Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Southwestern Wisconsin

© 2002, © 2024 by Paul Freeman. Revised 4/25/24.

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

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Dodgeville Municipal Airport (revised 1/14/24) - Gonstead Airport (revised 10/9/15) - Jackson County Airport (revised 1/14/24)

Joshua Sanford Field Airport (revised 1/14/24) - Platteville Airport (revised 6/14/20) - Salzer Field (revised 12/25/17)

Sparta-Angelo Airport / Sparta Municipal Airport (added 11/13/22) - Verona Airport (added 4/25/24)

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Verona Airport (W19), Verona WI

42.99, -89.509 (West of Milwaukee, WI)

Verona Airport, as depicted on the May 1967 Milwaukee Sectional Chart.



Verona Airport was yet another of America's disappearing grassroots airports.



This small general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1966-67,

as it was not yet depicted on a 1961 aerial photo or the 1966 Milwaukee Sectional Chart.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Verona Airport was on the May 1967 Milwaukee Sectional Chart.

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



The earliest topo map depoiction which has been located of Verona Airport was on the 1969 USGS topo map.

It depicted “Verona Airpark” as having a single northeast/southwest unpaved runway, but there were no buildings depicted on the field.



The earliest photo which has been located of Verona Airport was a 1969 aerial view.

It depicted Verona as having a single northeast/southwest unpaved runway, but there were no buildings or aircraft depicted on the field.



A 1974 aerial view showed Verona had gained a few small buildings on the southwest side at some point between 1969-74, around which were parked 3 light single-engine aircraft.



A 1987 aerial view depicted Verona perhaps at the zenith of its popularity, with 8 light single-engine aircraft seen on the field.



The earliest photo which is available of Verona Airport was a 2000 aerial view looking north.

It showed Verona Airport had gained 3 larger hangars on the northwest side at some point between 1987-2000, along with a crosswind runway, but there were no aircraft visible on the field.



A 2022 aerial view looking north showed Verona Airport remained in an unchanged configuration.



A 2023 photo looking northeast at Verona Airport's hangars & Runway 5.



A November 2023 photo of a single-engine taildragger (model undetermined) in front of a Verona Airport hangar.



A 2024 or earlier aerial view looking northeast at Verona Airport.



The 2024 Chicago Sectional Chart depicted Verona Airport as having a 2,100' unpaved runway.



As of 2024, the FAA's Airport/Facility Directory described Verona Airport as being owned & managed by Robin Slotten.

It was said to consist of 2,154' turf Runway 3/21 “in poor condition” & 1,898' turf Runway 5/23 “in fair condition”.

The field was said to have 3 based aircraft (2 single-engine & 1 ultralight), and to conduct an average of 84 takeoffs or landings / month.



Unfortunately Fly Wisconsin reported in 2024, “The owner of Verona Airport has notified us that the property has been sold & the airport is permanently closed.”



Thanks to Jason McDowell for pointing out this airfield.

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Sparta-Angelo Airport / Sparta Municipal Airport, Angelo WI

43.961, -90.772 (Northwest of Milwaukee, WI)

Sparta-Angelo Airport, as depicted on the June 1947 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).



The Sparta-Angelo Airport may have been established at some point between 1945-46

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

as it was not yet depicted on the October 1945 Dubuque Sectional Chart.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Sparta-Angelo Airport was a 1946 aerial photo.

It depicted a single unpaved northwest/southeast runway, with a few small buildings & 3 light planes on the northwest corner.



The first directory listing which has been located of Sparta-Angelo Airport was in the October 1946 Airman's Guide (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It described Sparta-Angelo Airport a having a 2,500' unpaved runway.



The first depiction which has been located of Sparta-Angelo Airport was on the June 1947 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It depicted Sparta-Angelo Airport as a commercial/municipal airport, with the Camp McCoy Auxiliary military airfield directly across the railroad tracks to the southeast.



The earliest topo map depiction which has been located of Sparta-Angelo Airport was on the 1947 USGS topo map.

