There is a private strip in Crested Butte. Its paved, so not exactly backcountry flying, but Id much rather land there than in Gunnison. According to airnav the name of the aiport is Buckhorn Ranch, 0CO2. I did find a website that looks like it details procedures for landing there but the name and identifier are different although its the same strip. The website also doesn't seem to be updated since 2005:

http://www.cbairport.org/index.php

Anyone know the details about access to land there?

Yes, I contacted the owner a few years ago looking for permission for landing and tie down for a weekend. By the time I got ahold of him I had already been up there, used the strip, parked, and left. It took him 2 weeks to return my call.

Anyway, he wanted a year membership of about $450 bucks even to land there a few times a year. I offered to cut him a check for $10-20 bucks everytime I parked there overnight, he sayed no thanks and told me not to use the strip.

So either go to Gunnison, or use the strip and plead ignorance.

Good luck,

Brad

Flew in a couple summers ago to look at a lot in Buckhorn, it is a private strip and not open to the public. CB realtor Channing Boucher invited us to land and park as his guest. Stayed several days and nobody seemed to mind. Bring tiedowns. You should really go check out some real estate

The folks at gunnison are very nice - in the winter there's a shuttle up to the butt. I'm interested in your experience tying down up there.

The $450 price tag seems a little high for me to mess with. It's just as easy to go visit another town and land somewhere else this weekend. That said it looks like a great little airstrip and the town of Crested Butte will be missing out on my tourism dollars. I did leave the manager a message. As it turns out he lives a stones throw from where I work (kapa). I'll offer to take him out for a beer, or lunch, when he gets back with me and try to talk about alternative terms to land there.

It has a storied, contentious past going back a decade or more.

But in any case, it is still nice to use Gunnison for other reasons- they have the rental car warming up out the front door by the time you tie down and get your skis or bikes to the front desk, and the weather is distinctly better when there is a system moving through. By the time you fuss with biking into town from Buckhorn, you'd be driving through CB with the bikes on the back of the rental and headed for the pass, after landing in Gunnison.

I have friends that own property in CB, and they fly in to buckhorn - but I do not know what their arrangement is. They operate on another socioeconomic status than I am able to contemplate at this point in my life if you know what I mean. They fly a Socata TBM 750 upgraded to an 850. 5 bills might be like a latte to some of these folks.

I know there are several lots for sale on that field. I'd like to have one some day. I need to convince my wife that the skiing and mountain biking is good. And possibly invest in a crate of xanax to get her back and forth over the rocks on a regular basis.

Another private airstrip for the "Elite"?

That's fine. This El Cheapo pilot will find welcoming private/public strips that serve scrapple and porridge.

(Well, I thought that was funny ^^^^. Anyhoo.......... )

We recently contacted Buckhorn Ranch (CB airport) as part of CO Pilots Association survey of private airports regarding their policies on letting people land there.There were ok with non-homeowners landing there, but mentioned the following rates: $25/DAY $50/OVERNIGHT-UNINVITED GUESTS. (sorry- that's all they wrote, so no more details)

Unfortunately It seems like the rate changes depending on who you talk to. I recently had to stop in Gunnison for an unplanned weather stop. The FBO was very friendly. Allowed me to use the courtesy car to take in town for lunch and didn't charge me any ramp fees. The gas is kind of expensive, but I recommend nearby Paonia- North Fork Valley or Leadville for cheap 100LL.

Whats the problem with privately owned airports charging membership fees, that is if they are not receiving govt funding for upkeep.

If $450 is "elite" prices how the shit do you guys afford to buy airplanes, let alone avgas. $450 doesn't seem like an unreasonable annual fee...check tie-down rates at your local fields.

Seems like alot of bitching and moaning goes on about wanting cake and pie and not wanting to pay for it. I maintain a field and can tell you that the upkeep labor/maintenance is not free and the diesel plus wear n tear on equipment is damn expensive. No free lunch in the real world, unless u live in Obamaville where everything is free and paid for by robbing someone else.

I used to live in CB, it is an awesome place!!!

Skalywag wrote:Whats the problem with privately owned airports charging membership fees, that is if they are not receiving govt funding for upkeep.

If $450 is "elite" prices how the shit do you guys afford to buy airplanes, let alone avgas. $450 doesn't seem like an unreasonable annual fee...check tie-down rates at your local fields.

Seems like alot of bitching and moaning goes on about wanting cake and pie and not wanting to pay for it. I maintain a field and can tell you that the upkeep labor/maintenance is not free and the diesel plus wear n tear on equipment is damn expensive. No free lunch in the real world, unless u live in Obamaville where everything is free and paid for by robbing someone else.

I used to live in CB, it is an awesome place!!!

Whoa there!!! My post was meant to be humorous! That's why I used the "Smileys". No need to take this thread to "Hot Air" with the "O" word, neither

BTW. I don't mind paying reasonable landing fees at private strips. Been to Catalina Island a few times. Well worth the $25.00 landing fee!

