Pancho Barnes

Florence Lowe Barnes, born Florence Leontine Lowe but known as Pancho Barnes for most of her life, was a pioneer of women's aviation and the owner of the celebrated Happy Bottom Riding Club located on land annexed into Edwards Air Force Base in southern California's Antelope Valley in the southwestern United States.

The Happy Bottom Riding Club

On her land, Pancho Barnes built the Happy Bottom Riding Club, also known as the Rancho Oro Verde Fly-Inn Dude Ranch, a dude ranch and restaurant which catered to airmen at the nearby airfield. Pancho became very close friends with many of the early test pilots, including Chuck Yeager, General Jimmy Doolittle, and Buzz Aldrin. Pancho's ranch became famous for the parties and high-flying lifestyle of all the guests. However, a change of command in 1952 contributed to her getting into conflict with the US Air Force, and Pancho's colorful character left the base after a suspicious fire burned her ranch to the ground in 1953.

Related Topics:
Happy Bottom Riding Club - Dude ranch - Chuck Yeager - Jimmy Doolittle - Buzz Aldrin - 1952 - US Air Force - 1953

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