Fly-In Community Once Owned by Antivirus Software Pioneer John McAfee To Be Auctioned
The Sky Gypsy Café, the ultimate sport flying location and an integral part of the airpark community in Rodeo, New Mexico, will be auctioned on Monday, June 25 at 1100 MDT by real estate auctioneer Williams & Williams. Located in a valley by the Chiricahua Mountains and the Coronado National Forest, the property includes the Sky Gypsy Café, the Galaxy Theater, a small RV park, a four-bedroom home, four airplane hangars and a state-of-the-art greenhouse.
The residential airpark, Amigos Del Cielo (NM90), caught the attention of famed software developer John McAfee, who decided to buy into the community in 2004 after falling in love with aerotrekking and taking flying lessons. After buying land in the community, he built a complex where he and his guests could fly lightweight aircraft and created an informal club called Sky Gypsies dedicated to the sport.
"The Sky Gypsy Café is a haven for aviation enthusiasts with 320 days of sunshine and no commercial air traffic. It offers ideal year-round flying conditions," said Rob Bridges, Williams & Williams' Senior Vice President, Commercial Sales. "It's suited for those with a passion for flying aircraft such as kite planes, weight shift aircraft, aero trikes and light general aviation aircraft."
The property's two-level Sky Gypsy Café and adjoining Galaxy Theater have been used as a gathering spot for locals and pilots after a day of soaring through the mountains. At approximately 3,000 square feet, the entire structure includes several outdoor seating areas that offer incredible views of mountain vistas and night-time desert star gazing. With high grade commercial construction, fine finished cement floors downstairs and hand planed hardwoods upstairs, the building can be used for its intended design or easily repurposed. The theater seats up to 35 people and features a 93" big screen for the ultimate viewing party.
The property also contains four climate-controlled Morton hangars for storing aircraft. The adjacent airstrip Amigos Del Cielo Airport (NM90) is a dirt surface and 7,200 feet long, oriented north-south. The east-west runway is approximately 2,500 feet.
During McAfee's ownership, guests stayed in Airstream trailers at the RV park with classic cars at their disposal to drive to nearby communities. The property still includes 10 RV, full water, electricity and sewer hookups along with adjoining patios, providing a new owner with the opportunity to resurrect this feature of the airpark.
There are guest facilities located in nearby stucco buildings and a four-bedroom, two-bath home. The state-of-the-art greenhouse provides fresh vegetables year round and includes climate-control systems. Also selling separately at the auction is an adjacent 10+/- acre lot with a 1,900+/- square-foot home and 1,600+/- square-foot hangar.
Bidding will open at $100,000 and interested buyers can bid on-site or in real time remotely at auctionnetwork.com.