Places That Were: November 2015

Arizona Nuthouse and the Demise of Nickerson Farms

Nickerson Farms Family Restaurant stood abandoned for decades before the structure finally collapsed in late 2013.

Abandoned Nickerson Farms Family Restaurant ruins near Picacho, Arizona

I decided to stop and have a look at the ruins since they were just off the freeway. I'm glad I did because there were two more abandoned places adjacent to it. The restaurant lay in a huge pile of rubble, but the red pavilion next to it was still standing.

And as an added bonus, a decaying billboard.

The Nickerson Farms franchise operated from the 1960s until the early '80s. At one point there as many as 60 locations, most of which were along interstate freeways in the Midwest. The franchise was born when a former franchisee of Stuckey's convenience stores decided he was fed up with the rules and regulations and struck out on his own.

Each Nickerson Farms consisted of a restaurant, gas station, and gift shop that sold honey made from bees on site. They even had a window into the beehive so customers could watch the bees as they went about their business.

Abandoned Pichaco Peak Trading Post Ruins in Arizona

Next door to the ruins of Nickerson Farms is the remains of another local attraction, The Picacho Peak Trading Post.

The place burned down in 2002. A neighbor, who witnessed a sudden flash just as the fire broke out, attempted to fight the blaze with a garden hose until fire fighters arrived. Attempts to save the trading post were unsuccessful. Now all that remains is a stone foundation and part of the legs of the giant statue the once welcomed customers.

Here's what it used to look like:

Urban Exploration of abandoned Arizona Nut House and Nickerson Farms Family Restaurant ruins near Picacho, Arizona

image from http://roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/arizona/azroadside/azroadmen/index.htm

In the back of the property stands an abandoned trailer home, presumably the former home of the owners of Pichaco Peak Trading Post.

The place was in rough shape and the possessions left behind by the previous residents were scattered on the floor.

Just down the street is Arizona Nut House, a cute touristy shop that appears to have been vacated somewhat recently.

Abandoned Arizona Nut House near Pichaco

Thick bars cover every door and window. Remarkably, all the window panes were still intact.

A semi trailer sat on the property, presumably containing furniture and supplies from the shop.

But when I peered through the windows, I saw that most of the fixtures still remained inside the store.

As well as some merchandise.

I headed toward Tucson, stopping to appreciate an abandoned restaurant and the beautiful sunset.

I was able to get a peek inside.

The place isn't entirely abandoned. Apparently a band is using it as a practice space.

Next week I'll tell you about my last day in Arizona, in which I got my first peek at an abandoned Titan missile silo and had another minor run-in with the law.

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Casa Grande Domes: A Mysterious Abandoned Anomaly in Arizona

Ghost stories and rumors of strange encounters surround the mysterious dome-like structures that sit abandoned in the desert of Casa Grande. A closer look at the site reveals its incredible beauty and clues as to why so many people swear the place is haunted.

South of I-8, a long stretch of pavement known as Thornton Road cuts through the parched Arizona desert. The landscape is monotonous and unremarkable as far as the eye can see, until you approach the bizarre cluster of UFO-like buildings known as the Casa Grande Domes.

Four hollow structures, one flying-saucer-shaped and three long and caterpillar-like, share the plot with the unfinished foundations of three others. A network of narrow tunnels runs beneath.

Stories tell of whispers in the dark, strange echoing footsteps, and a mysterious figure that wanders the grounds, lurking in the shadows to stalk intruders. Visitors parked on Thornton Road have heard tapping noises on the outside of their cars. Some have even reported hearing the distant muffled cries of children.

What dark history does this site possess that would account for such eerie phenomena? What gruesome events left the indelible stains that draw malevolent visitors from the netherworld? The truth is far less interesting than you might imagine.

The domes were built in 1983 by InnerConn Technology Inc., a manufacturer of circuit boards for computers and watches. In 1982, Patricia Zebb, the owner of InnerConn, announced plans to relocate the company headquarters from California to the 135-acre site in Casa Grande, AZ.

The unusual shape and composition of the structures was chosen for its relatively low cost, speedy construction time, and efficient insulation. Each structure took approximately six weeks to build and cost about $150,000 apiece.

Construction went something like this: After the foundations were complete, giant balloons were mounted onto them, supported by steel skeletons. A coating of polyurethane foam was applied to the outside of each balloon, which hardened to form a layer several inches thick. An additional three inches of concrete was then added to form the outer shell.

The layers of concrete and polyurethane foam are revealed by the erosion of the dome's outer shell.

The large segmented buildings were to be used for manufacturing.

The UFO-like saucer structure was to be the office building.

The subterranean tunnels were intended as conduits for ventilation and for piping the fluids used in the manufacturing process.