Oops did I use the "O" word....sorry should have edited my post, didn't intend to come off as attacking u.

Been hearing alot of griping bout stuff like this lately n just kinda sick of it. Privately owned is just that, it's a privilege to access private property. It usually works well to just drop in and see what happens, rarely been asked to pay landing fees at places like this after getting to know owners, for just a weekend drop in anyway.

soyAnarchisto wrote:I have friends that own property in CB, and they fly in to buckhorn - but I do not know what their arrangement is. They operate on another socioeconomic status than I am able to contemplate at this point in my life if you know what I mean. They fly a Socata TBM 750 upgraded to an 850. 5 bills might be like a latte to some of these folks.

I know there are several lots for sale on that field. I'd like to have one some day. I need to convince my wife that the skiing and mountain biking is good. And possibly invest in a crate of xanax to get her back and forth over the rocks on a regular basis.

Just let her know that the skiing and mountain biking in CB is more than good; it's AWESOME!

Tell her that CB is considered to be one of the two birthplaces of Mountain Biking; the other is Marin County, CA. The trails are well defined and meander through stunning Aspen groves and high mountain meadows filled with wildflowers in the Summer...

Trails? 401/ 403, Teocalli Ridge, Washington Gulch, Schofield Pass into Marble, etc..

I might as well chime in sense I used to live there, own a large gear shop at the 4-way, etc. Buckhorn ranch has been in and out of various ownership. I also tried to get landing permission and no call back. Just didn't want to deal with consequence. That said it is noticed when new airplanes show up because the most i have ever seen parked there is 1 airplane.

Getting from Buckhorn ranch to Town with out a car or bike could be troublesome, even though it is very close. The town has nothing, nada, zilch to do with the airstrip. Fly into gunnison and there is a free bus to CB - or Alpine Express does shuttles. It's worth the time! Pop over to Telluride as part of your tour - free airport crew car and typically cheaper fuel than Gunnison.

As for trails, failed to mention Reno, Flag Bear and also Deadmans - yummy! New trail called Lupine.. oh and so much more.

soy - i think you need to take 'M' to CB based on our recent conversation. Fall time is perfect there. 4hr drive from your location.

My wife and I are making our plot to return there (she lived in CB for 24+ years until 2010). In the mean time going to leverage our real jobs to get a plane before we head back (woulda shoulda coulda never sold that 182 this winter).

29singlespeed wrote:
soy - i think you need to take 'M' to CB based on our recent conversation. Fall time is perfect there. 4hr drive from your location.

Yes _i_ know these things! But 'M' doesn't believe a damn thing I say! LOL

58Skylane wrote:

Skalywag wrote:Whats the problem with privately owned airports charging membership fees, that is if they are not receiving govt funding for upkeep.

If $450 is "elite" prices how the shit do you guys afford to buy airplanes, let alone avgas. $450 doesn't seem like an unreasonable annual fee...check tie-down rates at your local fields.

Seems like alot of bitching and moaning goes on about wanting cake and pie and not wanting to pay for it. I maintain a field and can tell you that the upkeep labor/maintenance is not free and the diesel plus wear n tear on equipment is damn expensive. No free lunch in the real world, unless u live in Obamaville where everything is free and paid for by robbing someone else.

I used to live in CB, it is an awesome place!!!

Whoa there!!! My post was meant to be humorous! That's why I used the "Smileys". No need to take this thread to "Hot Air" with the "O" word, neither

BTW. I don't mind paying reasonable landing fees at private strips. Been to Catalina Island a few times. Well worth the $25.00 landing fee!

The landing fee at my place is after you land you gotta take the four wheeler across the street and buy me a pepsi.

Tim

Skalywag wrote:Privately owned is just that, it's a privilege to access private property. It usually works well to just drop in and see what happens...

I have to agree here. Just because I have a bed in my house doesn't give anyone the right to walk in and lay down on it to see how soft it is. If I owned a private strip, I don't think I'd be very happy with anyone landing first before asking permission. On the other hand, anyone who respectfully asked permission and had a reason other than just strip bagging would likely be welcome.

If you positively don't want anyone landing X it!!! I don't get all pissy when strangers pull off the road and stop on my hay field or turn around in my driveway. I have seen people post their driveway no turn around WTF? On the other hand I don't want strangers camping on my land. I know a regular on this forum who EVERBODY looks up to. He lands if there is no X, he won't get into this discussion because he isn't into debate.

G'Day

OregonMaule wrote:If you positively don't want anyone landing X it!!!

I agree. Then it isn't open to debate and a pilot saying, "I didn't know" when someone comes swooping in and lands on your property.

We've all seen little strips out in the middle of nowhere that aren't on any charts that look like fun places to land. Kinda hard to tell from the air where private and public property stop and start. A set of big "X's" at each end make it clear.

Gump

Got no X's on mine, Baggers welcome!! Even 2 baggers are welcome
82WN