It depicted “Sparta Landing Field” as occupying a triangular patch of land, with 3 small buildings on the northwest corner.



The 1948 Haire Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling) described Sparta-Angelo Airport as having 3 unpaved runways, with the longest being a 2,400' northwest/southeast strip.



The 1951 Airman's Guide (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling) described Sparta-Angelo Airport as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.



The 1963 Airman's Guide (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling) described Sparta-Angelo Airport as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.



Sparta-Angelo Airport was evidently renamed Sparta Municipal at some point between 1963-68,

as that is how it was labeled on the 1968 WI State Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

The runway had been slightly lengthened, to 2,900'.



An undated aerial view looking north at Sparta Municipal Airport from the 1974 Flight Handbook (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It described Sparta Municipal Airport as having 2 unpaved runways: 2,960' Runway 3/21 & 2,000' Runway 12/30.



An undated aerial view of Sparta Municipal Airport from the 1975 WI Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It described Sparta Municipal Airport as having 2 unpaved runways: 2,960' Runway 3/21 & 2,000' Runway 12/30, and the manager was listed as James Richgruber.

Note that the airport had extended beyond the triangular property depicted on the 1947 topo map,

and the row of hangars previously seen at the northwest corner had been replaced by a small set of buildings on the east side of the current runways.

Note that an apparently unrelated unpaved northeast/southwest runway was also depicted across the road to the southeast.



A 5/4/76 USGS aerial view depicted Sparta Municipal Airport as having 2 unpaved runways & a few small buildings on the east side.



The 1976 Jeppensen Airways Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling) depicted Sparta Municipal Airport as having 2 turf runways: 2,960' Runway 3/21 & 2,000' Runway 12/30.

Note that it also included the remark, “CAUTION: Aircraft operating from turf airstrip Southeast of Airport".



The last photo which has been located showing Sparta Municipal Airport still in operation was a 1982 aerial view.

It depicted Sparta Airport as having 2 unpaved runways, with several small hangars & 2 light single-engine planes on the northeast side.



The 1983 Flight Guide (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling) depicted Sparta Municipal Airport as having 2 turf runways: 3,000 Runway 3/21 & 2,200' Runway 12/30,

and depicted an Administration Building & a few other small buildings on the northeast side.



The 1983 USGS topo map depicted “Sparta Landing Field” as having 2 unpaved runways & a few buildings on the northeast side.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Sparta Municipal Airport was on the 1985 Chicago Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It depicted Sparta Airport as having a 2,500' unpaved runway.



According to a 2005 Camp McCoy Environmental Impact Report (according to Jonathan Westerling),

"The Sparta Municipal Airport merged with Fort McCoy in 1987 to reduce the danger of having two airfields within one mile of each other.”

The McCoy airfield had paved runways which the Sparta Municipal Airport never had, and combining the two airfields left the city with additional real estate to develop.



According to a 1992 Fort McCoy "Description of Current Conditions" report (according to Jonathan Westerling),

"In May 1988, the Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport was officially dedicated”, at which point the Sparta Municipal Airport was presumably abandoned.



Sparta Municipal Airport was no longer depicted on the October 1993 Chicago Chart (courtesy of Ron Plante).



A 1999 aerial photo showed several buildings had been built over the Sparta Municipal Airport runways,

and an auto salvage lot had covered the southeastern portion, but several of the hangars remained standing.



A 2013 aerial view looking north showed the outline of the southwestern & northwestern ends of the former Sparta Municipal Airport runways remained recognizable.



A 2013 aerial view showed foundations of several former Sparta Municipal Airport hangars remained recognizable, and the building in the center appeared to be the last former hangar remained standing.



As of 2022, road maps showed the Western Technical College Public Safety Training Facility occupying the western half of the Sparta Municipal Airport site,

and Advantage Auto Salvage occupying the eastern half.



The site of Sparta Municipal Airport is located at the southwestern terminus of Old Airport Road, appropriately enough.



Thanks to Jonathan Westerling for pointing out this airfield.

