Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Pennsylvania: Harrisburg Area

© 2002, © 2023 by Paul Freeman. Revised 9/25/23.

This site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click here for the site's main menu.

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Conestoga Valley Airport / New Holland Airport (revised 11/18/21) - Crumling Airfield (revised 7/2/23)

Garden Spot Air Park (revised 6/21/19) - Hackenberger Airport (revised 12/30/22) - Hershey Airpark (revised 12/30/22) - Lebanon Valley Airpark (revised 9/25/23)

Lewisburg Airport (added 12/18/14) - Millard Airport (revised 9/5/22) - Penn-Harris Airport (revised 4/24/17) - Taylor Field / Cumberland Valley Airport (revised 9/25/23)

(Original) York Airport (added 3/1/20) - York Airport (3rd location) (revised 3/1/20)

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Hackenberger Airport, Duncannon, PA

40.434, -77.006 (North of Harrisburg, PA)

Hackenberger Airport, as depicted on the November 1945 NY Sectional Chart.



This rural general aviation airport was evidently established in 1945

(like hundreds of small airports in the post-WW2 US general aviation boom),

as it was not yet depicted on the June 1945 NY Sectional Chart.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Hackenberger Airport was on the November 1945 NY Sectional Chart,

which depicted Hackenberger Airport as an auxiliary airfield.



The earliest photo which has been located of Hackenberger Airport was an 8/25/49 USGS aerial view.

It depicted Hackenberger Airport as having 2 perpendicular grass runways, with a small building on the southwest side, but not aircraft were visible.



The earliest topo map depiction which has been located of Hackenberger Airport was on the 1952 USGS topo map.

which depicted Hackenberger Airport as an irregularly-shaped airfield, with a few small buildings on the west side.



According to the 8/13/53 Duncannon Record, the “Hackenberg Family Drive-In [was] adjacent to Hackenberger Airport.”



The earliest photo which has been located showing aircraft at Hackenberger Airport was a 1956 aerial view.

It depicted Hackenberger Airport as having 2 perpendicular grass runways, with a small building & 1 light single-engine plane on the southwest side.



The only photo which is available showing Hackenberger Airport in operation was a February 1957 photo (courtesy of Greg Weiser)

showing a light single-engine aircraft flying over a hangar on a hilly plot of land.

Greg Weiser recalled, “I found the picture in photos from my parents' estate.

I remember as a little boy we would drive by that airport as we traveled on Route 11/15 going to Millheim.

I remember how interesting the structure of the hangar was as it sat up on a hill as we would drive by.”



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Hackenberger Airport was on the July 1960 NY Sectional Chart.

It depicted Hackenberger Airport as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.



Hackenberger Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1960-61,

as it was no longer depicted on the January 1961 NY Sectional Chart.



The 1964 USGS topo map depicted Hackenberger Airport in the same fashion as the 1952 USGS topo map.



A 1968 aerial view appeared to show Hackenberger Airport after its closure.

The 2 grass runways remained largely intact, but not as distinct.

The small building remained on the southwest side, but there were no aircraft or other signs of recent aviation use.



Hackenberger Airport was no longer depicted on the 1969 USGS topo map.



A 1984 aerial view showed the Hackenberger Airport runways had been subdivided into farm fields,

but the building (hangar?) remained on the southwest side.



A 1992 aerial view continued to show the former Hackenberger Airport building (hangar?) remained on the southwest side.



A 2003 aerial view showed the former Hackenberger Airport building (hangar?) had been removed at some point between 1992-2003,

erasing the last trace of the little airport.



A 2020 aerial view looking north shows no trace remaining of Hackenberger Airport.



Thanks to Greg Weiser for pointing out this airfield.



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Lewisburg Airport, Lewisburg, PA

40.97, -76.91 (North of Harrisburg, PA)

A 1948 photo (courtesy of Jeff Boehmer) of Lewisburg Airport Hangar #1 shown while under construction,

before the Brouse apartment was added to the far (east) side.



According to “The Lewisburg Airport” by Lois Huffines in the Union County Historical Society Accounts Vol. 4 #1 2014,

“In 1948, George Brouse was approached by a couple of friends about 2 farm fields next to each other that he owned.

Would he be willing to have those fields turned into a landing strip?

One of the friends, Harold Derk, owned an airplane & flew it as a hobby. He had often given his friend George a ride.

He also had a heavy construction equipment business in Montandon, with road graders & power shovels.

George Brouse agreed, and Derk used his equipment to lay out the runway & to level & seed it.

Soon the 3,245' runway was complete.

The first hangar at the Lewisburg Airport was built also in 1948, and it was large enough to shelter 5 aircraft.

George Brouse then made a deal with his son, Fred Brouse:

if Fred would take care of the airport on the weekends, George would build an apartment on to the end of the hangar for him & his new bride Ruth.

The young Brouses then set up housekeeping in the apartment & raised their family there from 1948-53.”



The announcement of the 7/30/50 Formal Opening of Lewisburg Airport (courtesy of Jeff Boehmer).



A 7/30/50 photo (courtesy of Jeff Boehmer) of passengers boarding a DC-3

which took up 18 passengers at a time on the Lewisburg Airport opening day celebration.



Huffines continued, “And there it was, the Lewisburg Airport, so named by the township supervisors.

It was inspected & licensed by the Civil Aeronautics Board. The Official Opening was 7/30/50.

The event was celebrated by a jump by world champion parachutist Bill Cooper,

music by the Lewisburg High School Band, rides in a 'giant transport plane,'

a cropdusting & spraying exhibition, and that evening in the hangar by round & square dancing.

The 'giant transport plane' was a DC-3 which could carry 18 passengers.”



A 1950 photo (courtesy of Jeff Boehmer) of George Brouse, Fred Brouse, and Harold Derk

preparing to depart in a Piper PA-20 from Lewisburg to Sioux City, ND.



Huffines continued, “Fred continued to farm, and George Brouse started a land development & construction company.

Later a second hangar was built to the west.

It was 60’ square & taller than the first hangar with its 18’ ceiling.

Jess Hackenberg used this hangar, as did Joseph Lahout. Both were mechanics.

The hangar had special overhead doors.

The posts which supported the doors moved on rollers, allowing an aircraft with a 40’ wingspan & a higher tail section to pass in & out of the hangar.”



Huffines continued, “The airport provided services to the local community of flyers

and included sales, service, air taxi service, charter flights, and instruction.

Marlyn 'Barney' Aikey was hired as the first Chief Instructor & Business Manager at the Lewisburg Airport.

Later the job was taken over by Dallas Hanlon.

The airport served the needs for both transportation & pleasure,

i.e., going for rides, often to take aerial photographs or merely to look out over the countryside.

Jay Mathias of JPM Industries flew products to New York & Philadelphia out of the Lewisburg Airport.

Dallas Hanlon was often the pilot.”



Huffines continued, “Gassing up the aircraft was not without its dangers. The gas was stored in 55-gallon drums.

The gas was then pumped from the drum into the aircraft, which had to be grounded to avoid any sparks.

In that early time, a solo flight of one-half hour duration cost $3.30.

The instructor cost another $5.50. That sum was then taxed at $0.18.”



An undated license plate sign promoting the Lewisburg Airport (courtesy of Jeff Boehmer).



A 1952 photo showed 10 single-engine aircraft at a fly-in at the Lewisburg Airport (courtesy of Melvin Reed).