The project was halted, unfinished, in 1983 when InnerConn Technologies defaulted on a loan and Union Bank of California assumed ownership of the company's assets.

As is the case with many abandoned properties, the land has been used as an illegal dump site for large pieces of trash such as furniture and tires.

The site was purchased by Daniel and Karon Peer in 2006. Ownership quickly became more of a burden than the Peers had bargained for. The government ordered them to clear the land of all the waste that had been illegally dumped over the years. It proved to be a costly and time-consuming job. The Peers also had to deal with the liability of a relentless stream of vandals, ghost hunters, and UFO enthusiasts entering the unsound buildings. It didn't help that the site was seen as an ideal location for parties, raves, and underage drinking.

With so any people stopping to check out the place, it is no surprise that visitors have witnessed elusive figures lurking nearby. I wouldn't be surprised if the suspicious dark figures were actually trespassers trying to hide when they noticed others entering the property.

Many of the reports of strange noises can also be explained. The unusual shape of the structures causes normal sounds to bounce off the walls in distorted echoes. Wind rushes through the hollow buildings, producing bizarre sounds as it passes through doorways and holes in the ceiling and beats sheets of rusting scrap metal against the walls.

If you're interested in using the domes as a location for filming or photo shoots, a helpful sign out front displays pricing and contact information.

After exploring the awesome Casa Grande Domes I headed toward Tucson, where I happened upon the interesting remains of several abandoned restaurants and tourist traps. Come back next week and I'll tell you all about them!

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Airplane Boneyard: Gila River Memorial Airport

It's been a long time since an airplane has flown in or out of Gila River Memorial Airport. Built to support the Pacific front in World War II, it now serves as an airplane graveyard.

Abandoned Gila River Memorial Airport in Chandler AZ

After checking out the ruins of Mesa, Arizona's agricultural heritage, I made my way south. It was a perfect sunny day, and I could hardly wait for my first exploration of an abandoned airport.

Gila River Memorial Airport was built in 1942 to support the rapidly growing U.S. aerial operations during World War II. The 1,345 acre stretch of land was designated Williams Auxiliary Army Airfield #5.

Aerial photo of original Gila River Memorial Airport in Chandler AZ

The original Williams Auxiliary Army Airfield #5
(photo from http://www.airfields-freeman.com/AZ/Airfields_AZ_Phoenix_SE.htm#memorial)

After the war, it was renamed Goodyear Air Force Auxiliary Airfield and the runway was modified to better accommodate the jet airplanes that saw increased use in the 1950s. In the late '60s it became a civilian airfield and its name was shortened to Goodyear Airport and then changed to Memorial Airfield.

1970s aerial photo of Gila River Memorial Airport in Chandler AZ

Memorial Airport before the hangars were added
(photo from http://www.airfields-freeman.com/AZ/Airfields_AZ_Phoenix_SE.htm#memorial)

In the late 1970s hangars were finally added and it took on the appearance it has today (minus the rust and decay, of course). By this time, the airport was mostly used by Biegert Aviation, a company that flew piston-engined aircraft that had been converted into air tankers.

By the 1990s, the airport had become a boneyard for retired aircraft. Dozens of old airplanes sat in various states of decay and dismantlement. It must have been an awesome place to explore.

In 2006 plan were drawn up for redeveloping the airport, which involved giving the structures a Native American style. and at least one of the runways was repaved. But the plans never came to fruition.

Since then, most of the retired planes have been hauled off and scrapped.

Abandoned Gila River Memorial Airport Building

By 2007, the Gila River Indian Community was given control of the airfield and gave it its current name, Gila River Memorial Airport. All commercial tenants were evicted and allegedly there was talk of building a casino on the site.

Can you see the little plane buried beneath the rubble?

When I visited, only a few airplanes remained on the property and three buildings stood in fairly advanced states of decay. I didn't go inside any of the hangar buildings because there were large swarms of bees in each of them.

I was only able to take a few pictures before a police officer showed up and asked me what I was doing there. I told him I just wanted to take pictures of the neat old planes. He informed me that I was on an Indian reservation and said "The Indians don’t want you here". He also told me that I could be cited for trespassing and have my vehicle confiscated for 30 days.

I quickly got the hell out of there and continued on to explore the bizarre abandoned Casa Grande Domes.

Thanks for checking out this article. If you enjoyed it, please feel free to share it on Facebook. While you're at it, please subscribe to Places That Were and follow me on my social media sites:

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Arizona Nuthouse and the Demise of Nickerson Farms

Casa Grande Domes: A Mysterious Abandoned Anomaly in Arizona

Airplane Boneyard: Gila River Memorial Airport