Condor Flats

Condor Flats at Disney California Adventure pays tribute to the Golden State's aviation history. More aviation milestones occurred in California than in almost any other part of the world. While Condor Flats is a fictional locale, it takes its name from the large birds that circle over the Mojave Desert and its inspiration from Edwards Air Force Base and the dozens of airfields that once dotted that area during the heyday of flight testing.

The marquee for the land (above) is supported on an actual radar tower, acquired from a salvage yard by the Imagineering project team. Throughout Condor Flats, authentic props, landscaping of yucca and cactus, "ghost" graphics and character paint treatments help create the look of a place that has been baking in the hot, desert sun for years.

The fading exterior of the large hangar is a testament to the history-making events that once took place in Condor Flats. From the mid-40s to the late 60s, the area was a hub of rocket research and jet engine testing. "Higher, Faster, Further" was the motto in those days, as records were broken faster than they could be recorded.

As the industry got more sophisticated, they moved on to other quarters, but a group of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, known as California Aviators, have since settled into Condor Flats. They've turned it into a bit of a tourist attraction and something more... a gathering place for anyone who's ever dreamed of flying.

Along the air strip, the old motor pool garage is now Fly 'n' Buy Souvenirs, and a maintenance shed has been converted into public restrooms. The tower is still there, though, complete with windsock and a real, working anemometer to determine wind direction.

Nearby, the rocket test center is home to Taste Pilot's Grill, and hovering above the blast area is a real space shuttle main engine nozzle. Instead of propelling an orbiter into space, though, it's now deployed to cool visitors to Condor Flats with a refreshing blast of mist.

Coolant Storage Tanks in the rocket area make for one of the more finely-detailed drink vending locations in the park. Here in Condor Flats, even the popcorn stand gets with the story. At Earborne Popcorn, their slogan is "Our Ears Really Pop."

It's small details like this that really help support the story of Condor Flats and make it one of the richest areas of Disney California Adventure. From the stripes and lights in the pavement that make up the air strip to the pipe fencing, aluminum benches and debris containers, everything works together to create a sense of time and place.

Although much of the Condor Flats story is rooted in the area's past, aviation is still alive and well here today. The California Aviators have established Condor Flats Scenic Air Tours to lift visitors on inspiring flights over the desert and nearby Grizzly Peak Recreation Area.

The plane positioned here at the end of the tarmac is a genuine Cessna 195, built by Jacobs Aircraft in the late-1940s. This particular model was notable for its all-aluminum construction and single, radial engine. The plane's original owner insisted that the Imagineering team also purchase the three spare Cessna engines he had. They did so, and then were able to trade those engines to a firm in Oklahoma in exchange for a complete restoration of the plane.

The old hangar at Condor Flats has also become home to a new generation of fliers, who have a developed a sort of "flying theater" so everyone can experience the exhilaration of flight. We'll go Soarin' Over California with them in the next installment...