Huffines continued, “The Brouses eventually owned 5 aircraft.

Several other people used the runway, including, Lester Reed, Dallas Hanlon, Warren Elze, Frank Hinish, Fred Kessler, and Dan Henry.

Frank Hinish, owner of Prowant’s Men’s Clothing store on Market Street in Lewisburg, would often relax by flying his plane during his lunch hour.

Fred Brouse reports that Lester Reed was a 'corker of a pilot.'

Reed liked to do stunts & loops with the aircraft.

Fred denies ever trying aerobatics himself, at least not voluntarily.”



Huffines continued, “Fred’s grandmother, Agnes Brouse, at aged 72 took her first airplane ride from the Lewisburg Airport.

Her pilot was Joseph Diblin, who flew a Piper Super Cruiser PA-12, which held 3 passengers.

Fred reported that Grandma enjoyed the ride.

Fred Brouse once flew to Hiawatha, Kansas, using a radio beam, and during the flight almost fell asleep.

He ended up 50 miles from where he was supposed to be.

His friend Harold Derk certainly never let him forget that flight.

Over the years, Fred flew to Danville, Williamsport, Reading, Scranton-Clark Summit, Ohio, Kansas, and Sioux Falls, ND.”



Lewisburg Airport, as depicted on the 1957 USGS topo map.



The 1958 NY Sectional Chart depicted Lewisburg Airport as having a 3,200' unpaved runway.



The earliest aerial photo which has been located of Lewisburg Airport was a 7/3/59 aerial view (from Penn Pilot).

It depicted Lewisburg Airport as having an east/west grass runway, with a single hangar on the southeast side.

There were no aircraft visible on the field.



A mid-1960s photo (Courtesy of Melvin Reed) of an unusual visitor to Lewisburg Airport: a Grumman G44 Widgeon amphibian.

It was parked at the back of Hangar #1, next to the office. The Brouse apartment was visible as the 2nd story.



A mid-1960s photo (courtesy of Melvin Reed) of a Boeing Stearman at Lewisburg Airport

which towed the “HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMMY HOFFA” banner over the penitentiary.

It was parked at the back of Hangar #2.



A 1964 photo (courtesy of Melvin Reed) of Governor William Scranton arriving at the Lewisburg Airport in a Beechcraft H-18.



A 1964 photo (courtesy of Melvin Reed) of a Beechcraft T-34 Navy trainer at Lewisburg Airport.

In the background is the east end of Hangar #1, showing the Brouse apartment upstairs with a balcony & the airport office on the ground floor.



The 1965 USGS topo map depicted Lewisburg Airport as having a single unpaved east/west runway,

with 2 small buildings on the southeast side.



Huffines continued, “Joseph Lahout, a self-employed pilot, operated Lahout Air Services from the Lewisburg Airport through the 1960s.

He owned a 1959 Piper Tri-Pacer aircraft, and he purchased & restored a World War II Aeronca Defender Observation airplane.

He used these 2 airplanes to begin his career as a flight instructor & continued to train young pilots well into his retirement.

In the collection of the Union County Historical Society,

a photograph shows a sign announcing a fly-in breakfast at the Lewisburg Airport, sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol.

At airshows & similar events, flyers would gather socially & show off their aircraft to each other & spectators.

Bill Piper, president of Piper Aircraft, was an occasional visitor.

Dallas Hanlon flew the director of the award-winning Riley Raiders to & from Lewisburg for the annual Cavalcade of Bands at the Bucknell University stadium.

It is clear that the airport was busy during the years of its existence, and it served a need in the community.

The Lewisburg Airport was also used in the delivery of airmail.”



The last photo which has been located showing the Lewisburg Airport in operation was a 7/10/70 aerial view (from Penn Pilot).

It depicted 5 single-engine aircraft parked around the hangar.



Huffines continued, “The Penn Valley Airport at Selinsgrove directly affected the operation & existence of the Lewisburg Airport.

Federal funds became available for the development of airports in smaller communities.

Lewisburg was not eligible for these funds because the airport was privately owned.

The commissioners, who would have normally supported the case for the Lewisburg Airport, threw their support to Selinsgrove.

The Selinsgrove Airport received the funding, which ultimately resulted in bringing the operations at the Lewisburg Airport to an end.

The Lewisburg Airport did not have a cement runway, and that limited its revenue.

By 1975, Brouse Enterprises, heirs to the George Brouse estate, made the decision to close the airport.

The Lewisburg Airport had operated for about 25 years.

In 1979, Brouse Enterprises sold 1 acre of runway land to the Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority, which sold it to D & R Realty.

SUN Orthopedic now occupies that site, which was once the beginning of the runway.”



The 1983 USGS topo map continued to depict the “Landing Strip” at Lewisburg, even though the airport had been closed for 8 years.



Huffines continued, “In 1987, Brouse Enterprises sold 2 acres to the Mifflinburg Bank & Trust Company, and its Lewisburg branch now occupies that site.

In 1988, Brouse Enterprises sold land to the Buffalo Valley Telephone Company.

Later in 1988, the Telephone Company sold 7 acres to St. John’s United Church of Christ, and its church building now sits on that site.

Keiser’s Plumbing & Heating & Keiser’s Sporting Good (called Out ‘N’ About) rented half of Hangar #1 when it no longer housed aircraft.

Mifflinburg Bank razed Hangar #2 for its Lewisburg branch, which opened in 1991.”



A 1993 USGS aerial view showed that several buildings had been built over the eastern portion of the Lewisburg Airport runway,

but the majority of the runway remained intact, along with Hangar #1.



A view of Lewisburg Airport Hangar #1 shortly before it was razed in 2003.



The Buffalo Valley Telephone Company sold 56 acres to Dale & Joan Miller, owners of Playworld Systems.

A 2005 aerial photo showed that a large industrial building for Playworld Systems had been built over the center of the Lewisburg Airport property.



Huffines continued, “Dale Miller had promised not to cut down the stand of oak trees in front of the Playworld building.

The oaks were called Brouse’s Grove, where the Brouse family would hold picnics & family reunions.

The street signs now offer the only clue to this piece of Lewisburg history,

and those who remember it can relive the dream to fly like birds over Lewisburg in their memories.”



A 2013 aerial view showed no trace remaining of Lewisburg Airport.



The site of Lewisburg Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Buffalo Road & Airport Road, appropriately enough.



Thanks to Jeff Boehmer for pointing out this airfield.



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Penn-Harris Airport, Harrisburg, PA

40.25, -76.81 (Southeast of Downtown Harrisburg, PA)

Penn-Harris Airport, as depicted on the 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart.



This early general aviation airport was located southeast of downtown Harrisburg.

The date of establishment of Penn-Harris Airport has not been determined.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Penn-Harris Airport was on the 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart.



The earliest photo which has been located of Penn-Harris Airport

was a circa early 1930s photo by Samuel Kuhnert of Hubert Julian during a visit to Harrisburg's Penn-Harris Airport & Beckley College School of Aviation

in his Packard Bellanca Pacemaker monoplane NR782W, with which he set a nonstop non-refueling endurance record of 84.5 hours in 1931.



A 9/20/37 aerial view depicted Penn-Harris Airport as having an unpaved northwest/southeast runway,

with an airport circle marking in the center, and some buildings (hangars?) at either runway end.

