Hello fellow desert flyers,

As most of you know, the shade structure (known as “The Bar”) at the Bacon Strip Ranch blew down last summer and was unsalvageable. This was a sad day indeed as the Bar was the gem of the Ranch and where everyone would hang out. (For before and after photos, check out the Bacon Strip Ranch facebook page). The owner, John Bacon, plans to rebuild, but the damage was a major setback as he had spent well over $3K (and lots of labor) on the old shade structure. John’s current Ranch project is a perimeter fence around the camping area. It’s about half done now and it too represents a significant amount of time and money.

I really like the BSR and really miss the shade structure. Everything else is still in place – the old wood floor, tables, chairs, benches, fire rings, aircraft tie downs, shooting range, outhouse, ATV rental, etc. So… I decided a “Save the Bacon Strip” campaign was needed to help this great little fly-in camp get back on the chart! I approached John Bacon with an idea to rebuild the Bar, and he was all for it, yet a bit overwhelmed by the offer. You see, John is not one to ask for help or take a handout, and he wants to return the favor to anyone who contributes to the cause. He also insisted a granite plaque would be placed to list the names of those who contributed.
Here is what we came up with:

$50.00 donation. Allows one night free camping (normally $30.00 and includes firewood) and your name on the plaque.
$100.00 donation. Allows three nights camping and your name on the plaque.
$250.00 or more donation. Allows you the “Keys to the Ranch” for unlimited free camping forever and your name on the plaque.
(As you can see, you’re really just paying for camping in advance).

The goal is to have the new roof in place well before the October Fly-In, which by the way will be a lot of fun and will include the official “Christening of the Bar” event as well as a few other activities.
The proposed new roof design is not yet finalized, but the current plan is to go with an all steel, commercial carport style structure with a wind rating of 100 MPH. The delivery and erection is done on site by the manufacturer (in one day) and is included in the purchase price. The size will largely depend on how much money is raised. In regards to shade in the desert, bigger is always better! The existing wood floor is about 18 x 25 feet so that is the minimum, but definitely bigger would be better. Cost is expected to be in the $3K - $4.5K range.
So far the Bar (shade roof) fund is at $2200.00. John Bacon is the biggest contributor, and yours truly is in for $300.00, including a commitment to be at the site during the weekend of construction. I’m in charge of the campaign and also been given the prestigious title of “Chief Bacon Strip Events coordinator” (CBSEC). You may donate by sending money direct to me via my Paypal account at [email protected] or send me a check. (Yeah, that may sound a bit fishy but my credentials check out – really!) Every cent collected will be used for the roof fund, and I am absolutely committed to making this happen.

We need MORE dirt strip fly-in camps, not less, and we need to keep the ones we have open.
Any questions, please call me or John Bacon. Thanks for reading this long post (which by the way, was my first on the BCP forum).

Sincerely,

Charlie Rowlett
401 Olive Hill Way
Fallbrook, CA 92008
760-731-7207
Cessna C-150J N60855
Hangared at L18

Good deal Charlie: I talked to John on Facebook after M7fler, cublite, and me were there last month. I said I would send a $100 but just did it with your encouragement.

From Facebook me to John:
This a good address for a check? Bacon Strip, P.O. Box 777623, Henderson, NV 89077-7623
Like · · January 16 at 4:38pm ·

Bacon Strip Yes. Thx, Robert. Your name will be added to the commemorative plaque!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bacon-Str ... 5161995670

I agree a VERY! worth while cause.






Cheers...Rob

I'm in the Riverside and am willing to bring/donate about $250 worth of lumber and other supplies when you need it. PM me. I do biz in the Amboy area and get out there often. I stopped there one day and sat on the deck drinking a soda and enjoying the desert. Been in there 4 or more times. I want more
Russ

Hi Rob,

Great! Sending $ to John direct is fine too.
Good pics! As one can clearly see, the old floor is great, the place just needs a roof!
BTW - I flew in solo a week ago Sunday (to measure the existing floor) and there was no wind, no people anywhere, and 70 degrees. Nice!

