runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip”.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of McMillian Airfield which has been located
was on the 1991 Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Robin Ziegler).
USGS aerial photo 1994.
In the late 1990s, McMillan airfield has taken on a new life as a base operating unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies
(based at the nearby Marina Municipal Airport, formerly Ft. Ord's Frizsche Field)
established a detachment at McMillan to serve as a base of operations
for both manned & unmanned aerial vehicle flights.
McMillan Airfield provides CIRPAS with an ideal location for UAV operations,
thanks to its isolated geographical location with abundant clear airspace
(the airspace over McMillan Airfield is within Restricted Area 2504).
In this circa 2001 aerial photo,
note the improvements to the runway compared to the 1994 photo.
A Pelican unmanned/manned experimental aircraft, as tested at McMillan.
One of the Navy's only two Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, tested at McMillan.
Aircraft operated by CIRPAS include the Pelican (a former twin-engine Cessna Skymaster,
which has been converted to a single-engine configuration, and can be flown either manned or unmanned),
and the Navy's only two Predator unmanned aerial vehicles.
As described on their website, "CIRPAS has improved the strip to make it acceptable for UAV flight operations.
The airstrip is paved & marked with centerline & limit line markings.
Wind socks are located on the north side of the runway at either ends.
Currently the airfield is daytime operations only & non-instrumented.
Facilities include a 40' x 70’ hangar, office spaces & a conference room.
The runway is a B-II category airstrip, adequate for a maximum 12,500 lbs. aircraft.
A multi-phase program is currently underway to further enhance the UAV base over a period of years."
Several elements of the published data of this airfield are misleading, perhaps intentionally so.
It is depicted on the 2002 aeronautical charts, labeled as "Private",
which is not the way military airfields are typically depicted.
Yet the published Airport Facility Data ownership data confirms
that it is owned by the US Army, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord.
Furthermore, the 2002 aeronautical charts still depict the field as a 3,500' unpaved strip.
Yet the above aerial photos tell a different story.
The first picture above is from 1994, and yet it depicts a runway that was already 4,200' long.
The second photo is from 2001, and shows that the runway has been paved in asphalt.
Yet the Airport Facility Data continues to list a 3,500' gravel runway - ???
To further confuse the issue, the Remarks field in the Airport Facility Data includes the following:
"Airport status: Airport closed indefinitely."
So this airfield is currently used to operate both manned & unmanned aircraft, yet is officially "closed"?
The McMillan Airfield is located northeast of the intersection of Generals Road & East Perimeter Road.
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Hearst Castle Airfield (1st location), San Simeon, CA
35.65 North / 121.19 West (Northwest of Los Angeles, CA)
Hearst Airfield, as depicted in its original location on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
William Randolph Hearst first constructed a private airstrip at an unknown date on the property of his Hearst Castle.
In addition to the stars, politicians & other influential members of society
that were continually being flown in for extravagant parties,
Mr. Hearst used the airstrip to have every one of his newspapers delivered to him for his review & critique.
Originally there were two runways, one east/west & the other north/south, both illuminated for night operations.
Mr. Hearst's airstrip was one of the first in the state to facilitate instrument landings.
Famous aviators that visited Hearst's ranch included Howard Hughes, Amelia Earhart & Charles Lindbergh.
The earliest depiction of the Hearst Airfield which has been located
was on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Hearst Ranch” as a commercial airfield.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Hearst Airfield as having two sod runways,
with the longest being a 2,350' north/south strip.
The December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted “W. R. Hearst (Aux)” as a commercial airfield.
The Hearst hangar was reportedly in the movie Casablanca [1942].
William Randolph Hearst owned a DC-3 which he stored in the hangar.
The last depiction which has been located of the Hearst Caste Airfield in its original location
was on the 1945 Mojave AAF Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Hearst as an auxiliary airfield.
In 1946, a replacement Hearst Airfield was constructed one mile north,
and the original airfield was presumably abandoned.
By the time of the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
only the new airfield to the north was listed.
Today the site of the original airstrip is occupied by the current Visitors Center,
and the site of the former hangar is occupied by the ticket office & snack bar.
Amazingly, the 1989 USGS topo map appears to continue to depict the outline of two runways at the location of the original Hearst Airfield
(the outline labeled “State Historical Monument” at the southeast corner),
in addition to the 2nd Hearst Airfield (at the northwest corner).
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo, the outline of the original Hearst Airfield's former north/south runway is still quite recognizable,
while much of the former east/west runway has been covered by the Visitor Center & its parking lots.
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling, looking north
along the location of the former north/south runway of the original Hearst airfield.
Jonathan observed, “The runway (which was much wider than the road visible here)
remains a flat, raised area that extends well past either side of the road.
Hearst Castle sits at the top of the mountain in the background.”
Thanks to Mike Perry & Christopher Baker for information about Hearst Airfield.
See also: http://www.hearstcastle.org/history/airport.shtml
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Hearst Castle Airfield (2nd location), San Simeon, CA
35.66 North / 121.2 West (Northwest of Los Angeles, CA)
The second location of the Hearst Airfield, as depicted on the 1965 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
In 1946, the original private airfield on the property of the Hearst Castle was replaced
by a newly constructed airfield, one mile to the north.
