Bacon Strip Ranch, CA

Location Overview
Bacon Strip Ranch sits in the Mojave Desert between the small communities of Baker and Ludlow in San Bernardino County, California. It lies roughly 30 miles northeast of Barstow-Daggett Airport, at an elevation of approximately 1,160 feet MSL. The surrounding landscape is classic high-desert — flat, remote, and wide open in every direction. The closest communities are Bagdad, about 7 miles to the west, and Amboy, about 11 miles to the east.

Camping & Recreation
This strip is a genuine fly-in destination with dedicated camping infrastructure. On-site amenities include a windsock, five permanent tie-downs, an outhouse (a genuine two-holer), several charcoal barbecues, a fire ring, and seating for roughly 15 people under a covered shade structure known as "Johnny B's Bar and Grill" — a 625-square-foot, all-metal roof rated for 100 mph winds. The site hosts an annual fly-in campout, typically in October, drawing backcountry pilots from across the region. One of the most striking features of a night at the Bacon Strip is the complete absence of man-made light in any direction — a full 360-degree panorama of untouched desert darkness. The surrounding desert offers wide-open spaces for hiking and exploring, and nearby Amboy Crater (a dormant volcanic cinder cone) makes for a scenic side trip.

Notes & Warnings
The landing strip is a smooth, sandy dry-lakebed surface stretching over 2,000 feet with no obstructions — generally described as an easy strip to land at. This is a private, uncontrolled strip, so prior permission from the owner is courteous and expected. Desert density altitude is a real concern — high summer temperatures in the Mojave can significantly reduce aircraft performance, so early morning or late afternoon operations are advisable. The surface is unimproved, so soft or recently disturbed sandy conditions following rare desert rains should be assessed before landing. No fuel is available on-site. A fenced tie-down area has been constructed to separate aircraft from vehicle traffic, which is worth being aware of when taxiing. No lighting exists for night operations.

History
The airstrip is named for and owned by John Bacon, a private individual who has generously shared his desert property with the backcountry flying community for many years. The strip developed an informal but loyal following, hosting what became an annual fly-in campout tradition that by 2012 was already in its fourth year. Over time, the pilot community invested personally in the site — raising funds to build the permanent shade structure, "Johnny B's Bar and Grill," after an earlier roof was destroyed by wind. Contributors from across the country donated, and a granite plaque was engraved with their names to commemorate the effort. The strip has since appeared in the Microsoft Flight Simulator add-on community as a notable real-world desert bush strip, cementing its quirky fame beyond just those who've put actual tires in its sand.