I look forward to meeting you and other dirt strip flyers in the future.

Mojave Ho!

Charlie Rowlett
L18

PS I made a typo on my first post. The correct zip code for Fallbrook, CA is 92028.

I think everybody in the area should come to the October fly in.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203 ... 6,9.876709

A photo of the previous shade over the deck. With observation station.

Great idea! I'd like to contribute.

How will the design be changed so it won't blow down in the next big storm?

The proposed idea is to buy an all steel carport type structure with a guranteed wind rating of 100 MPH. They are anchored to the ground with two foot long auger bolts.
Some of these cheap RV carports look pretty bad, but there are others that look nice and have a conventional square box eve style. Colors are available, and most like the idea of a tan colored roof with brown edge trim. Any proposed design will be thoroughly checked out before any purchase is made. I've recruited a "BSR Bar Roof Board of Directors" (for lack of a better name!) to assist in this task. One is a Boeing engineer and the other a saavy 747 freighter pilot, both frequent BSR visitors.

The old structure had alot of character and the rustic wood beam design was nice. It would be nice to build something similar to the old structure, but the reality is it would be difficult to get a volunteer crew out at the BSR all on the same weekend with all the needed materials to get the job done. OR it would be cost prohibitive to hire that job out, especially since the site is 20 miles from any paved road.
The proposed all metal carport design is delivered and installed on site in one day by the manufacturer, and all that is included in the purchase price.

Charlie R

How much money you talking for this structure?

The actual cost will depend on the structure size, and the size we go with depends on how much money is raised. But the price range is about $3500.00 - $5000.00 complete.
The existing wood floor (which is in great shape) is 18 x 25 feet. Ideally we'd go with something like a 26x30 foot roof for increased shade. John Bacon said it would be easy to make the existing floor larger in the future.
I've already received several contributions from BCP pilots and that is appreciated!

Charlie R
Fallbrook, CA

Normally we don't encourange fund raising on BCP, but I will let Zane make the decision on this one.

Have you tried contacting the CA Pilots Assn or the RAF for support?

Charlie,

While I applaud your efforts at improving the Bacon strip, our policy at BCP regarding soliciting donations requires that you either represent an established advocacy group like the RAF or a localized pilots association. At face value, I do not doubt your legitimacy, however due diligence requires me to be wary of a first time poster who asks for money without any official establishment. As you can imagine, this is ripe for abuse, and I do not wish to have the name of our organization associated with any misunderstandings in the appropriations of your received donations. If anyone whom I personally know and trust from BCP or RAF can vouch for you, it will be considered. It does not appear that the Bacon strip is public? I'm not going to prevent those who enjoy this airstrip from contributing, but they should do so at their own risk, However, I've already heard from one individual who claims that you have not returned his message.

The power of our small army of aviators on this site is great, and we can effect nearly immediate change on focused efforts like airport and airstrip facilities. Something like this seems like the perfect use of our audience. However, history of fraud and abuse in similar scenarios make it something that we are forced to scrutinize. The first time someone collects a bunch of donations and then does not follow through on their promises, all future campaigns are tarnished and I personally will be hearing from those who consider themselves defrauded.

Apologies for the institutionalized policy. Best of luck.

Charlie wrote:...Any proposed design will be thoroughly checked out before any purchase is made. I've recruited a "BSR Bar Roof Board of Directors" (for lack of a better name!) to assist in this task. One is a Boeing engineer and the other a saavy 747 freighter pilot, both frequent BSR visitors........

Hope the ranch owner gets to have a say in this too......

To Hotrod 150 -

Yes, of course the ranch owner has a say in it. And it is him that appointed me in charge of the campaign! Anyone who has met John Bacon and has camped at the Bacon Strip knows he is an honest man with integrity. Several years ago he purchased 40 acres of desert with the idea of building a fly-in campground for pilots. Not many folks go out of their way to do that nowadays, especially in California. I have camped there many times and really like the place. Last year he suffered a major setback when the shade roof blew over. I am just trying to help get the place back useable again.