The earliest directory reference to the second Hearst Airfield which has been located
was in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory.
It described Hearst as having a 4,400' paved runway.
The earliest depiction of the second Hearst Airfield which has been located
was on the 1965 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having a single 4,300' paved northwest/southeast runway,
which was labeled as being "Closed to public."
According to a California State Government document,
the Hearst Ranch Airfield may have been used to support the operations of the nearby Cambria Air Force Station
(a radar installation which was operational from 1951 through the mid-1980s).
The 1989 USGS topo map depicted the single runway & parking ramp of Hearst Airport.
The 2000 USGS aerial photo depicted the field as consisting of a single 4,400' paved runway,
with a single hangar at the southeast end.
As seen in a 2004 aerial photo, the airfield consisted of a single 4,400' paved runway,
marked with a "P" at each end (indicating it to be private), with a single hangar at the southeast end.
Today, the airstrip is still used by the Hearst Corporation & family but is not open to public air traffic.
Small propeller & jet aircraft are the norm.
However, the largest aircraft to land at the airstrip was a 727 owned by Malcolm Forbes
that visited over a 4th of July weekend several years ago.
Local commercial pilots have flown charters in & out of the airfield,
even though the LA Sectional depicts it as an abandoned airfield,
and it is not listed at all among active airfields in the Airport Facilities Directory.
Thanks to Mike Perry & Christopher Baker for information about Hearst Airfield.
See also: http://www.hearstcastle.org/history/airport.shtml
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Jolon Airfield / Hearst Hacienda Airfield / Hunter Liggett Airfield, Jolon, CA
36 North / 121.23 West (Northwest of Los Angeles, CA)
Jolon Airfield, as depicted on the 1935 San Francisco Airway Map.
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
According to the Fort Hunter Ligget website,
William Randolph Hearst's Milpitas Ranch (also known as “The Hacienda”) was constructed in Jolon in 1929/30.
Ground travel was tedious between Hearst’s nearby Castle at San Simeon & his new Hacienda,
so a landing strip was built down slope & slightly to the left of the Hacienda,
from which Hearst could fly between his two properties.
Hearst often flew a Stinson Tri-motor & in and out of the Hacienda airstrip.
According to “Hearst’s Dream” by Taylor Coffman, “While the Jolon airstrip was primarily for ranch operations at Milpitas,
Hearst is known to have flown guests back to La Cuesta Encantada from Jolon on occasion after riding to Milpitas for picnics.
One time, Hearst flew to Jolon during the renovations of the San Simeon airstrip in the early 1930s.”
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Jolon Airfield
was on the 1935 San Francisco Airway Map.
It depicted Jolon as an auxiliary airfield.
The 1936 Federal Airport Information Manual described the Hearst Jolon Airfield as an auxiliary airfield,
located 2 miles southeast of Hearst’s Hacienda.
The runway was listed as being 2,500' adobe & sod, with aviation fuel on-site.
On December 12, 1940, the Hearst era at Jolon ended
when the 158,000-acre ranch was sold to the government.
In 1941 the property was used to establish the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation.
Hearst’s Hacienda airfield was no longer depicted at all
on the December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
the 1948 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Jonathan Westerling),
or the February 1949 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The Army later resurfaced Hearst’s airfield for its own use,
eventually using it primarily for helicopter operations.
“Hunter-Liggett (Army)” heliport was listed on the 1951 San Francisco Sectional (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
as having a 3,800' hard-surface runway.
The 1966 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
depicted “Hunter-Liggett AAF” as having a single 3,800' hard-surface northwest/southeast runway.
“Hunter-Liggett (AHP)”, as depicted on the 1981 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
Starting in the mid-1980s, the Army constructed two new airfield facilities in the immediate vicinity
which eventually replaced the former Hearst Airfield.
A new Tusi Army Heliport was constructed just across Mission Road from the old Hearst Airfield.
The new heliport was not yet depicted on the 1984 USGS topo map (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
but did appear on the 1987 USGS topo map (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
The 1991 USGS topo map (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted “Hunter Liggett Airfield” as having a single 4,500' unpaved northwest/southeast runway.
No buildings were depicted at the airfield.
A new Schoonver Airstrip was built 3 miles to the southeast to support future fixed-wing operations at the fort.
The Schoonver Airstrip was not yet depicted on the 1991 USGS topo map (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
but did appear on the 1994 USGS aerial photo.
The former Hacienda Airfield was presumably closed by the Army once the Schoonver Airstrip was operational.
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo, it may be seen that a 1,900' paved runway
had been constructed at some point over the original unpaved Hacienda runway.
The present-day Tusi Army Heliport is visible to the west.
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling, looking south down the old runway at Fort Hunter Liggett.
Jonathan Westerling reported in 2006, “Today the Hacienda is open to the public as a Bed & Breakfast
even though its on the grounds of one of the largest Army training facilities in California.
The old Hacienda Airfield is now fenced off as equipment storage for a large number of Army training vehicles.
It’s plainly viewable just off the access road to the Fort, though the runway markings have faded.”