No aircraft were visible on the field.



A circa 1930s aerial photo from a postcard (courtesy of Jim Fainelli) depicted several buildings, hangars, and 3 biplanes at Penn-Harris Airport.



Penn-Harris Airport was not depicted at all on the 1943 USGS topo map.

It may have gone through a period of closure during WW2,

like many other small civilian airports due to wartime restrictions on general aviation airports near the coasts.



A circa 1943-45 aerial view looking north at Penn-Harris Airport from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Penn-Harris Airport

as an 78 acre square-shaped property having an 1,800' all-way sod landing area.

The field was said to have 5 metal hangars, the largest being 60' x 40',

and to be privately owned & operated.



The 1945 NY Sectional Chart depicted Penn-Harris Airport as a commercial/municipal airport.



An undated “Air Ride” certificate from Penn-Harris Airport's Harrisburg Air Service Inc.



The 1947 USGS topo map depicted Penn-Harris Airport as having 2 runways, with a small building on the northwest side.



The last depiction which has been located of Penn-Harris Airport was on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart.

It depicted Penn-Harris Airport as having a 1,900' runway.



Penn-Harris Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1950-56,

as it was no longer depicted on the 1956 USGS topo map.



A 10/25/56 aerial view (from Penn Pilot) showed a few buildings possibly remained on the south side of the site of Penn-Harris Airport.



A 1961 aerial photo showed no trace of Penn-Harris Airport, with the site just an empty field.



A 2013 aerial view showed no trace of Penn-Harris Airport.



The site of Penn-Harris Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Route 322 & Interstate 83.



Thanks to Jeff Hays for pointing out this airfield.



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Crumling Airfield, Hallam, PA

40, -76.63 (Southeast of Harrisburg, PA)

A 9/15/37 aerial view (from Penn Pilot) appeared to depict a single northeast/southwest grass runway.



The date of establishment of this small country airfield has not been determined.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Crumling Airfield was a 9/15/37 aerial view (from Penn Pilot).

It appeared to depict a single northeast/southwest grass runway.



Strangely, Crumling Airfield was not depicted on Washington Sectional Charts from 1938/46/50/60/67.



According to a 1962 York Daily Record article (courtesy of Andrew Stone),

the property in Hellam Township was used since 1953 as an airfield, owned by Gilbert Dusman, and before that was farmland.



A 9/3/57 aerial view (from Penn Pilot) appeared to depict the Crumling runway being improved,

along with several buildings (hangars?) on the southeast side which had been added at some point between 1937-57.



According to a 1962 York Daily Record article (courtesy of Andrew Stone),

owner Gilbert Dusman said his airport in Hellam Township, with 2 hangars, was used by various corporations for storing their planes.

It was not being used as of the time of the article,

and had been leased for 10 years to the “Drag-O-Way” Corporation to be used for automobile drag racing.



Crumling Airfield was not depicted at all on the 1964 USGS topo map.



An 8/11/71 aerial view (from Penn Pilot) depicted Crumling Airfield as having a single northeast/southwest runway,

but the field appeared deteriorated & there was no indication of recent usage.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Crumling Airfield was on the 1976 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It depicted Crumling as a public-use airfield having a mere 1,500' unpaved runway.



Crumling Airfield was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1977-92,

as the 4/6/92 USGS aerial photo showed that the runway had been covered with several industrial buildings.



Showing that you can't always trust the aeronautical charts, the March 1993 Washington Sectional Chart continued to depict Crumling as a private airfield,

even though the aerial photo from the previous year showed buildings covering the former runway.

The field was continued to be depicted as having a 1,500' unpaved runway.



Crumling Airfield was no longer depicted on the 1995 Washington Sectional Chart.



A 2016 aerial view showed industrial buildings lining the former Crumling runway.



A 2019 photo looking southwest along the former Crumling runway.



The site of Crumling Airfield is located north of the intersection of Commerce Way & Run Way, appropriately enough.



Thanks to Andrew Stone for pointing out this airfield.



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Millard Airport (N76), Annville, PA

40.31, -76.54 (East of Harrisburg, PA)

Millard Airport, as seen on the July 1947 NY Sectional Chart.



This curiously-configured little general aviation airport was evidently construction at some point between 1946-47,

as it was not yet depicted on a 1938 aerial photo nor on the July 1946 NY Sectional Chart.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Millard Airport was on the July 1947 NY Sectional Chart.



The 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) depicted Millard as having a mere 1,900' paved runway.



The earliest photo which has been located of Millard Airport was a 1951 aerial view.

The runway had evidently been lengthened at some point between 1950-51,

as the photo depicted Millard in the same configuration it would have for the next 60 years,

with 3 paved runways (ranging from 2,800' to a mere 1,200'),

and a paved ramp with 2 hangars on the northeast side.



The earliest photo which is available of Millard Airport was a 10/25/56 aerial view (from Penn Pilot).

It depicted Millard in the same configuration as the 1951 photo.



The 1956 USGS topo map depicted Millard Airport as having 3 paved runways, with a ramp & a single building on the northeast side.



The 1958 NY Sectional Chart depicted Millard as having a 3,100' paved runway.



A 7/7/70 aerial view (from Penn Pilot) depicted 3 single-engine aircraft at Millard Airport.



The 1983 PA Airport Directory depicted Millard Airport as having 3 bituminous runways, with the 2,850' Runway 11/29 as the longest.

A hangar, office, and T-hangars were depicted on the northeast side.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Millard Airport

was on the December 1986 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Kevin O'Reilly).

It depicted Millard as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being 2,800'.



A 4/8/93 aerial view depicted 2 single-engine aircraft at Millard Airport.



A 1994 airport directory depicted Millard as having 3 paved runways, with the 2,870' Runway 11/29 as the longest.



Ed Figuli recalled, “I landed at Milliard Airport in the late 1990s.

There was really nothing there other than the hangars & the administration building. No activity. The runway was in poor shape too.”





The last photo which has been located showing an aircraft at Millard Airport was a 4/10/99 aerial view looking west,

which showed a single-engine aircraft just beyond the Runway 29 numbers.



Paul Freeman flew into Millard Airport in January 2001, to find the airport having no fuel, and no one home.



The last airport directory listing which has been located of Millard Airport was in the 2005 PA Airport Directory (courtesy of John Clifford).

The directory described Millard as having a 2,870' asphalt Runway 11/29.

The undated aerial photo showed the other 2 runways remained intact but were closed.

The manager was listed as L.A. Campbell.



A March 2005 aerial view by Paul Freeman looking southeast at Millard Airport.



A circa 2005-2010 aerial view looking north at the 2 hangars at Millard Airport, one of which is marked with “Millard Airport”.



George Wolf recalled of Millard Airport, “I flew into the airport just once, in mid-July 2006, finishing up my private ticket.

My instructor pulled the power & I executed a simulated engine-out landing to a full stop.

I recall the runway being very rough, with many small rocks & cinders from the broken-up pavement.

At the time, I was more concerned about the rock nicks to the prop on the 172 I owned, or the nosegear hitting a pothole & folding under.

I don't remember any aircraft parked on the ground at the airport,

but there was an old rusted T-hangar building on the premises that could have housed a of couple aircraft.

I do believe that the airport was considered 'open' & had not yet been decommissioned at that time. No sign of activity of any sort.”



