Fun special events designed exclusively for IA associates
From time to time, Independence Aviation plans weekend excursions for our IA associates. Themes can be as varied as golf, fishing and a hot springs soak—and sometimes all these and more may be rolled into one.

The best outcome is when multiple members of the “IA family” converge on the scene and meet up for our traditional IA Happy Hour at a designated locale. It’s a great way to expand your circle of friends in the aviation community.


Golfing
Fishing
Historic & Heritage
National & State Parks

Golfing
KAIZ—Kaiser Lake Ozark, MO
This may just be the ideal location to sneak away with the family. With very reasonably priced fuel and scenery that just doesn’t show any modesty, this hideaway in the Ozarks has it all. KAIZ airport is only a 10 minute drive from the resort and the folks down there love to put their best “Southern Hospitality” on display. The Tan-Tar-A Resort boasts 27 holes of championship golf, a water park, paddleboats, parasailing, mini-golf, horseback riding, bowling and much, much more. Click here to visit the Tan-Tar-A web site.

KDZB—Horseshoe Bay, TX
Horseshoe Bay is home to a 5-Star Marriott resort and golf course. The private airport and FBO is conveniently located right at the resort, which offers packages year round, from spa treatments, jet skiing and boating activities to tennis courts, two expansive fitness centers, and three world-class golf courses. Click here to visit the Horseshoe Bay web site.

KSBM – Sheboygan, WI – Kohler Resort
Host of the memorable 2004 and 2010 PGA Championships which both featured champions decided by a win in the playoff round, Whistling Straights and its sister course Blackwolf Run are sure to impress and challenge even the very best of golfers. The courses lay right on the coast line of Lake Michigan and the contrast between the massive lake and the woods of Wisconsin is stunning. Kohler Resort is the only AAA 5 Star Rated Resort in the Midwest and has all the amenities to back it up. We hope you bring back lots of pictures from this beautiful trip and populate our “IA’s Great Expeditions” page on your return. Click here to visit the Kohler Resort website.

Fishing
KSMN—Salmon, ID
Salmon, ID, could easily be included in almost every category in this travel section, but as its name implies, the fishing in Salmon River is hard to beat. It is also an excellent location to try whitewater rafting. And for you history buffs, Salmon was the birthplace of Sacajawea of Lewis and Clark fame. It was also the inspiration for the movie, “The River of No Return,” featuring Marilyn Monroe. A great little town to escape from it all, Salmon has something for everyone in the family.

6S5—Hamilton, MT
Your Hamilton adventure starts before you even land! Located in a quaint little valley in the Bitterroot Mountain range of Western Montana, this is one beautiful airport to fly into. It’s challenging, but should be no problem for anyone who has completed the IA Mountain Flying Course.

Bitterroot Valley is the setting for the famous book and movie, “A River Runs Through It,” a poignant memoir of life through the eyes of a fly fisherman. And the Bitterroot River is a Blue Ribbon trout stream. Native to the river are brook trout, brown, bull, cutthroat, cutthroat/rainbow cross and rainbow trout, as well as mountain whitefish.

There are many natural hot springs located in nearby Hamilton, and you can spend a pleasant afternoon exploring the Daly Mansion built by one of the former “Copper Kings” of Butte, MT. We also recommend the Triple Creek Ranch for a romantic getaway without the kids. Click here to visit their site.

Historic and Heritage
KPUB—Pueblo, CO
Few are aware of a little gem of an aviation museum located right in our backyard. How many of us have repeatedly flown into Pueblo airport for the famous breakfast at the terminal building (no joke), never realizing that a world-class military aircraft museum is located right on the field! With KPUB only a half-hour flight, there is no sound reason that we haven’t all taken in this impressive exhibit that pays tribute to years gone by. A visit to this museum would make a terrific birthday present for a fellow aviation buff, or just a great way to spend an afternoon. Click here to visit the museum web site.

KLXV—Leadville, CO: National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
Take a short flight over the “hills” to the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville. The museum features 23 dioramas that help explain how underground mining works, as well as a life-size walk-through replica of an underground mine. The town of Leadville is very cozy and has definitely maintained roots in its mining past: many of the old restaurants and saloons appear as they did 100 years ago! If you are into setting records, you will be glad to know that Leadville lays claim to being the highest incorporated city in the United States; it has Mount Massive Golf Course, the highest in the U.S.; and, most importantly for us pilots, KLXV is the highest public airport in North America. For accomplishing a landing at KLXV, the always-friendly staff will present you with a personalized certificate to add to your collection. Click here for information and pictures of the mining museum.

National and State Parks
KGPI—Kalispell, MT: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is one of the most stunning exhibits of Mother Nature’s beauty in the entire continental U.S. If you’ve never been to this part of the country, you must add it to your “Bucket List.”

At the center of 16,000 sq. miles of protected land, Glacier Park has been referred to as the “Crown of the Continent Ecosystem.” Rent a car at the airport and treat yourself to a day’s drive along the “Going-to-the-Sun” road. There are many hiking trails along the way and countless opportunities to photograph spectacular waterfalls and wildlife, such as grizzly bears and mountain goats.

And just when you think that Mother Nature couldn’t possibly pack any more beauty into one region, it’s time to make your way to Flathead Lake, the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi, famous for its cherry tree orchards. Click here to visit the Glacier Park web site.

KGCN—Grand Canyon, AZ: Grand Canyon National Park
While there are multiple options for airports to fly into when visiting the Grand Canyon, KGCN, located on the majestic southeastern edge of the park, generally makes the most sense when traveling from Denver. If you haven’t already, we implore you to visit the Grand Canyon; it’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and it’s practically in your backyard! There’s lodging near KGCN, plus easy access to river rafting and gold mine tours and much more. If you choose to visit the now famous Skywalk, then you will want to fly into the Grand Canyon West airport (1G4). Click here to visit the Grand Canyon web site.

KCOD or KWYS—Cody, WY or West Yellowstone, MT: Yellowstone National Park
We would be remiss if we didn’t include the oldest national park in the world! Yellowstone sits on top of the world’s largest supervolcano, making it home to many of the earth’s geothermal features. KCOD is a great choice to fly into, not only because it’s close to Denver and the eastern gateway to the park, but because the Cody itself is a worthwhile destination. “The Rodeo Capital of the World” is also home to the remarkable Cody Firearms Museum and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, one of the finest celebrations of the Spirit of the American West. Plus, the bars and restaurants in Cody will make you feel as if you have time traveled back to the “Old West.”

If you are interested in taking a longer, even more scenic flight, then KWYS is where you want to point your propeller. West Yellowstone not only affords easy access to many of the most popular destinations in the park, it is also one of the most popular winter destinations in North America for some mind-blowing snowmobiling adventures. Click here to visit the Yellowstone web site.

KCNY—Canyonlands, UT: Canyonlands and Arches National Parks
Canyonlands airport could hardly be situated in a more ideal location for exploring two of the most beautiful parks in the western U.S. Blessed by low tourist traffic, unlimited outdoor exploration options, and pure natural beauty, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are a great destination when it’s time to get away from it all. Click here for more information.

The flight from Denver, a little less than 1.5 hours in a SR22, is truly spectacular as you cross the Rocky Mountains. This is your opportunity to see Colorado as never before, and IA has the equipment to help you achieve this goal, including high-performance aircraft, oxygen systems, and instructors who are experts in mountain flying. But don’t take our word for it; see for yourself and report back to us in IA’s Great Expeditions on this web site.