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    Airport in the Sky

    4.4 (38 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Bison burger
    Gabe D.

    When you're exhausted from hiking, Airport in the Sky is the nourishment you need! The bison burger is so good! The fries melt in your mouth. I have been coming here for 3 years and it seems like the food gets better every year. Make sure you stop if you're hiking the trans-Catalina trail. Get a cookie to go so you can enjoy by the campfire. The service here is the best on the island. Every single person was super helpful and accommodating. I also charged my phone while I ate. And they have beer on tap. I daydream about this burger when I'm on the mainland. Thank you airport in the sky for a great memory!

    Dani S.

    Super cool small airport in Avalon on Catalina Island. We flew in on our private plane and the runway is literally in the sky on top of the mountain. We easily found parking despite it being a weekend day. The airport does charge a $25 fee for usage but quite reasonable. There's a small cafe inside the airport and a small gift shop. You can get a bus service to the main tourist area of Avalon from this airport. We decided to have lunch here and get the buffalo burger! That was really delicious and reasonably priced. Came with salad as well. Very cute place!

    Roberto N.

    Nicest people you'd ever meet! Pilots fly over for their Buffalo Burgers. We take the tour or shuttle up for aviation related souvenirs, from hats and T shirts to coasters and jackets. But do try the cookies...... they're kinda addictive..

    Gabe L.

    Well what can I say all you pilots that have bought conservancy cards or Aero Club cards this last year. You're not going to get to use a month to 2 months of it. I just got off the phone with the conservancy to find out what if anything are they going to do about this time period that the pandemic lock down took away from us on our memberships. I'm being told that they have decided tough luck even though all it would take is changing a date in a computer and adding what ever was missing. We're being told to suck it up and just conceder it a donation to the cause. That should be my choice not theirs ! WOW !! Is this anyway to get more people to donate to the conservancy? I have to say that left a bad taste in my mouth, I for one have bought my last conservancy Aero Club card. And will probably visit Catalina Island fewer times now which means less that I will spend in their economy. This is what happens when the all mighty dollar means more to you than the people.

    Cessna salad! Fresh
    Lin F.

    Easy to find! After biking 10 miles of "up" to reach this place, I felt like a needed a tall drink of water, beer, wine, & a fresh salad. My friends all ordered bison burger -5 star - they said and some ordered another to take to their camp site to eat for dinner. Bean burger patty- I liked this very much -- it was crumbled on my salad. I ordered 3 wine little bottles and a Coke Zero plastic bottle. Cute trinkets inside the store/ cafe. Lots of hikers and tourists who drove or hiked up. We were a party of 10, plenty of space still available on a Friday at 11:30 ish. It was also cool to see the cargo trucks and hanger. Bathrooms clean and large stalls. They call your name when your food is ready, so don't wear your ear buds and think you're going to get served. Coffee creamer available if you ask. I've eaten here 6 times now- all bike rides back and forth from 2 harbors to Avalon, Avalon to little harbor. Etc etc... this is a good place to stop just for refreshments. Water fill spigot in the back. Or you can buy bottled water.

    Lynnann W.

    Would not have visited here if the exciting Cape Canton Hummer off-road tour hadn't brought us. That said, super glad that it's on the tour! We split a DC-3 Bison burger (provolone, chipotle sauce ... I'd add onion) and a salad which were both tasty and reasonably priced. We heard the gigantic cookies are awesome but we were still so full from our free breakfast had to skip desert. The views are also beautiful and there is a cute gift shop as well.

    Trans Catalina Trail- day 2. Best burritos in town! Bison breakfast burritos are sooo delicious!

    Gail P.

    The Airport-in-the-Sky is probably the most wonderful airport in the world. You literally fly over the ocean and land on a mountaintop! Though pilots consider the takeoffs and landings here to be challenging, it is a spectacular place to arrive or depart from. Perched 1602 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island's Airport-In-The-Sky is built between two mountain peeks in the interior of the island.. The asphalt-paved, 3250-ft. runway can handle aircraft up to and including DC-3. Mainly small private planes use the runway. The Airport also has a nice little restaurant- the Buffalo Springs Station Restaurant. There is a gift shop, historical displays, beautiful native plant gardens, a Nature Center, scenic vistas, tiled fountains and a great hiking trail. If you take the Inland Motor Tour of the island, it will stop here at the Airport for a brief visit. Shuttle service is available between the Airport and Avalon. The ten-mile drive takes approximately 25 minutes and goes down some steep, hair-raising turns to reach town. Built in 1946, landings are restricted to daylight hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. from mid-April to mid-October and until 5 p.m. the rest of the year. The landing fee if you fly in is $20 per plane with an overnight tiedown charge of $5. Even if you are not inclined to fly over to Catalina, don't miss the opportunity to visit this most beautiful and scenic airport in the sky.

    Nice and Secluded
    Ele M.

    I fell in love with this airport. I never thought it possible to fall in love with a place but strangely I did with the surroundings, peacefulness, openness, and feel of this place. Landing here was supposed to be the most difficult landing a pilot could expect. However, it wasn't bad at all. My co-pilot did most of the landing but it didn't feel bad at all. Yes, the runway could be extended but it was still just fine. There's 25$ landing fee, which I didn't have to pay as flight school covered it. The food is not great but just okay. They supposedly have Buffalo Burger but I didn't try it. They sell all kinds of Avalon souvenirs as well. The view is magnificent and it's such nice and secluded place. It is so peaceful away from all noise pollution. The tower is not in service so pilots land and take off without having to wait forever for clearance Happy landing!

    Airport in the sky
    Hera J.

    Flew the Skyhawk into Catalina Island and fell in love. The landing fee was about 25 bucks at the airport. The view is amazing and you can grab a bite to eat before you hike around the area. There is a little restaurant inside the gift shop at the airport. They have a pretty decent food selection. The buffalo burgers are so delicious. I still crave it till this day. It's pricey but it's worth every bite. I can't wait to go back!

    Amber Y.

    Flying to Catalina is so fun! I definitely prefer it to taking the ferry. This airport staff has always been very accommodating and friendly. Whether you need information, a shuttle, or food, you can count on the Airport in the Sky. Shuttles to and from Avalon or Twin Harbors are available for a (relatively pricey) fee. However, the alternative is walking/biking several hours down VERY rugged terrain. The ride usually includes very close encounters with the local buffalo herds and beautiful views all around. (For those interested in rally racing, you MUST take a look at these roads. Pure gravel hairpin heaven! It's a shame that they can't hold races here. :P) There is a restaurant and giftshop available while you are waiting for a shuttle. The menu is relatively limited, but all of the food is good. There is both adequate indoor and outdoor seating. Sometimes you can see foxes scurrying about from the little patio. If you park your plane/helicopter there, I believe you get a free (huge) cookie of your choice with a purchase of $10 or more. The gift shop has lots of souvenirs for infants and children. There is outerwear and jewelry for adults, as well as typical magnet and shot glass kind of gifts. Public restrooms are clean and just down the hall from the restaurant seating. If you so choose, you can take a walk down the few trails outside of the airport and see the historic facts of Catalina. There are little placards posted on the marked trail. It's a very pleasant place to visit.

    A Catalina local grazing near the Airport in the Sky Cafe

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    Buffalo burger is a must try! Gift shop is perfect for Holiday shopping...can't leave without a killer cookie!

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    Ask the Community - Airport in the Sky

    Review Highlights - Airport in the Sky

    Quite literally an airport in the sky, located on the top of a mountain on catalina island, the runway can appear to be floating.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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