The concept for the airport probably began with Leslie Coombs Brand (1859–1925), a major figure in the settlement and economic growth of the Glendale area. He had purchased land on the lower slopes of Mount Verdugo overlooking the city, and in 1904 built an imposing residence that became known as Brand Castle (which today houses the Brand Library). Just across the mostly dry Los Angeles River he could see the Griffith Park Aerodrome's grass field, built in 1912. Just three years later he decided to build his own grass airstrip below his mansion. He built his first hangar in 1916, put together a fleet of planes, and held fly-in parties. The only requirement was that guests had to arrive in their own planes and bring passengers. From this modest beginning, plans were soon hatched by local entrepreneurs to establish an airport with commercial possibilities a little further down below his field. In 1923 the 112-acre Glendale Municipal Airport opened with a 100 ft–wide paved runway 3,800 ft long, and came to be renamed "Grand Central Air Terminal." On February 22, 1929, a terminal with a control tower had been built, and was opened to much fanfare. Designed by Henry L. Gogerty. the intention was to construct an air terminal along the lines of a classic railroad terminal. It combined a style consisting of Spanish Colonial Revival with Zig-zag Moderne influences. GCAT became a major airport of entry to Los Angeles and provided the first paved runway west of the Rocky Mountains. After opening for air passenger service in 1928, the following year saw the departure from Grand Central Air Terminal of the first airline service between Southern California and New York, piloted by none other than Charles A. Lindbergh. Amelia Earhart used the airport and bought her first plane there. The airport became the first and, for a brief period, the most important air travel center in the Los Angeles area. In 1930, Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport opened and began, over the following decade, to eclipse Grand Central Airport as the primary air passenger airport in the Los Angeles area.
The airport was the setting of several films, including Howard Hughes' Hell's Angels (1930), Shirley Temple's Bright Eyes (1934), Lady Killer (1933) starring James Cagney, Sky Giant (1938) with Joan Fontaine, Hats Off[15] (1936) with John Payne, the musical Hollywood Hotel[16] (1937) with Dick Powell, and the adventure film Secret Service of the Air (1939) starring Ronald Reagan. Episodes of the 1941 movie serial Sky Raiders show the terminal and other GCAT structures. The terminal was a favorite shooting location. In the film Sherlock Holmes In Washington, the airport served as "London Terminal" of "Transatlantic Airways." As passengers board the airplane on the tarmac, palm trees could be seen in the background. During World War II, the airport became a center of military activity. Thousands of pilots were trained at the airport for the British RAF. The airport also served as base of operations for Army Air Corps P-38 Lightnings that provided air protection for Los Angeles at the onset of the war. Grand Centrals' runway was shortened after WWII, which denied newer and larger aircraft from landing there. The largest aircraft ever to land at Grand Central was a Lockheed Constellation. After the Korean war the entire airport area went into decline and in 1959 the airport was closed. The property was purchased by the Prudential Insurance Company. The runways were torn out and many new 'tilt up' manufacturing buildings were built. Walt Disney Imagineering, the division responsible for designing Disneyland and other attractions, leased several buildings in the area for many years. The Disney Corporation eventually purchased the entire airport area in 1999 with a 15 year plan to turn it into a corporate "campus". The terminal building is now stripped of its ornamental lighting and detailing; some was stolen and some has possibly been put into storage. The building was damaged in the 1994 earthquake and is unsafe for habitation.
The terminal is located at 1310 Air Way, between Sonora and Grandview Ave. It's exterior is accessible and it's well worth a visit. It is now the last intact original building associated with the Golden Age of aviation in the San Fernando Valley....except for one old wooden hangar at Van Nuys airport. Beacon Hill was named for the airway beacon that was located on the top of the hill to alert planes of the nearby hills.
Cache is a medium-sized painted poly jar with a few swag items. As you can see from the various constructed benches, this is a popular locale for...? Please try to leave no trace of your visit, and rehide cache well to prevent accidental discovery. Caution: Griffith is home to various and sundry hazards, including poison-oak, ticks, snakes, and even mountain lions. Please exercise all due caution.
The less-than-stirling accuracy of my much-maligned Vista being well-documented by other cachers, I have included a spoiler pic below to ameliorate (hopefully) any difficulties.
Please do not attempt to blaze a trail from here to Lower Beacon—off-trail excursions are officially frowned upon, especially so since the wildfire devastation. There is, however, a well-trodden unofficial shortcut down (or up) the north side of Beacon Hill which will get you back to the merry-go-round parking lot in 5–10 minutes, rather than the 20–30 you might take on the fire road. As it has existed for years I see no problem with its continued use. Up to you.