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Salzer Field, La Crosse, WI

43.787, -91.224 (Northwest of Milwaukee, WI)

A 1920 photo of a twin-engine biplane (model unidentified) at Salzer Field (from the La Crosse Public Library, courtesy of Joe Farwell).



According to the current La Crosse Regional Airport website, “In 1919 the city's first airport, Salzer Field, was established.

The airport was located on La Crosse’s south side at the corner of Losey Boulevard & Ward Avenue, on approximately 80 acres land owned by the Salzer Seed Company.

A group of local aviation enthusiasts formed the La Crosse Aero Club.

The City & the Chamber of Commerce believed that aviation would catch on & would help bring economic growth to the local area.”



The earliest depiction which has been located of Salzer Field was a 1920 photo of a twin-engine biplane (from the La Crosse Public Library, courtesy of Joe Farwell).



According to the current La Crosse Regional Airport website, “In 1926 the City of La Crosse purchased the land known as Salzer Field, thus becoming the first airport in the City of La Crosse.

Shortly after, Northwest Airlines began the first commercial service to La Crosse.”



A 1930 Atlas of La Crosse County (from the University of WI Digital Collection, courtesy of Joe Farwell) depicted Salzer Field simply as “Aviation Field”.



According to the current La Crosse Regional Airport website, “Having difficulty maintaining the airport because of large demands for modernization, the City of La Crosse abandoned Salzer Field on 7/13/33.”



The Spetember 1936 Dubuque Sectional Chart no longer depicted Salzer Field.



A 10/27/38 USDA aerial view (from the WI Historic Aerial Imagery Finder) did not show any recognizable trace remaining of Salzer Field.



The outline of Salzer Field (annotated by Joe Farwell) on a 2015 aerial view looking north shows no trace remaining of the airport.



Thanks to Joe Farwell for pointing out this airfield.

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Kickapoo Airfield / Joshua Sanford Field Airport (KHBW), Hillsboro, WI

43.657, -90.328 (West of Milwaukee, WI)

Kickapoo Airfield, as depicted on a 1981 USGS aerial photo.



No airfield was yet depicted at this location on a 1965 aerial photo.



According to its FAA Airport/Facility Directory data, Kickapoo Airfield was activated in November 1972.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Kickapoo Airfield was on a 1981 USGS aerial photo.

It depicted Kickapoo as having a single paved northeast/southwest runway, with 2 small buildings on the southwest side.



The 1983 USGS topo map depicted Kickapoo Airfield as having a single paved northeast/southwest runway, with 2 small buildings on the southwest side.



An article entitled “Butter plant expansion leads to demise of Hillsboro airport” by Barry Adams in the 8/14/16 Wisconsin State Journal (courtesy of Bill Schlafer) reported,

“The airport in Hillsboro began as a pea gravel strip, has been both private & public over the years & was used by the Kickapoo Oil Co.

The airport was taken over by the city in the 1980s.”



The earliest depiction which has been located of Kickpoo Airfield was a 1992 USGS aerial view looking north.

It depicted Kickpoo as having as a single paved northeast/southwest runway, with 2 small buildings on the southwest side.

There were no aircraft visible on the field.



According to the City of Hillsboro website, Kickapoo Airport was renamed Joshua Sanford Field on 5/3/93.

An article entitled “Butter plant expansion leads to demise of Hillsboro airport” by Barry Adams in the 8/14/16 Wisconsin State Journal (courtesy of Bill Schlafer) reported,

“Joshua Sanford [was] a Native American World War II fighter pilot.

He was twice wounded but highly decorated for his flying exploits that included 102 combat missions.

He was also officially credited with downing 8 enemy planes & was shot down or ditched his own plane 12 times.”



A photo looking north at the sign for Joshua Sanford Field, 2 hangars & runway. The photo purported to be from 2012, but appears to show the airport at a later date after its closure.



A 2013 aerial view looking north showed 1 Cessna outside a hangar on the southwest side of Joshua Sanford Field.



