Durango, CO

On Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1:46:15 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Is the glider port still active in Durango Colorado? Asking for someone traveling through there next month who wants to get a ride

Drove by the field in Durango last summer on my way from Moriarty, NM to Montrose, CO. Almost broke my heart to see that field and runway all grown over. The long shed where the trailers and gliders were parked is still there. Good memories, though ....

Uli
'AS'

On Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 4:33:52 PM UTC-6, AS wrote:
On Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1:46:15 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Is the glider port still active in Durango Colorado? Asking for someone traveling through there next month who wants to get a ride

Drove by the field in Durango last summer on my way from Moriarty, NM to Montrose, CO. Almost broke my heart to see that field and runway all grown over. The long shed where the trailers and gliders were parked is still there. Good memories, though ....

Uli
'AS'

Talked with a former ride/tow pilot from there Saturday. It was for sale for some time. Owner refused offer, finally parted out the operation for what turned out to be essentially the offered amount. Local woman bought the property and turned it into a conservation easement so it will never be used again for other purposes. Surprised that the shed remained.

The former owner passed away in 2015.

Frank Whiteley

Drove by the field in Durango last summer on my way from Moriarty, NM to Montrose, CO. Almost broke my heart to see that field and runway all grown over. The long shed where the trailers and gliders were parked is still there. Good memories, though ....

Uli
'AS'

Talked with a former ride/tow pilot from there Saturday. It was for sale for some time. Owner refused offer, finally parted out the operation for what turned out to be essentially the offered amount. Local woman bought the property and turned it into a conservation easement so it will never be used again for other purposes. Surprised that the shed remained.

The former owner passed away in 2015.

Frank Whiteley

Hi Frank,

if you go to 'Street-View' on Google Earth and look up the old address of the Durango Glider Club, it actually still shows the full operation with gliders, tow plane, trailers etc. The red-roofed shed is still showing up on the normal satellite image.
I flew my Libelle out of there in the mid '90s while on a soaring vacation/safari through CO. Sad to see this place being closed forever ...

Uli
'AS'

On Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 8:23:47 PM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 4:33:52 PM UTC-6, AS wrote:
On Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1:46:15 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Is the glider port still active in Durango Colorado? Asking for someone traveling through there next month who wants to get a ride

Drove by the field in Durango last summer on my way from Moriarty, NM to Montrose, CO. Almost broke my heart to see that field and runway all grown over. The long shed where the trailers and gliders were parked is still there. Good memories, though ....

Uli
'AS'

Talked with a former ride/tow pilot from there Saturday. It was for sale for some time. Owner refused offer, finally parted out the operation for what turned out to be essentially the offered amount. Local woman bought the property and turned it into a conservation easement so it will never be used again for other purposes. Surprised that the shed remained.

The former owner passed away in 2015.

Frank Whiteley

Indeed, it is now a prairie dog refuge, so when you drive by on US 550 you will see prairie dogs sticking their heads out and your will see the dirt piled up around their burrows on what was once a very nice grass runway. I am sure the prairie dogs are happy, but for a glider pilot who once flew there, it is really sad to see......Renny