To Zane,

I understand your concerns and appreciate your policy on the BCP forum. I apologize if I overstepped the rules - it was not my intention.

But I must defend myself a bit here. First of all, there is no one I know of who asked a question that I have not replied to. Perhaps I am missing something here on the forum? Plus, I have read many posts on this forum about the Bacon Strip, so I assumed it was a known place and enjoyed by many BCP pilots. Just about everyone who has contributed to the campaign (twenty pilots so far) has thanked me for organizing it, as all want to see the roof go back up so the Bacon Strip can have shade again.
On my first post I stated my full name, address and phone number, along with my aircraft N number and home base. If I was planning to scam folks out of money, I certainly wouldn't disclose that. I am also a business owner and been in the same location for 14 years.
I also mentioned the link to the Bacon Strip facebook page, where John Bacon talks about how I began the "Save the Bacon Strip" campaign and that the plan is to have it ready for the big October fly-in campout. And on the facebook page photos, there are at least 3 photos me and my airplane. I guess I had the idea that all pilots on this forum were expected to be trusted and honest individuals.

So Zane, I'm definitely not a scammer, just a dirt strip flying enthusiast. But I do understand why you might be wary of such a campaign and I respect that.

Well, at least the "Save the Bacon Strip" campaign has been announced and hopefully the word will spread. For now, I will refrain from any further posts about it.

Sincerely,

Charlie Rowlett
Fallbrook, CA

Charlie wrote:To Hotrod 150 -

Yes, of course the ranch owner has a say in it. And it is him that appointed me in charge of the campaign! Anyone who has met John Bacon and has camped at the Bacon Strip knows he is an honest man with integrity. Several years ago he purchased 40 acres of desert with the idea of building a fly-in campground for pilots. Not many folks go out of their way to do that nowadays, especially in California. I have camped there many times and really like the place. Last year he suffered a major setback when the shade roof blew over. I am just trying to help get the place back useable again.

To Zane,

I understand your concerns and appreciate your policy on the BCP forum. I apologize if I overstepped the rules - it was not my intention.

But I must defend myself a bit here. First of all, there is no one I know of who asked a question that I have not replied to. Perhaps I am missing something here on the forum? Plus, I have read many posts on this forum about the Bacon Strip, so I assumed it was a known place and enjoyed by many BCP pilots. Just about everyone who has contributed to the campaign (twenty pilots so far) has thanked me for organizing it, as all want to see the roof go back up so the Bacon Strip can have shade again.
On my first post I stated my full name, address and phone number, along with my aircraft N number and home base. If I was planning to scam folks out of money, I certainly wouldn't disclose that. I am also a business owner and been in the same location for 14 years.
I also mentioned the link to the Bacon Strip facebook page, where John Bacon talks about how I began the "Save the Bacon Strip" campaign and that the plan is to have it ready for the big October fly-in campout. And on the facebook page photos, there are at least 3 photos me and my airplane. I guess I had the idea that all pilots on this forum were expected to be trusted and honest individuals.

So Zane, I'm definitely not a scammer, just a dirt strip flying enthusiast. But I do understand why you might be wary of such a campaign and I respect that.

Well, at least the "Save the Bacon Strip" campaign has been announced and hopefully the word will spread. For now, I will refrain from any further posts about it.

Sincerely,

Charlie Rowlett
Fallbrook, CA

Charlie: I got your back. Don't leave, this is not a big deal. Zane has to be careful and he is a good guy.

I think you will find quite a few guys who will help out. Some of us believe if a land owner will let us enjoy his property we should give back.

Cheers...Rob

I met with John Bacon owner of the Bacon Strip yesterday while out playing in the dirt with Piperpainter. Sounds like they're going to have a new cover (metal) over the deck soon. He was talking about a flyin later this year October-ish.

Long walk to nowhere

Good times!

I'll come down if it happens in October.

Cheers

Paypal donation on its way.

Check's in the mail...