Matthew Loser reported in 2007, “Millard only has one usable runway any more from what I can tell.

I was at the airport about a year ago & 2 of the runways are pretty much in complete disrepair & most likely unusable.

I know it was owned by the Millard family, which also owned a number of limestone quarries in the area.

The old Millard quarry headquarters is still in existence just to the north of the airport along Route 422.

I don't know if the airport was put there primarily for business use or for pleasure.

I do know that the family was the richest in the area, so I don't think the cost was an issue.

I was told the airport was owned by a company in Reading, PA.

There is a flying club that uses it regularly & it is kept in decent repair.”



While still an active airport, Millard Airport's FAA Airport/Facility Directory data described the field as having a single 2,870' asphalt Runway 11/29.

The owner was listed as MFS Inc., and the manager listed as L.A. Campbell.

The field was said to be home to 6 aircraft.



ED Figuli reported, “Millard Airport closed its doors in 2011.”



Millard Airport was depicted on the 2011 Sectional Chart as an abandoned airfield.



The last photo which has been located of Millard Airport was a 4/24/13 aerial view looking northwest,

showing the field to remain completely intact.



A 6/2/19 aerial view by Rocky Breslow looking northwest at Millard Airport, showing the field to remain mostly intact, although the north/south runway pavement had been removed at some point between 2013-2019.

Rocky noted, “We were joking that it’s not on any sectional, but if we were to have an engine out, we could land straight in there.”



A 9/3/22 aerial view by Ed Figuli looking north at Millard Airport. Ed reported, “Now it appears to be a storage area for construction equipment & logistics.”



A 9/3/22 aerial view by Ed Figuli looking north at the former Millard Airport hangars. Ed reported, “The hangars & administration building are intact. Hard to tell if the administration building is being used or not.”



Millard Airport is located southwest of the intersection of West Main Street & Mt. Pleasant Road.



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Taylor Field / Cumberland Valley Airport, New Kingstown, PA

40.24, -77.07 (West of Harrisburg, PA)

Taylor Field, as seen in a 1937 aerial view.



This small general aviation airport was located on the south side of Carlisle Pike.

The date of construction of Taylor Field has not been determined.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Taylor Field was a 1937 aerial view.

It depicted Taylor Field as having 2 grass runways (northeast/southwest & northwest/southeast).

A circular airport marking was visible just south of the hangars,

along with at least 3 light aircraft.



A circa 1930s aerial view looking at 2 hangars & 4 monoplanes & biplanes at Taylor Field (courtesy of Tom Johnstone).



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Taylor Field was on the 1945 NY Sectional Chart.

It depicted Taylor as a commercial/municipal airport.



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Taylor Field

as an 90 acre U-shaped property within which were 3 sod runways, with the longest being the 2800' east/west strip.

The field was said to have 4 hangars, the largest being a 125' x 55' wood & metal structure,

and to be privately owned & operated.



A circa 1950 aerial view looking north at the hangars at Taylor Field (courtesy of Tom Johnstone).



A circa 1950 photo of Taylor Field's operations building, with control tower on top (courtesy of Tom Johnstone).



The 1952 USGS topo map depicted Taylor field as having an irregularly-shaped outline,

along with 6 small buildings along the northwest side of the field.



A May 1958 aerial view depicted Taylor Field as having a single grass northeast/southwest runway,

which had been extended to the west compared to the 1937 aerial view.

Several buildings were located along the north side, along with a sole single-engine plane.



A 1961 aerial view depicted Taylor Field in the same configuration.

A total of 4 light planes were visible near the hangars.



At some point between 1952-67, the airport was evidently renamed Cumberland Valley, and changed to a private field,

as that is how it was depicted on the 1967 NY Sectional Chart.

The field was depicted as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.



Cumberland Valley Airport was still depicted on the 1969 USGS topo map.



Cumberland Valley Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1967-71,

as an August 1971 aerial view showed that a large building had been built over the western end of the former east/west runway.

The runways remained otherwise intact, as did the hangars & other airport buildings.

There were no aircraft visible on the field.



Tom Johnstone reported, “I moved to South Central Pennsylvania in 1975.

Traveling on Carlisle Pike we passed a building that looked like an old airplane control tower.”



Cumberland Valley Airport was no longer depicted at all on the 1980 USGS topo map.



A 1994 USGS aerial view showed that 2 large warehouses had been built over the southern portion of Taylor Field.



A circa 2006-2010 aerial view looking south at the former Taylor Field control tower building (the same building depicted in the 1950 photo).



A 2008 photo by Tom Johnstone of the former Taylor Field control tower building (the same building depicted in the 1950 photo),

minus the control tower cab which was removed at some point between 1950-2008.

Tom reported, “The place is a landscape business. As the years went by the area has changed, but I still look for that building which stills stands.

The tower part is gone & the hangars have all gone by the wayside.”



A 2016 aerial view shows that several buildings have been built over the site of Taylor Field,

but the former airport operations building still remains on the north side of the property.



A 2016 photo looking northeast at the former Taylor Field operations building.



Dick Troy reported in 2023, The Taylor Field operations building, all that remained of the airfield, is no longer there.”



The site of Taylor Field is located south of the intersection of Carlisle Pike & Taylor Boulevard, appropriately enough.

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Conestoga Valley Airport / New Holland Airport, New Holland, PA

40.1, -76.07 (West of Philadelphia, PA)

Conestoga Valley Airport, as depicted on the July 1948 NY Sectional Chart.



Conestoga Valley Airport was not yet depicted on the January 1948 NY Sectional Chart.



This small general aviation airport was evidently established in August 1948,

as the Conestoga Valley Airport in New Holland was listed as a new airport in the 3/31/48 Airman's Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).

It was described as having 2 unpaved runways, with the longest being 2,000'.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Conestoga Valley Airport was on the July 1948 NY Sectional Chart,

which depicted Conestoga Valley Airport as having a mere 2,000' unpaved runway.



The earliest photo which has been located of New Holland Airport was a circa 1948 photo of the airport office & checkerboard-roofed Quonset-hut (courtesy of Paul Smoker),

with an Aeronca & Cub on the ground, and another Cub overhead.



At some point between 1948-49 the airfield was evidently renamed New Holland Airport,

as that is how it was labeled on the 1949 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

It depicted New Holland as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.



The earliest dated photo which has been located of New Holland Airport was a 1951 aerial view.

It depicted the field as having 2 grass runways,

with some small buildings on the south side of the field, and 2 light aircraft parked outside.



A circa 1950s photo of the New Holland Airport office (courtesy of Paul Smoker),

with large numbers of spectators in attendance for some type of event.



The 1956 USGS topo map depicted New Holland as having 2 turf runways, with a few small buildings along the south side.



A 10/3/57 aerial view (from Penn Pilot) depicted New Holland Airport as having 2 grass runways, with some small buildings on the south side of the field.



The 1957, 1958, and 1960 NY Sectional Charts (courtesy of Mike Keefe) depicted New Holland Airport as having a 2,100' unpaved runway.



The 1963 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy) described New Holland as having 2 turf runways.



New Holland Airport evidently gained a paved runway at some point between 1963-64,

as the 1964 Washington Sectional Chart depicted New Holland as having a single 2,200' paved northeast/southwest runway.



Tyler Morton recalled, “New Holland Airport was owned by the Stover family.

