Rainbow R/C Air Park
Our club was organized by me after I advertised in a local paper. I ran a display ad asking the general public if anyone was interested in radio control airplanes and boats. If interested, give me a call.
I was told this would not work; I could not accept that negative attitude. I received about four calls; we arranged to meet at the home of one of the callers. That was the start.
From there it was not a breeze, but we had a club started. This club is in its 13th year, and we are incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation. We started as the Citrus County Florida R/C Club and we still maintain this as our corporate name, but our operating name is Tri-County R/C Club.
We have had approximately four flying sites; one for as short as one week, others from a few months to a year. The site prior to the current one we had for several years.
At that site we had about 10 acres with a herd of cows that kept the field well fertilized. We would begin the morning's flying session by cleaning up; from then on it was a breeze. We paid $100 a month and did our own maintenance. This field was located in Lecanto, Florida; some members still use it because it is closer to home.
We now have a 76-acre flying site located in the City of Dunnellon, Marion County, Florida. This site was secured only after approximately three-plus years of persistent effort by myself and a few club members.
Our final acceptance was July 1, 1998. From that day forward we worked like there was no tomorrow—physical labor and plenty of cash invested. We paid our first year's rent last July, and believe it or not, the agency hasn't deposited the check; they feel we may be allowed to use the property rent-free.
How we pursued land
I started by writing many letters to the Citrus County Department of Recreation. We were well received and had several discussions over about two years.
After some negotiation, we were offered some 40 acres for our use, but with several strings attached. We were asked to make a considerable investment with no guarantees of long-term tenure. The county Director of Recreation came to one of our meetings, explained the situation, and we voted not to accept their offer; it wasn't worth the cost.
We continued to seek help from local and state politicians. We contacted our Congresswoman, Mrs. K. Thurman. She checked on a federal level but couldn't find suitable land under federal jurisdiction. She suggested we contact state legislators.
I followed up with a series of letters to legislators from our area and attended any available meetings, such as coffee klatches around election time.
One of these contacts paid off when it was suggested we contact Fred Ayer, Director of the Office of Greenways and Trails. The Greenways and Trails agency manages thousands of acres in Florida for recreation—exactly the kind of land we needed. Mr. Ayer was given our club name and my contact information.
I received a letter saying they had been contacted and would try to help. I called the Director to confirm our needs. He listened and promised to look into it. Meanwhile I called or wrote about once a month for 12–18 months.
One day I received a call asking if we could meet with two representatives to look over some sites. I engaged another club member, Don Adkins. They had two sites in mind: one in Citrus County and one in Marion County.
We would have liked to stay in Citrus County, but the Marion County site proved superior. We were shown a beautiful piece of land of some 100+ acres—somewhat farther than we hoped, but only about four to six miles away. The possibilities exceeded our expectations.
We were asked how much land we needed; we wanted it all. That wasn't possible, but in the end we chose the Marion County parcel. The land had been federal land during the Nixon era, intended for the Florida Barge Canal. The canal project was canceled and the land given to the State of Florida for recreation.
Clarification: it was 12–18 months from the time I first spoke to Mr. Ayer until we received final approval; after we made our choice we still had another six months to go. Even though the state controls the land, we had to get approval from local agencies such as the county and city. We did all of that.
We worked with Mr. Ayer (Director), Paul B. Hawker (Land Acquisition Agent), and Mickey Thomason (Land Management Specialist)—all state employees. Jim Lowry, Marion County Administrator, also needed to be aware of what was happening in his county.
When it finally became a fact, you wonder how you did it, and whether it was all worth it. You bet it was.
Developing the field
Once we had the land available, many improvements were required.
- We installed a gate; the parcel was already fenced.
- The gate was installed to specifications.
- We were not permitted to cut trees unless they were replaced two for one; trees were only removed when obstructing the runway.
- Brush was cleared for approximately 40 acres.
- We set up a 400 x 100-foot grass runway.
- We built six pilot stations with fence protection for the pilots.
- We constructed a 32 x 16-foot pilot building.
- We placed four large tables in the pit area.
- We installed approximately 400 feet of cyclone fencing with four entrances to the pit area.
- We have picnic tables under the trees behind the flightline, and we have electricity and water.
The state requires a survey of the land they allow you to use. They provide the boundaries, and you must do the survey. We must have parking for at least 200 cars and some camper space too.
We do not have a paved runway. Another club in the area has one; they acquired their field through the same agency. I believe there are three RC flying sites within a 30-mile radius secured through this agency.
The agency is very happy with the manner in which we conduct ourselves. That makes it easier for future groups; if they have a problem with one group, they become gun-shy.
Offer of assistance
I will be happy to help anyone who needs guidance within the State of Florida. I am not a politician—just a lucky modeler who contacted the right people at the right time.
MA
Louis Lopez 724 Holmes Ave. Inverness, FL 34450
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
