This cache, and the shopping center nearby are located on the site that once was home to the Valley Airport, near Pikeville.
The reconstruction of US 23 and 119 have opened all areas of the county to its citizens, allowing an ease of transportation undreamed of only thirty years ago.
When airplanes became items of interest in the US, it was a long progression before this mode of transportation was commonplace in the county.
The earliest aviator in the area was probably John Paul Riddle. Riddle was known to make stunt flights under the Middle Bridge during the 1920's.
The terrain of the area again was a factor in the development of aviation in Pike County as flat, expansive acreage large enough for a landing strip, was difficult to come by.
In the early years, pilots such as Pop Hinkle, Truman Taylor, and Riddle may have used the Stanley farm or a site on Robinson Creek to land their planes.
Property at the mouth of Buckley's Creek became Valley Airport, a private one at the time. In the 1960's, the city and county took over ownership of the site. The Valley Airport site lacked adequate size as required by the FAA, so a search began for another site.
In the early 1980's, land on a hilltop near Cowpen, which had been a mine site, became the new Pikeville-Pike County Airport.
John Paul Riddle never lost his love of flying. He distinguished himself by helping to establish the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Source: Pike County, Kentucky: A Pictorial History, by Ed and Connie Maddox
The owner of the property and the proprietor of the nearby business are aware of this cache, so feel comfortable seeking during business hours, although you may have spectators.
Might need a TOTT.