Al Stover operated a charter & courier service for banks, corporations, etc. (a big customer being New Holland Machine, then Sperry-New Holland, now New Holland Agriculture, part of CNH) out of the airport, and he also did flight instruction.

It was a nice community general aviation airport. My grandfather & his friend Ellis Herr both flew out of New Holland.

My dad also talks of the chicken BBQs they used to have at the airport, with Al flying low & slow through New Holland & Leola, with a loudspeaker strapped to the plane, announcing the event & inviting folks to come out.

At the time of the airports operation, it was surrounded by farm fields.”



The 1965 & 1967 NY Sectional Charts (courtesy of Mike Keefe) depicted New Holland Airport as having a 2,100' paved runway.



An undated photo of a Cessna 150 in front of the New Holland Airport office & checkerboard-roofed Quonset-hut

from a sponsor's advertisement from Tim Kaufman's 1968 high school yearbook.



Richard Wise recalled, “I took flying lessons at New Holland in 1968. Al Stover, the airport’s owner & chief instructor, died on 1/26/71.”



Tyler Morton recalled, “Al’s wife & son, Alice & Fred operated the airport for a time after his death.”



The 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted New Holland as having 2 turf runways,

with a 2,186' paved Runway 5/23 evidently which had been added along the northwest side of the existing turf Runway 5/23.

Two small buildings (hangars?) were depicted on the south side of the field.



A 7/4/71 aerial view of the New Holland Airport depicted the field as having a single paved runway & a crosswind grass runway.

A dozen light aircraft were visible parked on the southwest side of the field.



A Flight Simulator scenery re-creation by Richard Finley of a Meyers 200 overflying New Holland Airport.



Tim Kauffman recalled, “New Holland Airport... My father gave ground instruction there & I learned to fly there in the very early 1970s.

I knew the owners, Alfred & Gladys Stover.

I never bothered to take any pictures of the field or its buildings

which included a large Quonset-type hangar that could hold a large number of small planes & was painted with large red & yellow squares for visibility.

The 2 runways were arranged like a small letter 'y', the long leg having a narrow paved surface & parallel grass landing area & the short side grass only.

It was your typically ideal small airport. The owner was also a Cessna dealer.

I spent many, many enjoyable hours there as a boy & young man. There was also a Link trainer in the office/classroom building.

The airport was just outside town & surrounded by Amish farm fields.”



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the New Holland Airport

was on the 1975 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

It depicted New Holland Airport as having a single 2,100' paved runway.



Richard Wise recalled, “Gladys, Al’s wife, tried to keep the airport going for a few years after Al’s death but eventually it became too much for her.”



Dan Morris recalled, “New Holland Airport- I flew in & out of this airport up until its closing.

My last log entry was sometime in spring of 1975.

My last flight there was actually after it was removed from the sectional. I did a landing in 1'-high grass & then departed.

My last flight there was with the runway blocked with construction equipment & that was why I was landing on the grass.

The rumors of its closing existed for a year or 2 before it actually did.

It was sold to become a housing development. The paved runway became the principal street.”



New Holland Airport was no longer listed in the 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).



Strangely, the 1994 USGS topo map continued to depict the New Holland Airport, 18 years after it had been closed.

Furthermore, it failed to depict the paved runway which had been added to the field 30 years before,

but instead only depicted the airport as having 2 unpaved runways.

It also depicted several small buildings (hangars?) on the south side of the field.



A 1999 USGS aerial photo showed that the site of New Holland Airport had been covered by a housing development.

It has not been determined if any of the former airport buildings remain intact.



A 4/24/13 aerial view showed the site of New Holland Airport to be covered by a housing development.



Street maps show that the alignment of the former northeast/southwest runway is covered by Runway Avenue, with the former east/west runway covered by Windsock Way.

The street which runs along the southern edge of the property is Airport Road.



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(Original) York Airport, Tilden, PA

39.958, -76.666 (North of Baltimore, MD)

A postmark commemorated the 10/25/30 Dedication of York Airport.



The original York Airport was located on the southeast side of the town.

A postmark commemorated the 10/25/30 Dedication of York Airport.



According to a historical display in the current York Airport, the original York Airport was operated by Oscar Hostetter.



The earliest depiction which has been located of York Airport was on the May 1932 Washington Sectional Chart.

It depicted York Airport, located southeast of the town, as a commercial/municipal airport.



The last depiction which has been located of the original location of York Airport was on the December 1936 Washington Sectional Chart.

It depicted York Airport, located southeast of the town, as a commercial/municipal airport.



The original York Airport evidently was closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1936-38,

as no York Airport was depicted on the September 1938 Washington Sectional Chart,

and no airfield was depicted at this location on the 1939 USGS topo map.



It was eventually replaced in 1940 by a 2nd location of York Airport several miles southwest of York.



A 2016 aerial photo showed no trace remaining of the original location of York Airport.



____________________________________________________



York Airport (3rd location), York, PA

39.97, -76.75 (North of Baltimore, MD)

York Airport, as depicted northwest of the town on the 1946 USGS topo map.



No airfield was depicted at this location on the October 1946 Washington Sectional Chart.



The earliest depiction which has been located of the York Airport northwest of the town was on the 1946 USGS topo map.



A 1946 aerial view looking west at the York Airport northwest of the town (from a historical display in the current York Airport),

showing 2 grass runways & 4 rows of T-hangars.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the York Airport northwest of the town was on the April 1947 Washington Sectional Chart.

It described York Airport as having a 3,200' unpaved runway.



According to Gene Garnes, "I believe that there used to be a small general aviation airport in West York.

It had one turf runway, located along Roosevelt Avenue near Wood Street."



Richard Niess recalled of the airport in West York, “It had one turf 3,200' runway.

It was located along Roosevelt Avenue near Wood Street.

Dr. Wayne Shaullis & I were student pilots & together we purchased a tandem Taylorcraft (no electrical system & we spun the prop to start it).

It was hangared there, owned by a young man who was called back into the Marine Corps to go to Korea, and he sold it to us for $500.

We both flew it a lot & in 2 years sold it for $800.

We both learned to fly & soloed at the old field, owned by Oscar Hostetter.

Many is the time we stared at the trees when it was hot & we were loaded, wondering if we would clear them!”



The 1951 Washington Sectional Chart described the York Airport as having 2 runways, with the longest being 3,040'.



A 1952 aerial photo depicted York Airport as having 2 grass runways (including a very short crosswind runway on the northwest side),

and one single-engine plane parked near 4 rows of T-hangars.



The 1954 USGS topo map depicted the York Airport on the northwest side of the town as an irregularly-shaped outline, labeled “Airport”, with 6 buildings along the east side.



The last depiction which has been located of the York Airport on the northwest side of the town was on the July 1955 Washington Sectional Chart.

It depicted York Airport as having a 3,200' unpaved runway.



According to Richard Niess, “Oscar eventually sold the field to a developer & it closed.”



The York Airport northwest of the town was apparently closed at some point between 1955-56,

as the January 1956 Washington Sectional Chart didn't depict any airfield at this location,

but rather showed that it had been replaced by a new York-Thomasville Airport (with a paved runway), a few miles to the southwest.



According to a historical display in the current York Airport,

after the airport's closure, the T-hangars from York Airport were relocated to the new York Airport.



