A High-Flying Adventure in Calaveras County Imagine a place where planes buzz over a sprawling meadow, cattle roam freely, and a sparkling lake reflects the dreams of vacationers. This is the story of Fly-In, a unique slice of Calaveras County that started as a cattle ranch and became a haven for pilots and nature lovers alike. From Cattle to Cabins: The Early Days Fly-In Acres began as part of the Moran Cattle Company’s vast holdings. Later, the Bonfilio family, ranchers from Valley Springs, snapped it up to graze their cattle in summer and enjoy it as a vacation retreat. Eventually, a man named Mr. Brown bought the land, setting the stage for something extraordinary. Fast forward to the post-World War II era: Travis Bailey, a spirited aviator, had started a flying school at Stockton Air Field with his brother and a partner. One of his students? None other than Mr. Brown, who had a bold idea. He told Travis about his 1,680 acres in Calaveras County, nestled along Moran Road near the majestic Calaveras North Grove of Big Trees. “It’s perfect for a fly-in spot,” Brown said, describing a grand house with a swimming pool—built in 1937 as Better Homes and Gardens’ “House of the Year”—that could become a lodge. The house sat behind an apple orchard, with a man-made lake and a stunning meadow laced with wildflowers and Moran Creek. Taking Flight: The Birth of Fly-In Acres In 1947, Travis Bailey, with financial backing from father-in-law, Frank Mayo, bought the land. They formed Fly-In Lodges, Inc., with Frank as president, as vice president, and Travis’s wife, Frances, as secretary. Their vision? A community where could fly in, build cabins, and enjoy the Sierra foothills. They planned carefully for three years, dividing the land into lots ranging from one-third to one acre across subdivisions like Lakeside Terrace.The first order of business was a half-mile grass airstrip, built where a golf course now stands. This strip, marked only by a windsock, let private pilots soar in and out—though they always had to land and take off toward Blue Lake Springs, regardless of wind. Cattle still grazed the meadow, so Frances Bailey would hop in her Jeep with her sheepdog to shoo them off whenever a plane approached. Next came a dam, expanding the lake to 10 acres—big enough for sailboat races and stocked with trout for fishing. The first house, a log cabin on Meadow Drive, was built by Frank Mayo. The Baileys moved into the old Bonfilio house, which became the heart of the community. A Community Takes Shape By October 1949, Fly-In Acres was buzzing. Ed and Daisy Walsh, friends of Travis, flew in and fell in love with the place. After Ed’s tragic death in a car accident, Daisy bought a lot and built a house for under $5,000. Lots sold for $500 to $1,300, with payments as low as $10 down and $10 a month. Others, like Marjorie Falk, joined her, flying in materials to build on Meadow Drive. Early pioneers like Doc Adams, Martin Huff, and Bill and Sisco Anttila also built homes, creating a tight-knit community. But flying wasn’t always smooth. A crash during a botched landing left a student pilot injured, prompting Travis to close the airstrip. He marked a big “X” on it, and the meadow returned to the cattle. Life in the Foothills The Baileys lived simply in those early years. They moved into a smaller house once used by ranch workers, with no electricity and no neighbors. Their kids rode a school bus from the highway to Avery School (later named for its first teacher, Hazel Fisher) or endured long trips to high school in San Andreas. The nearby town of Arnold was a humble outpost with a saloon, post office, a butcher shop, and a few gas stations. White Pines, even smaller, had just school, a tiny store, and a post office. Fly-In Lodges built a water system and laid out streets like Meadow, Middle, Bonfilio. Later, streets named Lightning and Mustang paid homage to WWII planes. A Mutual Water Company, owned by property owners, ensured affordable water and gave everyone a say in its management. Challenges and Changes As Calaveras County tightened regulations on things like street widths, Travis grew frustrated. After 20 years, he sold Fly-In Acres to the Ken DeMuse Corporation, which developed Blue Lake Springs. Travis insisted Fly-In Acres remain its own entity, with priority access to the lake. He warned DeMuse not to reroute Moran Creek or build a restroom in a spring-filled spot, but DeMuse ignored him. Sure enough, a storm washed silt from the new golf course into the lake, damaging both. The Fly-In Acres restroom, built earlier, remains the only functional one. A Lasting Legacy The Bailey family left in the late 1960s, but Fly-In Acres thrived under its Homeowners Association and Mutual Water Company. Early leaders like Daryl Conroy, H.E. Kays and Sisco Anttila (secretary for 25 years) kept things running. Dues were modest—$2 in 1954, plus $5 for fishing, creeping up to $65 by 1988. Water fees rose from $50 to $150 over the years, reflecting the costs of maintaining the system. Today, Fly-In Acres stands as a testament to a bold dream: a place where pilots, families, and nature lovers could come together in the Sierra foothills. Though the airstrip is gone, the lake still sparkles, the meadow blooms, and the community spirit soars.