Elephant Graveyard

An elephant graveyard is a place where, according to legend, older elephants instinctively direct themselves when they reach a certain age. They then die there alone, far from the group.

There are several theories about the term's origin. One theory revolves around people finding groups of elephant skeletons together, or observing old elephants and skeletons in the same habitat. Others suggest that the term may spring from group die-offs such as one excavated in Saxony-Anhalt which had 27 ancient pachyderm skeletons. Other theories focus on elephant behavior during lean times, suggesting that starving elephants gather in places where finding food is easier, and subsequently die there.

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This past Sunday morning, the sun rose obscured by a gloomy, low hanging overcast with periods of spotty drizzle. The plans for the day, which entailed driving "deep in to" the neighboring state of Delaware were scrubbed since the weather was crummy and me and my traveling mate were both feeling a bit "iffy".

So we decided to hang close to home - and meet up in the afternoon at a newly opened museum much more local to us - in fact - the museum was almost exactly half way between our homes being situated in lower Bucks County, PA. I hope to write more about the museum as it was a really nifty place for me, who as a young boy who aspired to be an astronaut.

But that story will have to wait -

While I waiting for my Dad to arrive, I went to the newly opened Warminster County Park located right next to the museum to walk a bit. This park is rather unique in that it was cobbled together from land that once formed the Brewster Aircraft Works and later the Navy's NADC (Naval Air Development Center) and as such, within the park, there is the remaining part of the airport used to test pre-and-post WWII Navy planes. The walking trail consists of about 5,000 feet or so of runway and perimeter taxiing and service roads.

Immediately adjacent to the parking lot is Gilda Radner Way and a lovely 200 year old farmhouse that has been transformed into a Gilda Radner Club house for families dealing with cancer. I found myself reflecting on the amazing life of Gilda Radner who died on May 20, 1989 at the age of 42 years old, having her comedic career cut short by ovarian cancer. I just couldn't get over how its been over 20 years now - since I heard her sing that delightful, but dirty, ditty, "Lets Talk Dirty To The Animals" (Note: Rated R)

With Gilda's squeaky voice piping in my head, I began my walk.


This is the sight that greeted me as I walked up a short slope and onto the end of the runway. Barely visible in the gloomy far distance, down the runway is a flagpole with a huge American flag fluttering in the breeze. To the left is the "Bark Park," a place for dogs to run free as the day they were born (or something like that.)

I wasn't feeling "walk-ish", but I put my head down, gritted my teeth, and started down the runway.


My goal was to get close enough to the American flag "way out there" to get a picture of it.

So I plodded and plodded. The runway, once used by Brewster Buffaloes that went on to fight at Pearl Harbor and Midway, stretched out before me.


About half way down the runway, the flag suddenly popped out of the gloom for a few moments - and I luxuriated in the brightness where F4 Phantom IIs destined for Viet Nam once screeched on the pavement.

I noticed something orange in the glare... but it was still a long ways off - so I once more put my head down to watch for cracks in the weather beaten asphalt.


As I near the opposite end of the runway, the vista opens, and the orange glare resolves itself into...


An Orange Conehead Cemetery... a place where old orange cones go to die... or so legend has it.