The second annual Uranium Fly In event happens this weekend, Sept. 27-28, and organzier Aimee Tooker said the event is about utilizing the Hopkins Field Airport in Nucla and sharing West End history. She started the Uranium Fly In a year ago when she was West End Economic Development Corporation (WEEDC) board president. Then, she wanted to celebrate the airport as a local asset.
After some discussion with others on the WEEDC board, and after speaking with Bill Marvel of the Colorado Pilot’s Association, the event commenced.
The first Uranium Fly In — and the name is a spin off Uranium Drive In — saw pilots arrive on a Friday and then attend a historical presentation at Rimrocker Historical Society’s museum. The evening included discussion and ended with attendants staying at the Vestal House.
Saturday last year was a day of visiting Uravan, learning the history and having lunch at the Uravan Ball Fields. Jenn Nelson had Saucy Mama’s food for guests, and they then drove to see the Hanging Flume. They also visited the Bedrock Store and later met local archeologist Glade Hadden for a mini-petroglyph tour. Wild Gal’s Market catered a dinner that night, and the crew enjoyed fresh cider from Nelson’s apple press too. Pilots departed early Sunday.
“It was so much fun,” Tooker said.
When the invitation went out in May of this year, the Uranium Fly In was full by the next day. Tooker said folks immediately wanted to do it again.
This year will have a similar framework. Guests will have a brunch at the airport upon arrival. Instead of touring Uravan, participants will see the Colorado Cooperative Company Ditch and have a history lecture at the Rimrocker Historical Society Museum that night. Saturday, they’ll go up the ditch, see the Pinion Cemetery, the Cottonwood Trestle, view Rocky Ford from the road, and have lunch at the Ledges on the San Miguel River. Wild Gal’s Market will do catering of appetizers Friday and both a lunch and dinner Saturday.
Tooker said it’s a good thing to celebrate Hopkins Field and to use it to bring people in to learn about West End history.
“It’s really fun,” she said, “and, of course, they love Jane (Thompson, co-director of Rimrocker Historical Society).”
This year 25 guests will come for the Uranium Fly In, and eight to nine airplanes will land and take off this weekend for the event. They’ll come from New Mexico, California, Denver and other places. Marvel will make a quick trip from Grand Junction.
Local people are involved too, including Ray Davis, of Rimrock Aviation, who is an airplane mechanic with clients in Moab, Grand Junction and Telluride. Davis will participate, unless another guest needs work on their aircraft.
Eric Berg, former undersheriff of San Miguel County, attended last year and is returning. He told the Forum it’s quite easy flying into Nucla, “if you are comfortable with moderate altitude-density altitude flying.” He added the FBO, or fixed-based operator, at Hopkins Field is “great,” and that “Jet A and 100LL fuel are available 24 hours a day.”
“It’s a great airport with a pilot-controlled lighting runway just under a mile long,” Berg said.
Berg has lived in the area more than 45 years. He told the Forum he used to teach swimming in the Uravan pool. He previously knew Rimrocker Historical Society’s Sharon Johannsen, but he didn’t know the depth of the local history.
“I really look forward to more education from them this year,” he said.
Costs are affordable for those who attend the Uranium Fly In. Guests pay for their rooms, but the tour and food are $75 for the weekend. Tooker said it was wonderful that some made additional donations to Rimrocker Historical Society after last year’s event.
Marvel said he’s excited to do the trip again. He loves the Nucla airport and sometimes flies in for lunch at the 5th Avenue Grill.
“Aimee picked up the ball and ran with it,” he said. “She’s not a pilot, or aircraft owner. She just loves Nucla, sponsored an event and it was very popular.”
Marvel said the Colorado Pilots Association loves the Uranium Fly In and seeing small towns like Nucla.
“We are very appreciative for Tooker to be such a proponent of her local community and welcome us, the CPA, to come down to visit,” he said.
