FLYING THE ORE IN DAYS OF YORE
       In the 1930's, gold bricks were being hauled to San Francisco out of mines in Nevada County on a daily basis.  Because of narrow, crooked roads, and the threat of highwaymen, the owners the Idaho Maryland Mine bulldozed a runway on the top of a mountain above Grass Valley, and began flying the gold to the Bay area.
    The mines were closed during World War II, and the airport land was subsequently sold to James McBoyle's Litton Engineering.   In 1957,  in a gesture of goodwill toward the community that had endured the goldrush without enthusiasm, Litton deeded the airstrip, along with 38 acres, to the County of Nevada,  with one of the stipulations being that it had to be kept open for the use of general aviation.  hence, the Nevada County Airpark was born.  Since 1960, the airport has hosted one of the West's busiest  air tanker operations, and  today, is home to over 150 privately owned aircraft.

THE GLOBAL HAWK TOUR
ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON
The Global Hawk is an unmanned, high-altitude, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft designed to provide persistent day and night, high-resolution, all-weather imagery of large geographic areas.

BANQUET SPEAKER
JACQUIE WARDA

Jacquie is an aerobatic performer who began flying at 32 and now flies one of the three Pitts built to fly around the Statue of Liberty for its 100-year celebration in 1986.

THE EMPIRE MINE TOUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON
The Empire Mine Historical Park is the site of the oldest, richest, hardrock gold mine in California.  The mine closed in 1956, and the properties, consisting of 784 acres, were purchased by the State in 1975. 

A STAR ALPACA FARM
FRIDAY MORNING TOUR

The A Star Alpaca farm is owned and operated by Bob and Kerry Anderson in Grass Valley, California Established  in 1996, they specialize in Accoyo genetics and the Hemingway line.  Their breeding goals are centered around great conformation and excellence in fiber for white and colored alpacas.

Draft Horse Classic
Arrive on Thursday for an evening performance, or stay Sunday for a morning performance at the Grass Vally Fairgrounds.  Though we are not offering the Draft Horse Classic as part of our tours, we are letting you know that there are performances on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday morning at 10 a.m.  For more information and tickets, go to www.nevadacountyfair.com or call
530-272-6217.