My wife and I are looking for a winter home to escape Canada's winter. Does anyone have a recommendation of fly-in communities or an area close to a GA airport in Arizona, Nevada or California? Would prefer to have my airplane at my home. Also looking for an area were there are lots of non aviation activities to entertain my wife.

A34. Dayton Valley Airpark, Dayton Nevada.

We love it here. 45 minutes drive time from Reno or Lake Tahoe. Some of the best backcountry flying, and flyers, on the planet.

Gump

Hi Gump
Thanks for the response. Just had a look at the climate in Dayton Valley and it seems it can get quite cold there too. Looking for a place with temps at least in the 60s for the winter months.

It can get cold here for short periods, same with the occasional snow on the ground. For the magic 60F mark, you're going to need to look quite a bit further south.

If you don't mind spending the $$$$, and want top of the line AZ airport community, look at Stellar Airpark in Tempe (P19).

Gump

GumpAir wrote:A34. Dayton Valley Airpark, Dayton Nevada.

We love it here.

Gump

You got a mouse in your pocket Gump?

Maybe!

Palm Springs area of SOCAL not as crowed as Phoenix area. Same weather. Lots of non flying stuff too. Really can't go wrong in either of those valleys.

I'm headed back down close to January 20th

Cheers...Rob

Check out the St George, Hurricane area in SW Utah. We bought a hangar in Hurricane specifically for it's relatively warm winter climate along with great access to fine backcountry in a scenic wonderland. Very, very affordable.

Good luck.

Look into Indian hills airpark in AZ. Its 2AZ1 and our company owner has a couple of hangers. Its a live on airpark and in Salome AZ.

Pusher wrote:My wife and I are looking for a winter home to escape Canada's winter. Does anyone have a recommendation of fly-in communities or an area close to a GA airport in Arizona, Nevada or California? Would prefer to have my airplane at my home. Also looking for an area were there are lots of non aviation activities to entertain my wife.

If you decide you'd be interested in going a bit further south, I friends building a beautiful fly-in community in central Mexico.

If you're interested in a bit further east, we just bought a place at Westwinds (D17) in western Colorado. About the same climate as Dayton (I currently live in Reno but moving in a year or so) so maybe a bit cooler than you would like? but close to lots of interesting things including the canyon country in western CO and UT.

Greg

Can't say I know it well but Cameron Park just east of Sacramento has nice weather. Nice central location for valley and Sierras

offroute wrote:Check out the St George, Hurricane area in SW Utah. We bought a hangar in Hurricane specifically for it's relatively warm winter climate along with great access to fine backcountry in a scenic wonderland. Very, very affordable.

Good luck.

+1

Hurricane is warm and has a municipal airport and an Airpark within a few miles of each other. You can see some of the Airpark properties here: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=231&cat=151&category=142

I think there are some cheaper hangars avail at Hurricane as well..

Good luck!!

therk wrote:Look into Indian hills airpark in AZ. Its 2AZ1 and our company owner has a couple of hangers. Its a live on airpark and in Salome AZ.

It just so happens that my wife's grandpa just passed away this last summer and has a place a short walk from the east end of the runway here. I'm not sure of the arrangement that could be made for keeping your plane there but her parents are in the process of getting the place ready to sell. It needs some work but I'm thinking it can be had for fairly cheap. As for the area, not sure on the entertainment options. I think Palm Springs or the Tahoe area would be better. When we used to visit during college the evening entertainment consisted of riveting games of dominos and buying junk at an auction being ran out of the back a semi truck trailer!

Here is a link to the many airparks around Phoenix.

http://azpilots.org/pilot-info/airparks-of-arizona

The author, Kit, knows many of these places and is quite knowledgeable.

We winter in Carefree, AZ and the local airport (18AZ) is private, but hangars are available for rent. Talk to Tommie (airport manager) at 480-488-3571. Tell him Rich told you to call.

We have a pretty good contingency of back country enthusiasts that do a lot of flying to some real neat places. You will not get bored.

Now, the wife is another issue. Fortunately it's near a lot of great restaurants, resorts, shopping golf blah blah blah that might keep her occupied while you are out exploring the backcountry.

Rich

SixTwoLeemer wrote:

offroute wrote:Check out the St George, Hurricane area in SW Utah. We bought a hangar in Hurricane specifically for it's relatively warm winter climate along with great access to fine backcountry in a scenic wonderland. Very, very affordable.

Good luck.

+1

Hurricane is warm and has a municipal airport and an Airpark within a few miles of each other. You can see some of the Airpark properties here: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=231&cat=151&category=142

I think there are some cheaper hangars avail at Hurricane as well..

Good luck!!

+2 for that area. I've looked over Hurricane/ St. George region and liked the area but not the people. A little further South in Moapa Valley, I found some good deals within walking distance of U08. A little Earthier type of people than St. George. Nevada is a little more favorable to second home owners as far as taxes go, and if you own a business, it's even better. There's another little strip close by called echo bay that puts you right at lake Mead for a picnic and the nearby Grand Canyon is a must at least once. Mesquite (40 minutes North) is a gambling and golf burg big enough for the big box stores, and you can get a prime rib buffet at any casino for $10. Around the Moapa Valley there's lot's of desert riding, all the rattlesnakes you can eat, and Desperados waiting for trains at every hardware store and parts counter in town. Most tailgate flying in Overton seems to be done at McDonalds, where the old duffers can secure a couple of tables for the morning with the purchase of a McMuffin.. We fly back and forth to visit my parents on Allegiant (cheap seats, like $75) from Idaho Falls to Vegas. It's a junk show getting a rental car, but then only a 40 minute drive. If you can get along with old Mormon farmers, lying Bass fishermen, occasional flash floods and wind driven sand storms,geckos, the smell of horse shit, and being surrounded by ugly desert terrain, then it's a warm spot worth a look.

Thanks for all the info.