By the time of an 8/11/71 aerial photo, western portion of the site of the York Airport northwest of the town had become a rock quarry,

but several of the hangars remained along the east side.



Gene Garnes reported in 2003 that some remnants of the York Airport northwest of the town still exist.

"If you drive along Roosevelt avenue, going north of where the airport was located,

you can still see some of the hangars that were part of the airport & are now being used for other purposes."



A 2015 aerial view looking north at the site of the York Airport northwest of the town showed the western portion is reused as a rock quarry,

but several of the hangars remained along the east side.



As of 2017, it appears as of U-Haul Moving & Storage of York is housed within the former York Airport arch-roofed hangar.



____________________________________________________



Hershey Airpark, Hershey, PA

40.3, -76.66 (East of Harrisburg, PA)

Hershey Airpark, as depicted on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).



This small general aviation airport on the Hershey property was reportedly constructed by Hershey Estates in 1944

as part of their hotel & entertainment complex.



However, no airport in Hershey was listed among active airfields in the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).



The earliest depiction which has been located of Hershey Airpark

was on the 1949 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Hershey as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.



Eleanor Williamson recalled, “I am the widow of Harry Williamson who bought his interest in the airport in the early 1950s.

He operated the airport for 20 years. Under his leadership, it became a very thriving little airport.

He had all the ratings, of which he was very proud.

He also had many more hangars built & also the main hangar where airplanes were serviced.

He was a Piper dealer, making salesman of the year. He taught flying, ground school. In essence, he did it all.

Many of his customers (friends) were professional people, who not only learned to fly from him, but bought planes from him.

At one time he had a helicopter there - another time a bi-plane.

On weekends he had a very good business hopping passengers over the rose gardens etc.

Several of his students became airline pilots.”



The 1956 USGS topo map depicted “Hershey Air Park” as having a single unpaved east/west runway.



The earliest photo which has been located of Hershey Airpark was a 10/25/56 aerial view (from Penn Pilot).

It depicted Hershey Airpark as having a single grass northeast/southwest runway, with hangars & buildings on the northeast side.



The Hershey Airpark was described on the 1957 PA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) as having a single 2,600' turf east/west runway.

The operator was listed as Harry Williamson.



A circa 1950s photo by Mike Wotovitch of Hershey Airpark, showing a Piper Cub, 2 Ercoupes, and 2 Navions in front of the hangars.

Note the Hershey School on the hill behind the airpark. Mike observed, “What could be more inviting on a summer day?”



A circa 1950s photo by Mike Wotovitch of a Tom Hill's Luscombe 2599K in front of a hangar at Hershey Airpark.

Mike recalled of this plane, “I often flew it on cross-country because it had a cruise propeller (ground-hugger on takeoff).

Hill finally put a metal propeller on it. I flew my 1st aerobatics in 2599K.”



The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Hershey as having a single 2,600' unpaved runway,

with a cluster of buildings on the northeast side.



Hershey was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory

as having a single turf runway, and the operator was listed as Hershey Flying Service.



Hershey Airpark was expanded to its eventual size (a single 3,000' paved runway) in 1963.



Gregory Miely recalled, “Harry [Williamson] told me that the airport had one of the finest grass runways anywhere,

but one day radio personality Arthur Godfrey landed his DC-3 at Hershey & it severely damaged the runway,

at which point it was decided to install a hard-surface runway & to extend it to 3,000 feet.”



A 6/23/64 aerial photo (Copyright Hershey Archives, used with permission, via Mattew Loser)

depicted Hershey Airpark as having a total of 6 hangars along the east end of the runway.



Tim Black recalled, “I started as a lineboy at the Hershey Airport in the Spring of 1965 & worked there until about June of 1968.

I received my pilots license from Hershey. My check ride was done by my boss Harry Williamson.

At that time we had 5 instructors: Dale Lenhert, Larry Kline, Alan Hiney, Kay Tallman, and Allan Zalenga.

The secretary to Harry Williamson was Beverly Cernugle. I had just received my commercial when I had left.

We had 2 full-time mechanics who taught me the basics on mechanics especially in the winter when things were slow.

When Harry had the airport we did a good business especially in the summers.

I towed the banner for airplane rides, which then were $2.

We would have people lined up for rides from about 10am until dark & the pilots would never get out of the plane.”



Tim continued, “Harrry Williamson was the owner & my boss.

While I worked there I was pretty much a utility person from mowing the grass & trimming around all the runway lights & replacing light bulbs as needed.

I worked as as a mechanic's helper in the winter & learned from Matt & Ralph some of the trade.

I was asked by Harry to replace a tire or minor work on the weekends when the mechanics were off.

I got the job by working free until a spot came available. I got after taxes about $23/week. I spent it all on flight instruction.

One benefit of working there was free flight instruction! At the time it was a Gulf-branded Fixed-Base Operation which was previously a Texaco-branded dealer.”



Tim continued, “While still on a student license that I obtained on my 16th birthday with over 100 hrs logged, I couldn’t carry passengers but could fly.

Harry would give me all the flight jobs he could & thus as a student pilot I logged many hours.

I got a lot of hours taking planes back & forth from Harrisburg to Hershey.”



Tim continued, “Harry gave me a lot of responsibility in opening the airport in the mornings, such as pushing all the airport-owned planes into hangars & topping them off.

Harry was my hero as he had been a WW2 pilot. I highly respected him.

He created a thriving business & he was a good pilot. He have me my flight check for my private license & amazed me how much you could do with a Cherokee 140!

I enjoyed my time at the airport. I was flying over Viet Nam when I learned of the airport closing.

It made money & was a driving business due to Harry. I hope that his daughter & his wife know how much I appreciated him.”



Gregory Miely recalled, “When I was 15 years old in 1969, new neighbors moved in next door.

It was Harry Williamson & his wife & 2 children.

After about 2 weeks when their grass had not been cut, I decided to cut their lawn at the same time that I cut ours.

Harry came over that night to thank me & offered me a job at the airport to work as a lineboy, fueling the aircraft, and doing general grounds maintenance.

I worked there from 1969-74.

I earned my Private Pilot's License in 1970 & Harry was the FAA flight examiner.

There were several flight instructors, both full- & part-time, but the 2 that I remember the most,

and who were my instructors, were Lamont Zimmerman II & Dave Stouffer.

One of the other instructors during the 1970s, who started as a lineboy, was Ken Sager.

The other lineboy with whom I worked was Randy Swink.”



Gregory continued, “The airport was a Piper dealership & Piper aircraft were used in the flight school.

The airport also owned a Champion Citabra, the original having a 115 HP engine & the replacement having a 150 HP engine.

The plane was used for banner towing & instruction, including aerobatic instruction.

The glider that most frequently launched from Hershey belonged to Quentin Berg, who owned Berg Electronics, Inc.

The airport also owned a 1942 Stearman, an open-cockpit biplane, that had a inertia starter.

Essentially, it was a gearbox that sat behind the engine & in front of the front cockpit.

A crank was inserted into a port on the engine cowling connected to the gearbox,

and someone (usually one of the line personnel) would turn the crank as fast as possible,

then remove the crank & pull a small handle next to the port.

That handle would then connect the gearbox to the engine & turn the propeller about 5 or 6 times and, hopefully, start the engine.”



Gregory continued, “Since the airport was located next to HersheyPark,

the airport offered airplane rides & did a thriving business during the summer when the amusement park was open.