According to Joshua Sanford Field's FAA Airport/Facility Directory data, it conducted an average of 27 takeoffs or landings per week as of 2015.



The 2015 WI Airport Directory depicted Joshua Sanford Field as having a 3,070' paved Runway 5/23.



Bill Schlafer reported in 2016, “A couple of years back I did stop at the Hillsboro Airport to check it out.

There was not a lot going on there. No aircraft visible or any sign of recent activity.

There were tall weeds along the runway & the clipboard for visiting pilots to sign in on.

The tall buildings on the southwest end of the runway definitely would be a factor during takeoffs & landings.”



As of 2016, Joshua Sanford Field's FAA Airport/Facility Directory data described it as having a single 3,070' asphalt Runway 5/23, in “fair condition”.

The owner was listed as the City of Hillsboro, and the manager as Henry Peterson.

Joshua Sanford Field was said to have 7 single-engine aircraft based on the field.



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of Patti Bruha, a student of Certified Flight Instructor & former airport manager Henry Peterson, on Joshua Sanford Field's Runway 5.



An article entitled “Butter plant expansion leads to demise of Hillsboro airport” by Barry Adams in the 8/14/16 Wisconsin State Journal (courtesy of Bill Schlafer) reported,

“There is no lack of quaintness at the Joshua Sanford Field Airport.

Those who land at the city-owned airstrip are asked to sign in on a faded yellow legal pad protected by Plexiglas in a self-serve kiosk constructed by Ian Collins, an Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 83.

The plaque doesn’t say in what year Collins built the structure.

The 3,600' paved, lighted runway hasn’t been resurfaced in nearly 20 years & is sprouting weeds.

There is no terminal, maintenance shed or a place to buy fuel - just 2 hangars that over the last few years have housed only a few aircraft.

And while the number of regular users at the airport can be counted on 2 hands, it’s not uncommon for those that do land to walk across the street for rings of bologna,

2-pound rolls of butter & chunks of Muenster, Swiss & Colby at Janet Helgerson’s Cheese Store & More.

This is where a sign above the 3-door cheese cooler states 'We ID Limburger Cheese Customers!'”



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of a sign which instructs pilots to sign a log book at Joshua Sanford Field Airport.

A gravel road leads to the 2 hangars in the background.



An article entitled “Butter plant expansion leads to demise of Hillsboro airport” by Barry Adams in the 8/14/16 Wisconsin State Journal (courtesy of Bill Schlafer) reported,

“But there are mixed feelings in this Vernon County city of about 1,400 people about a project at the Land O’Lakes butter factory

that is bringing economic development to the community.

The plant, purchased earlier this year by Land O’Lakes, makes quarter-pound, one-pound & 55-pound blocks of butter along with vats of butter oil used by commercial bakers & candy makers.

But the facility is located at the southwest end of the airport’s runway, and an addition will create a safety hazard for airplanes.

That has forced the city to close the little-used airport in exchange for jobs & tax base.



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of butter factory construction, with Joshua Sanford Field's Runway 5/23 in the background.



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of a runway light next to Joshua Sanford Field's Runway 5/23.



An article entitled “Butter plant expansion leads to demise of Hillsboro airport” by Barry Adams in the 8/14/16 Wisconsin State Journal (courtesy of Bill Schlafer) reported,

“In January, the Hillsboro City Council approved a memorandum of understanding & a development agreement with Land O’Lakes.

The city then floated a plan to close part of the runway & make it a restricted-use facility,

but the hangar owners, Henry Peterson & Bill Lesnjak, threatened to sue the city, saying it would affect their operations.

They dropped their case when Land O’Lakes paid Peterson $60,000 & Lesnjak $29,000 for their hangars that are in a flood plain thanks to the nearby West Branch of the Baraboo River.

The state Bureau of Aeronautics urged the city to prevent any incompatible land uses but had concerns about adding new structures & moving the runway protection zone.

The Federal Aviation Administration also studied the issue & told the city that a hazard designation could only be removed if the 40' tall Land O’Lakes addition was only 6' tall.

