Siskiyou Smokejumper Base
About this property
Illinois Valley Airport (FAA LID: 3S4) is a county-owned public-use airport located four miles (6.4 km) southwest of the central business district of Cave Junction, a city in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. The Illinois Valley Airport, also known as the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, or even the Cave Junction Airport, was built by the US Forest Service. It operated from 1943 to 1981 as a smokejumper base, during which time the smokejumpers parachuted on 1445 fires for 5390 fire jumps, or about 142 jumps per year. The Smokejumper Base is currently operating as the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum and free tours of the museum are available daily from March 15 to November 15. Major building restoration projects and ground maintenance have been performed by community members and retired smokejumper volunteers over the course of several years. Lunar orbiter commander Stuart Roosa was a firefighter at the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base in 1954. In 1971, Roosa took a packet of Douglas Fir seeds with him to the moon, and when he returned the Forest Service planted these "Moon Trees" across the US, including two at the Illinois Valley Airport. The smokejumpers cared for these trees, but after their departure, both trees died. The Moon Tree Run (10k) was held annually to honor Roosa's achievement when the site was operating as a fire base. The Moon Tree Run has only recently begun to be held once again thanks to volunteer efforts. The mixed terrain race is similar to the original race course and there is also a 5k race offered. Illinois Valley Airport covers an area of 175 acres (71 ha) which contains one asphalt paved runway (18/36) measuring 4,807 x 75 ft (1,465 x 23 m). For the 12-month period ending May 11, 2021, the airport had 6,000 aircraft operations, all of which were general aviation. The airport has a specialty flight school offering primary flight training specifically for light sport and ultralight airplane and gyroplane. The school known as Captain Drake's Family Aerial Adventures, offers complete training packages including housing for out of town clients. fixed-base operator, aircraft rentals and instruction, hangar rentals, and a small campground. All other services are four miles (6 km) north in Cave Junction. FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Siskiyou Smokejumper Base
This page lists Siskiyou Smokejumper Base. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Siskiyou Smokejumper Base listed on the National Register?
Siskiyou Smokejumper Base was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 17, 2006.
What type of historic resource is Siskiyou Smokejumper Base?
Siskiyou Smokejumper Base is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Siskiyou Smokejumper Base?
The period of significance for Siskiyou Smokejumper Base is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Siskiyou Smokejumper Base?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Siskiyou Smokejumper Base will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Josephine County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Josephine County.
Explore JosephineCounty ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Siskiyou Smokejumper Base will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.