There were several close calls when people from the amusement park would walk across the runway just as an airplane was landing or taking off.

Hershey also hosted the annual meet of the Antique Automobile Association,

and the airport saw some of its busiest days during that meet, with hundreds of airplanes, including many antique airplanes, arriving every day.

We parked airplanes on every square inch of usable grass at the airport.

To this day, working at Hershey Airpark was the best job I've ever had and I sorely miss that airport.”



A circa 1960s-70s photo (copyright Hershey Archives, used with permission, via Mattew Loser)

showing a Piper landing at Hershey Airpark, with several other planes & hangars in the background.

According to Gregory Miely, “I believe the Piper Cherokee shown landing is N8986W,

which was owned by one of the Airframe & Powerplant mechanics, Al Griffith.

He & another mechanic, Bob Kless flew that plane from Hershey to Alaska for a vacation one summer.”



Eleanor Williamson recalled of approximately 1970, “The good life came to an end

when Bob Mumma decided he would like to take over the airport,

which of course with the help of Hershey Estates, he did.

Bob Mumma was a local politician who knew a good thing when he saw it.

He persuaded Hershey Estates to let him have the airport.

I imagine some scheming was done. Anyway, Harry lost his lease.

With no experience in the airport business, even naming the airport Derry Aire, I think he lasted about 2 years.

Then a gas station owner in Palmyra bought it & from there it was downhill all the way.”



A 7/7/70 aerial photo of Hershey Airpark showed the little airport in a healthy state,

with 5 hangars, and 7 aircraft visible on the field, including one at the eastern end of the runway.



Robert Tonkin recalled, "Hershey has always been a very memorable place for me

as that is where I earned my private pilot's license in 1971.

I personally knew Harry Williamson, who managed the airport."



Matthew Loser recalled, “I moved into Hershey in 1971 & soon was a frequent visitor to the airport,

drawn by the signs towed over town that said 'AIRPLANE RIDES'.

The cost was $5 / person.

They flew Pipers at that time, meaning that you really couldn't see much since the wings got in the way.

There were a couple of pilots who provided rides.

I can't imagine they made a good living out of that job, but there was always a pilot on site.

The one I remember most was named Zimmerman.

A friend & I spent hours a day at the airport, and once in a while, if there was an open seat, we got a free ride.”



Matthew continued, “Also on the airport property was a Stearman trainer, painted a pretty standard blue & yellow.

Rides in it were $10 & I can still kick myself for never springing for one.

The pilot got into trouble more than once by doing aerobatics over town.

I watched him do it once in the mid-1970s.”



Matthew continued, “Another unique plane on the property was a Citabria.

It resembled a skinny, tandem seat Piper Cub more than anything else I ever saw,

which from what I recall was only ever used to tow the sign advertising airplane rides.

A few times I was able to watch a glider fly out of & into the airport.

I helped put it in the trailer once, hoping that on a future trip I might get to fly in it,

but was dismayed when the owner died soon after that flight.

Once a military helicopter landed there.

It was a tiny thing, an open framework of tubes with a seat on them, and no taller than a person.

I don't recall the reason for the landing though. It might have been mechanical problems.

It had taken off from nearby Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation.”



Mitch Funk recalled his 1st solo flight, at Hershey Airport “in 1972.

I remember a late afternoon takeoff near sundown on a crisp & beautiful autumn day.

The memory of the the streets of Hershey spread out below as I climbed out,

with the chocolate factory looming like something from a Willy Wonka movie can still make me smile.

Too bad they closed this one down.”



Anne Williamson Keeler reported, “I am Harry Williamson's daughter. Harry was the owner/manager until 1972-73.”



Hershey Airpark, as depicted on a 1975 approach plate (courtesy of Timothy Aanerud).



Hershey Airpark, as depicted on the 1975 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).



John Baker recalled, “It was a great location, right across the street from the popular Hershey Amusement Park.

Around 1979, my wife & I flew there with friends for the annual July 4th fireworks display at Hershey Park.

After the show ended near midnight, we crossed the street to the airport & took off.

Automobile traffic leaving the amusement park after the fireworks created quite a backup on the highway leaving the area.

I remember feeling pretty smug about be able to bypass all of the traffic as my friend’s Cherokee 180 climbed out.”



Hershey Airpark was closed by the Hershey Company in 1981.



Robert Tonkin recalled, "I was told that the airport was closed because it was not earning enough money.

At least, that is what the local rumors were at the time.

Regardless, Hershey Airpark is sadly missed."



According to Matthew Loser, “The story of the airport closing because of financial reasons is the official story

and, having worked for Hershey Estates for years I don't doubt it at all.

At that time period Hershey Estates was jettisoning all business interests that were not profitable,

including the airport, the local electric, telephone, and water companies, and anything else that didn't make economic sense.

The airport closed soon after the Three Mile Island incident

and a local polio epidemic scared the company into thinking that having all its business in Hershey was a bad idea,

and they began to spread out, to the Poconos, Philadelphia, and Texas.

All of these ventures turned out to be poor business decisions,

but the need for capital made the executives rethink anything they currently had that wasn't profitable, or about to be.

A business need for an airport in town simply didn't exist so it was simply closed.”



Aerial view looking southwest at Hershey Airpark by Paul Freeman, 2001, taken from a Diamond Katana DA20-C1.

Note the roller-coasters of HersheyPark to the left of the runway.



A 2005 aerial view by Paul Freeman of the remains of the Hershey Airpark ramp.

It appears as if at least one former airport building (the white building on the right) remains standing.



Paul Freeman flew over Hershey Airpark in 2005, to find that it still remains in almost perfect condition,

although with "X" closed airfield markings painted along the runway.



A 2005 aerial view by Scott Schuyler looking northwest at Hershey Airpark.

Scott remarked, “In the foreground you have HersheyPark - the reason for its closure! What a shame.”



Scott Shuyler remarked in 2005, “The runway is now used for a couple things...

the annual Auto Show which comes to town uses the strip as parking and for vendors,

and during the rest of the year the nearby PA State Police training school uses it.

When concerts come during the summer to Hershey Arena / Giant Center / HersheyPark they use it for overflow parking, too.”



A 2005 photo by Scott Schuyler of the former terminal building at Hershey Airpark.



A 2005 photo by Scott Schuyler of the interior of the former terminal building at Hershey Airpark.



A 2005 photo by Scott Schuyler of the former parking ramp, with the roller-coasters of HersheyPark in the background.



Paul Freeman visited the site of Hershey Airport in 2006,

to find that any chance of the facility ever being reopened for an airport have been eliminated,

as the runway has now been bisected by a newly-paved road leading up to the Hotel School,

located on the hill behind the former airport.



A circa 2006 aerial view looking east at the east end of Hershey Airpark,

showing the terminal building, and the “X” closed runway symbol still visible on the east end of the runway.



Matthew Loser reported in 2007, “The windsock base has been removed.

I doubt if any of the runway has been removed though,

as it is used frequently for what Hersheypark calls overflow parking, mostly for concerts & sometimes for very busy days at Hersheypark.

It is also used for special events, the most notable of which is the annual antique auto event, when it is open to vendors & campers.

The other use for the old airport is as a shuttle bus parking area.

Hersheypark leases a fleet of buses & drivers from Rohrer Bus service

and these buses are parked by the old airport administration building when not in use.