So, after months of debate & haggling, the city informed the state late last month that it was closing the airport.

Bulldozers were at work last week moving earth for construction at Land O’Lakes,

but mowing has stopped alongside the runway & takeoffs & landings will be prohibited by this fall.”



“Was it an easy decision? No,” said Adam Sonntag, Hillsboro’s city administrator.

“This has been 6 months of trying whatever we could in working with the state (Bureau of Aeronautics) & working with the FAA to come to some sort of reasonable solution.

It was frustrating. These things have existed next to each other for the last 30 years & all of a sudden they can’t because somebody wants to add to it? It doesn’t make any sense to us.”



It’s unclear what will become of the airport property, which is along a bike trail.

The flood zone eliminates the potential for development, although Sonntag said it could be used as parkland, a test track or for other uses that require minimal facilities.



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of butter factory construction immediately off the end of Joshua Sanford Field's Runway 5/23.



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of Frank Kablau inspecting the inside of a wing on his 1965 Cessna 172 Skyhawk inside a hangar he rents at Joshua Sanford Field Airport.

Kablau, 67, said he will move his plane to a hangar in Mauston once his plane passes inspection.

Kablau, a retired aircraft & bicycle mechanic, moved to the area in 2003, but is disappointed with the decision to close the airport that is a nine-minute drive from his 210-acre property northwest of the city.

“It’s ridiculous,” Kablau said. “We have plenty of runway here. It’s just silly to close it.”



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of a Cessna sign & a headset hanging in a hangar at Joshua Sanford Field Airport.



“I am deeply saddened that proposed construction by your company is going to be at the expense of our local airport,”

Patti Bruha wrote in an open letter dated 7/11/16 to Land O’Lakes & sent to the FAA, city, state and media.

Bruha is training to get her pilot’s license. When she was in high school, she took an aviation course as did many of her classmates. Now she’ll have to go elsewhere to train.

“We want the tax base from Land O’Lakes. We want the jobs, the city needs that,” she said.

“But I think the city needs the airport, too. Can’t we just co-exist together?”



A 2016 photo by M.P. King of a sign near the 2 hangars at Joshua Sanford Field.



Peterson, who served as the airport’s manager, said he has moved his 2 Cessna airplanes to Reedsburg.

The change will make flying less convenient for him, while the closure of the airport will take away part of the city’s character.

“I know jobs are important. I’m a small businessman,” Peterson said as we walked the runway.

“There’s always traffic in & out of here. How lucky is a small town like Hillsboro to have an airport? Look at all the other communities that don’t have an airport.”



The 2016 Sectional Chart depicted Joshua Sanford Field as having a 3,100' paved runway & an NDB beacon.



An undated (2020 or prior) photo (courtesy of Terry Schwartz) of the Joshua Sanford Field sign along a hangar wall.



Joshua Sanford Field is located east of the intersection of Water Avenue & East Madison Street.



Thanks to Bill Schlafer for pointing out this airfield.

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Jackson County Airport, Vaudreuil, WI

44.305, -90.806 West (Northwest of Milwaukee, WI)

A 1939 aerial view of Jackson County Airport (from the WI Historic Aerial Imagery Finder, courtesy of Al Hatz).



The date of establishment of Jackson County Airport has not been determined.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Jackson County Airport was on a 1939 aerial view (from the WI Historic Aerial Imagery Finder, courtesy of Al Hatz).

It depicted Jackson County Airport as having 2 unpaved runways, with a small hangar near the runway intersection.



Jackson County Airport, as depicted on the 1958 USGS topo map.



The last photo which has been located of the Jackson County Airport was a 5/1/66 USGS aerial view.

It depicted Jackson County Airport as having 5 unpaved runways, with a row of individual T-hangars on the north side.

No aircraft were visible on the field.



The 1966 USGS topo map depicted Jackson County Airport as having 5 unpaved runways, with 2 small buildings on the north side.



The last depiction which has been located of the Jackson County Airport was a 4/22/68 FAA Airport Facilities Record (courtesy of Dennis Baker).

