Dick Taylor Airstrip

Kelso, US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Closed Airport

ICAO

US-10123

IATA

-

Elevation

2611 ft

Region

US-CA

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 34.881901Β° N, -115.733002Β° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: 43CA 43CA 43CA

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

The exact date of abandonment is unknown. The airstrip likely fell into disuse during the latter half of the 20th century. Its de facto closure was solidified with the establishment of the Mojave National Preserve on October 31, 1994, which prohibits unauthorized aircraft landings within its boundaries.

Reason for Closure

The airstrip was not officially decommissioned in the manner of a public airport. It was likely a private field that was abandoned when the mining or recreational activities it supported ceased. Its inclusion within the newly formed Mojave National Preserve in 1994 legally restricted its use to preserve the area's natural and cultural resources.

Current Status

The site is completely abandoned and unmaintained. The faint outlines of the two dirt runways are still visible on satellite imagery but are heavily degraded, washed out, and overgrown with desert scrub. The land is part of the Mojave National Preserve and is managed by the U.S. National Park Service. It is not a legal, safe, or permissible place to land an aircraft.

Historical Significance

The name 'Dick Taylor Airstrip' and the ICAO code 'US-10123' are not officially recognized in aviation databases and appear to be fictional, likely originating from flight simulator scenery add-ons (e.g., for Microsoft Flight Simulator) to identify the location. The physical site is a real, but officially unnamed, abandoned airstrip. It is sometimes referred to geographically as the 'Kelso Dunes Airstrip' or 'Kelbaker Road Airstrip'. It was a simple, private facility with two unpaved, perpendicular dirt runways. Its primary purpose was likely to support nearby mining operations, such as the Vulcan Mine, or to provide private recreational access to the desert before it became a protected area.

Reopening Prospects

There are zero known plans or prospects for reopening this airstrip. Its location within a protected National Preserve, where conservation is the primary management objective, makes any future development for aviation purposes extremely unlikely and contrary to the mission of the National Park Service.

Nearby Airports

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Bagdad Intermediate Field
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Chambless Airport
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Ludlow Airport
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Zzyzx Airstrip
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~45 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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