The building remains as a bus driver lounge, and for whatever other purpose it is needed -

I know it is always used during antique auto for something or other.”



A 5/12/17 photo looking northeast along the remains of the Hershey Airpark runway, with a HersheyPark roller-coaster visible across the street.



An 8/20/21 aerial view by Ed Figuli looking north at the remains of Hershey Airpark, with the Hershey stadium & a roller-coaster in the foreground, and the Hotel Hershey in the background.



An 8/20/21 aerial view by Ed Figuli looking southwest at the remains of Hershey Airpark, showing that the former airport terminal building had been removed at some point between 2007-2022.



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Lebanon Valley Airpark, Lebanon, PA

40.37, -76.337 (East of Harrisburg, PA)

Lebanon Valley, as depicted on the 1969 USGS 62k topo map.



The date of establishment of this little general aviation airport has not been determined.

The earliest reference to Lebanon Valley Airpark comes from Bud Joklo, who recalled,

“I walked from home in Myerstown to the Airport right after WWII (1945/1946?).

It was run by Pat Miller & I believe owned by Mr. Sanger.”



The earliest depiction of Lebanon Valley Airpark which has been located was a 1951 aerial photo.

It depicted the field as having a single grass north/south runway, with a row of T-hangars on the east side.



However, Lebanon Valley Airport was not yet depicted on the 1957 USGS topo map,

nor on the 1967 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of Lebanon Valley Airpark which has been located

was on the 1969 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

It described the field as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 2,610' asphalt strip.

The other strip was apparently grass, as the remarks said "Turf strip closed in winter."



The 1969 USGS 24k topo map depicted Lebanon Valley as having a single north/south runway, labeled “Landing Field”,

with a few small buildings around the southwest & southeast.



A 7/7/70 aerial photo of Lebanon Valley Airpark depicted the field as having a single paved Runway 18/36,

with at least 3 light aircraft parked near the buildings at the southeast corner of the field.



The 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy)

described Lebanon Valley Airpark as having a 2,800' paved Runway 18/36.



The 1975 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

depicted Lebanon Valley as having a single 2,700' paved runway.



Lebanon Valley Airpark was still depicted as an active airfield

on the 1980 NY Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Ed Drury).



The 1983 PA Airport Directory depicted Lebanon Valley Airpark as having a single 2,597' bituminous runway,

with a small ramp area & 4 T-hangars on the east side, and another ramp with 2 hangars & an FBO on the southeast side.



Lebanon Valley Airpark was apparently closed at some point between 1983-91,

as it was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield)

on the December 1991 NY Sectional Chart (according to Timothy Aanerud).

It may have been replaced by Deck Airport (1 mile to the south).



The 1992 USGS topo map still depicted the Lebanon Valley Airpark,

even though the airport had evidently already been closed for at least a year by that point.



As seen in a 1992 USGS aerial view looking northwest, the former Lebanon Valley Airpark still remained intact,

although with closed-runway “X” symbols visible on both ends of the runway.



Aerial photos of the site from 1999 & 2001 show that it has been reused as a trailer park,

with trailer homes lining both sides of the former runway.



An aerial view by Paul Freeman looking northwest at the former Lebanon Valley Airpark,

taken 2001 from a Diamond Katana DA20-C1.

The former runway were still quite recognizable from the air as a former airport.

The former hangars still stood, southwest of the former runway.



A circa 2006 aerial view looking west at the former hangars & runway of Lebanon Valley Airpark.



A 2015 aerial view looking northwest at the site of Lebanon Valley Airpark, showing the trailers on either side of the runway reused as a street,

and the hangars remaining at bottom-left.



An 11/17/21 aerial view by Michael Schatz looking southeast at the site of Lebanon Valley Airpark, with Deck Airport visible in the background.

Micheal Shatz reported, “The owner of Deck (Clyde Deck) told me he built Deck Airport after Lebanon Valley closed.”



An 11/17/21 aerial view by Michael Schatz looking northeast at the site of Lebanon Valley Airpark, with the former hangars at bottom-right.



A 2022 photo looking northwest at the former Lebanon Valley Airpark hangars.



The site of Lebanon Valley Airpark is located northwest of the intersection of Route 422 & North Ramona Road.

____________________________________________________



Garden Spot Air Park, Donerville, PA

40.04, -76.4 (West of Lancaster, PA)

Garden Spot, as depicted on the January 1947 NY Sectional Chart.



Garden Spot Air Park was not yet depicted on the July 1946 NY Sectional Chart.



Shortly after the end of WW2, Roy Geltz bought the Brunswick Farms & established the Garden Spot Air Park.

It was a popular airfield for pilots of light aircraft, and a customary stop on "breakfast flights".



The earliest depiction which has been located of Garden Spot Air Park was on the January 1947 NY Sectional Chart.



The earliest photo which has been located of Garden Spot Airpark was a 1951 aerial view.

It depicted the field as having a single grass east/west runway, with 4 T-hangars on the north side.



After Roy Geltz died in 1954, Garden Spot Airpark's Fixed Base Operator became Henry Weber.



The 1955 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) described Garden Spot as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.



The 1956 USGS topo map depicted the Garden Spot Air Park as having a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway, with a row of small buildings along the north side.



Garden Spot Airport was described on the 1957 PA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

as having 2 turf runways: a 2,500' southeast/northwest strip & a 2,415' east/west strip.

The owner was listed as Harry Webber, and the manager was listed as D. Long.



A 6/7/58 aerial view of Garden Spot Airpark (from Penn Pilot, courtesy of Andrew Stone)

showed that the runway had evidently been paved at some point between 1957-58,

with a paved taxiway leading to a number of small hangars on the northwest side.



The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Garden Spot as having a single 2,900' paved Runway 10/28.

A parallel taxiway on the north side of the runway led to a ramp on the northwest side of the field, with a cluster of several hangars.



The last photo which has been located showing any aircraft at Garden Spot was a 1961 aerial view,

which depicted 2 single-engine aircraft near the hangars.



The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Garden Spot as having a single 2,800' paved runway.



Henry Weber moved his operation to Lancaster Airport in 1963.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Garden Spot Air Park

was on the 1967 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

It described Garden Spot as having a 2,700' paved runway.



In a 10/19/71 aerial view of Garden Spot Airpark, it was not apparent whether the airfield was still operational,

as there were no aircraft visible on the field.

Several hangars were north of the runway.



Garden Spot was evidently closed at some point between 1967-75,

as no airfield at the site was depicted on the 1975 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).



The remains of the runway were still barely visible in the above 1995 USGS aerial picture.



An example of why maps can't always be taken as gospel:

the 1996 USGS topo map still depicted the Garden Spot Air Park,

even though the USGS aerial photo from the preceding year showed that the runway had already been removed by that point.



A 2007 photo by Jonathan Furukawa of the remains of the runway pavement at the site of Garden Spot Airpark.

Jonathan remarked, “The runway is clearly visible however nothing else remains.

The chain link fence blocks access from Donerville Road

however access can still be attained from the bowling alley parking lot on a really bad road that take you right on the old runway.”



A 2007 aerial photo by Jonathan Furukawa looking west at the site of Garden Spot Airpark.

Jonathan remarked, “you can still see the outline of the runway in the driving range as well as the remainder of the paved section.”



See also: http://www.lancasterairport.com/history6.htm



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