NOVEMBER 9, 2011
SkyRanch at Carefree 50th Anniversary celebration Saturday, Nov. 12
Wings and Wheels Event honors Veterans
CAREFREE – SkyRanch at Carefree invites the public to commemorate Veterans Day and celebrate 50 years of aviation history with a static aircraft display featuring civilian and military aircraft, a vintage car and motorcycle exhibition and a full day of events for all ages, Saturday, Nov. 12 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The airport is located at 8302 E. Cave Creek Road in Carefree. Admission to the celebration is free and open to all ages. A barbeque lunch will be available for $8. Information is available at www.skyranchcarefree.org.
SkyRanch at Carefree provides a rich local history that pre-dates the incorporation of the Town of Carefree by nearly 25 years. It was Arizona’s first airport to offer residents fly-in access to homes and was originally built in 1951 as a way to draw potential investors and guests to the area for town founders Tom Darlington and K.T. Palmer.
Since then, numerous military pilots have flown the runway including WWII veterans, several of whom will appear at the event.
“We are excited to put on a celebration that commemorates the men and women of our military and 50 years of Arizona flight history, with a full day of events for aviation buffs of every age,” said Samantha Gesell, SkyRanch representative.
“From being the first facility in Arizona to offer fly-in access to homes, to the hosting of a long line of men and women who utilized SkyRanch after selflessly serving their country, we are proud of the role the airport played for pilots, guests and the community,” she said.
Over the years, SkyRanch has grown to accommodate more planes while continuing to offer residences, hangars and fly-in access to many homes.
According to Gesell, “Many call SkyRanch home, while others consider it to be an extension of their homes elsewhere, or their ‘aviation home.’ Like most things that manage to last 50 years, SkyRanch has enjoyed many good times and survived many challenging times. It is a unique asset that needs to be protected, nurtured and enjoyed,” she said.
While SkyRanch is privately owned and funded, it plays a pivotal role in the community by providing support for emergency medical air transport and fire fighting efforts, convenient accessibility to the area and a significant contribution to the economic activity of the community, according to Carefree Mayor David Schwan. “SkyRanch adds to the overall character and flavor of the town.”
