As one drives Eastbound on US 50 toward Placerville, just east of Shingle Springs in El Dorado County, you can see what appears to be a Space Shuttle to the south of the freeway. Every so often you will see people pulled over to the side of the freeway taking photographs of what I started calling the "Shingle Springs Space Shuttle."

Having my curiosity piqued I was determined to learn the story behind the "Shingle Springs Space Shuttle." My first step was to stop and survey the Space Shuttle from the freeway. My next step was of locating the property and owner of the Space Shuttle, which was more work than I counted on. The route to the property was rather circuitous, but with some diligence I found it. Minutes after I pulled into the driveway the homeowner pulled up. The property owner, who takes care of the shuttle for its owners, was more than happy to speak to me about the model Space Shuttle and invited me to take a closer look.

Rather than being a homebuilt model as I had originally suspected, I learned that NASA actually built this model Space Shuttle for use as a publicity tool at Mather Air Force Base. It was used by Mather AFB in local parades, and was on display for those touring the base. Made largely out of foam rubber, the Shuttle has seen better days, but it still is a delight to the owners, and to passersby on US 50 who must wonder as I did about the story behind the Shuttle.

After Mather Air Force Base closed, one of their employees who had worked with this model asked if she could have it. The commander of the base agreed, but it took a significant period of time and lots of red tape before she was finally able to take possession of this model Space Shuttle. The model Space Shuttle was first relocated from Mather AFB to Pollock Pines, California where it resided for some years before it was moved to its current location within sight of US 50.

The model Shuttle garners not only quite a bit of attention from drivers on US 50, but also from people who have worked with the real Space Shuttles. The current caretaker told of a visit he had from a group of NASA scientists who actually made a pilgrimage of sorts to visit their model at its current location. (Both the Shuttle owner and its current caretaker wish to remain anonymous.)

Above: Shuttle As Viewed From US 50 Below: Close up with the Shuttle.

Shingle Springs Space Shuttle

Editorial Information

Reporter: Eric Paulsen Connection:Shingle Springs is a community in El Dorado County.

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