There are so many intriguing abandoned places in Arizona, but this is a place that houses abandoned planes. The Boneyard in Arizona is a cool storage spot for military aircraft that has a creepy vibe. It's guaranteed to interest anyone! The Boneyard is located on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base just outside Tucson, Arizona. Here you’ll find tons of retired aircraft. It’s a true boneyard – a resting place for worn-out or damaged planes.
Editor's Note: Since the time of publication, tours of The Boneyard have since ceased without plans to reopen.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is home to a huge abandoned airplane graveyard.
The base was created in 1946 to serve as a home for Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft and Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
Here is a bird's eye view of some of the abandoned airplanes in Arizona's Boneyard.
It's almost beautiful the way the old planes are lined up there in the desert, reflecting the hot sun all day. There are different categories of storage for the aircraft. "Long-term storage" is for planes that will be used again in the future. The category for planes kept for spare parts is "parts reclamation." "Flying hold" means aircraft are kept for a shorter time than the long-term category, and "excess of DoD needs" means the planes are sold off in parts or as a whole.
Military planes are laid to rest here.
The Arizona desert is a great resting place for these planes. The low humidity, light rainfall, and dry soil keep the aircraft from getting rusty. The ground doesn't even have to be paved as the soil is dry enough to move the planes without needing pavement.
There are more than 4,000 aircraft in The Boneyard.
Here you will find aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy-Marine Corps, and even NASA.
It's like traveling back in time.
There are so many historic planes in The Boneyard. This photo captures the historic feel of this place. Visiting is like a history lesson!
Tours are conducted through the Pima Air and Space Museum.
You can get a tour of The Boneyard in a climate-controlled motor coach. Reservations are required 16 days in advance. The museum is located at 6000 East Valencia Road in Tucson, Arizona.
Since a physical tour is no longer possible, take a video tour of this amazing place:
The Boneyard is truly one of the strangest places in Arizona. Head down to Tucson to visit and tour the area. With the impressive preservation to protect them from the desert environment, these planes are sure to amaze you. Be sure to bring your camera, because you are guaranteed to see something historic or downright weird. If you'd like to visit one of the abandoned places in Arizona, take a look at the ghost town of Ruby.
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