The site of the Hacienda Airfield is located east of the intersection of Mission Road & Del Venturi Road.
Thanks to Jonathan Westerling for pointing out this airfield.
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Schoonver Tactical Airstrip, Jolon, CA
35.96 North / 121.2 West (Northwest of Los Angeles, CA)
A 1994 USGS aerial photo of Schoonver Tactical Airstrip.
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This military airfield is located on the grounds of the Army's Fort Hunter Liggett.
The Schoonver Tactical Airstrip was constructed to serve as a replacement for fixed-wing operations
previously conducted at the original Hunter Liggett Army Airfield.
The date of construction of the Schoonver Tactical Airstrip has not been determined.
It was not yet depicted at all on the 1987 or 1991 USGS topo maps (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
The earliest depiction of the Schoonver airfield which has been located was on the 1994 USGS aerial photo.
It depicted the field as consisting of a single 5,000' northeast/southwest runway
with a parking ramp on the north side of the field.
Inexplicably, the Schoonver airfield was not depicted at all on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
GlobalSecurity.org described Schoonver Tactical Airstrip in 2005 as capable of handling C-130 & C-12 aircraft.
“Shoonver is 5,000' with a compacted dirt / rock surface.
Refueling operations are available.”
The Fort Hunter Liggett website described Schoonver Tactical Airstrip in 2005
as consisting of a 4,100' tactical assault (compacted dirt/crushed rock) airstrip,
used for training, emergency, and other special takeoff & landing operations.
“It can also accommodate rotary-wing aircraft.
It is primarily used for C-130 assault operations.
Crash, fire and rescue assets (FHL Fire Department) are available.”
Strangely, as of 2005 the Schoonver airfield was not listed at all as an active airfield in the FAA Airport/Facility Directory data.
However, the Airport/Facility Directory data for Hunter Liggett's Tusi Army Heliport
included the following remarks about Schoonover: “Tactical forward airstrip (Schoonover LZ)
available for C-130 & OV-10 military fixed-wing aircraft only.
Fuel unavailable at Schoonover LZ.”
A 2006 panoramic photo by Jonathan Westerling “of the Schoonover Tactical Airstrip taken from the northwestern end of the field.
The airstrip extends along the the far side of the clearing.
Just this side of it is the parking area. A steamroller sits idly along one edge of the taxiway.”
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling “of the equipment at Schoonover consisting of an air conditioned metal trailer & antenna pole.”
According to John Miller “Schoonover Tactical Airstrip was expanded in 2006 to to be used by C-17s.”
He reported that the above panoramic photo was taken when the airfield upgrades were almost finished.
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling.
“The only signage for the Schoonover airstrip is this small hand-painted rock by the gated dirt road to the airstrip.”
A C-17 Globemaster III takes off from Schoonver Tactical Airstrip on September 23, 2006 (photo by Bobbi Zapka, courtesy of John Miller).
The C-17 was performing takeoff & landing testing on semi-prepared runways.
The 1st of 4 test phases was conducted at Schoonver Tactical Airstrip
to validate the ability of the aircraft to bring a large force into a wet or dry dirt airfield without making runway condition corrections.
The Schoonver Tactical Airstrip is located southwest of the intersection of Mission Road & Jolon Road.
Thanks to Jonathan Westerling for pointing out this airfield.
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35.97 North / 121.18 West (Northwest of Los Angeles, CA)
“Alamo Airstrip”, as depicted on the 1987 USGS topo map.
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This former airfield is currently located on the grounds of the Army's Fort Hunter Liggett,
adjacent to the west side of the tiny town of Jolon.
According to Jonathan Westerling, “The history behind this little airstrip remains shrouded in mystery
much like the city of Jolon itself which was a bustling gold rush town back in the 1920’s.
The entire town burned down at the beginning of the Great Depression.”
It is not known if this airfield was originally established as a military or civilian airfield.
No airfield at this location was depicted on the 1974 USGS topo map,
nor on the 1976 or 1981 LA Sectional Charts (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located was on the 1987 USGS topo map.
It depicted the “Alamo Airstrip” as consisting of a single 1,800' east/west runway.
No airfield at this location was depicted on the 1989 LA Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
or the 1991 USGS topo map (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
The 1994 USGS aerial photo depicted Alamo as consisting of a single 1,800' east/west runway.
There were no signs of any buildings at the field,
nor any other indication of recent aviation usage.
No airfield at this location was listed as of 2005 in the FAA Airport/Facility Directory data.
A 2006 photo by Jonathan Westerling, looking west along the remains of the Alamo Airstrip.
Jonathan reported, “The airstrip consisted of white gravel laid along a clearing in the oak trees which surround the site.”
Jonathan Westerling reported in 2006, “It is unlikely the strip dates back that far [the 1930s]
since little vegetation has sprung up on the runway.
There is an extensive camping & hunting operation just inside the gate of Fort Hunter Liggett.
Perhaps the strip was installed as part of that facility?”
The Alamo Airstrip is located southwest of the intersection of Mission Road & Jolon Road.
Thanks to Jonathan Westerling for pointing out this airfield.
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