Welcome to Ernest A. Love Field, home of the Prescott Regional Airport (PRC).
The posted coordinates place you in front of the new terminal building which opened in March 2021. To the left of the terminal's entrance, you'll find a statue of local hero and the airfield's namesake, Ernest A. Love (1895–1918), First Lieutenant of the United States Army Air Service. The statue was created by renown Prescott artist Bill Nebeker and was officially dedicated on April 10, 2024.
Ernest Love moved to Prescott with his family when he was a young child. He attended Prescott High School, where he was an all-star football player and exceled academically. After graduating at the top of his class in 1914, Ernest went to Stanford University where he studied mechanical engineering. The United States entered World War I during his junior year in 1917, and Ernest left Stanford to enlist in the U.S. Army. Due to his fascination with aircraft, he applied for pilot training and then went to flight school in San Diego. He was assigned to the 147th Aero Squadron in July of 1918, and flew many combat missions over France before his plane was shot down in September of 1918. He was captured and taken to a German medical station in a church where he passed away from his wounds days later. Ernest Love is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Prescott Municipal Airport was dedicated as Ernest A. Love Field on August 28, 1928. Love’s parents generously supported the construction of the airport’s first terminal, which still stands to the south-east of the new terminal and remains the home of Susie's Skyway Restaurant.
To claim this virtual cache, either:
- Post a photo of yourself or any part of your caching gear in front of the statue of Ernest Love
or:
- Message me with the date (month and year) after the artist's name on the base of the bronze statue
Note: This cache was placed with the kind permission of the Prescott Regional Airport. The Airport asks that geocachers park in any of the adjacent parking lots and NOT in the restricted loading and unloading zone immediately in front of the statue.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.