Dayton Launch Site

There are two launch sites in the Dayton area:

• Smith Hollow "Thunder Bowl"
• Whetstone "Lone Tree"

The Smith Hollow launch site is waivered to 4500 AGL. It consists of a flat and level area of about 3 acres of bluegrass surrounded on all sides by rolling wheat fields. See the Launch Schedule for launch dates.

Directions

Begin by travelling east out of Dayton on Highway 12. Approx 1 mile out of town, turn left at mile post 369 onto Eagar road.
You'll cross a small bridge. Continue on. As you drive, you'll notice the Columbia county road department's rock quarry on your right. Keep driving. You'll next come to the intersection of Eagar Road and Thorn Hollow Road. There is a blue/green house located in this intersection on your left. Stay to the right and continue on up the hill on Eagar road.
You will drop down a hill into Whetstone Valley, on a long sweeping curve to the right. Continue down the hill. After crossing another bridge across Whetstone Creek, you will ocme to a four-way intersection. This is the intersection of Whetstone Road, Eagar Road, and Smith Hollow Road. The intersection is very clearly marked with green county signs. Turn from this intersection and continue up the graveled road marked "Smith Hollow Road". If you are going up a long hill, you're on the righ track.
You're almost there. After you top the hill, you will see a farmhouse to your left. Keep going. After the straight stretch past this farm house, you come down a slight hill with a left hand curve. You will come across two more farm houses on your left. You're getting closer. After passing these two farm houses, you will come through a short right hand turn.
You should be on a long straight stretch. Look up ahead about 1/4 mile and to the right. You'll see a group of Locust trees on a hill just off the road. Thats the launch site. Slow down as you approach, and you'll find what appears to be a field access road that takes off to your right. Turn off of Smith Hollow Road onto this access road, come through the blue gate, and you are in the parking area of the launch site.

The Whetstone launch site is a new one, just coming online. It is a 200+ acre alfalfa field, free of trees and powerlines. FAA waiver is for 5000' feet.

Directions

Proceed north bound out of Dayton on State Route 12 for 4.5 miles. You will come to a four-way intersection. Turn west onto the gravel road marked "Whetstone Road". Proceed west bound on Whetstone Road for approximately 8/10 of a mile, turn left into the alfalfa field. You are there!