It depicted Jackson County Airport as having 5 sand-turf runways, with the longest being the 3,650' Runway 18/36.

A row of T-hangars were depicted on the north side.



Jackson County Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1968-83,

as it was no longer depicted on the 1983 USGS topo map.



A 2012 photo looking southwest showed several former hangars along the north side of the Jackson County Airport site.



Amazingly a 2013 aerial view looking south showed that several of the former small hangars remained standing along the north side of the Jackson County Airport site.

Streets & buildings covered the airfield site, and there was no recognizable trace of the 5 runways.



The site of Jackson County Airport is located on the south side of Airport Road, appropriately enough.



Thanks to Dennis Baker for pointing out this airfield.

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Gonstead Airport, Mt. Horeb, WI

42.997, -89.74 (West of Milwaukee, WI)

A 11/23/60 USGS aerial photo of Gonstead Airport.



Gonstead Airport was evidently established at some point between 1953-60,

as it was not yet depicted on the May 1953 Wilwaukee Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Plante).



Clarence Gonstead was a chiropractic who eventually built a practice so large it had an adjacent motel to house patients.

Eventually he constructed an airfield as well.

According to gonstead.com, “Patients with their own private planes could fly in

and land at Gonstead’s personal airport located next to his home on the outskirts of Mount Horeb.”



The only photo which has been located of Gonstead Airport was a 11/23/60 USGS aerial photo.

It depicted a single paved north/south runway, with a ramp, a small building, and 4 single-engine aircraft on the southwest side.



The 1962 USGS topo map depicted Gonstead Airport

as having one paved north/south runway, with a small building on the southwest side.



The 1991 USGS topo map continued to depict Gonstead Airport in an unchanged fashion.



According to Michael Abernethy, Gonstead Airport, “officially closed sometime around 1992-93, to make way for a housing development.

Around February 1993, the airport was closed when an elderly lady was walking her dog on the closed runway

and was struck by the wing of a Piper Cub that had landed & was taxiing (the pilot had poor visibility once on the ground).

She sustained severe injuries. I picked her up & transported her to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison on the Med Flight helicopter.”



A 2000 USGS aerial view showed that houses had covered the site, with no trace remaining of Mt. Horeb Airport.



A 2013 aerial photo showed no trace remaining of Gonstead Airport.



The site of Gonstead Airport is located at the intersection of South 2nd Street & Gonstead Road.



Thanks to Michael Abernethy for pointing out this airfield.

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(Original) Platteville Airport (C46), Platteville, WI

42.672, -90.5 (West of Milwaukee, WI)

The original Platteville Airport, as depicted on the June 1962 Dubuque Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



The original airport for the town of Platteville was located 4 miles south of the town.



The original Platteville Airport was evidently established at some point between 1960-62,

as it was not yet depicted on the December 1960 Dubuque Sectional Chart.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Platteville Airport

was on the June 1962 Dubuque Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It described Platteville Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.



The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Platteville Airport as having a single 2,000' sod Runway 9/27,

and listed the operator as William Nodorft.



The 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

depicted the original Platteville Airport as having a 2,200' unpaved Runway 9/27,

along with a 2,000' unpaved Runway 1/19 (which was labeled as being for "Emergency only".

A few small buildings were depicted on the northeast & southeast sides of the field.



The May 1971 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

depicted the original Platteville Airport (southwest of the town) as having a 1,700' unpaved runway.

It also depicted the new Plateville Municipal Airport,

which had been constructed a few miles to the northeast.



The 1972 USGS topo map depicted Platteville Airport as having an east/west unpaved runway.



The earliest photo which has been located of the original Platteville Airport was an 8/4/72 USGS aerial photo.

It depicted the field as having a paved east/west runway & an unpaved crosswind runway.



Kevin Kuchar reported that he learned to fly at the original Platteville Airport.

He recalled, “The time period was the middle to late 1970s

and was a Fixed Base Operation owned & operated by Dale Nodorft.

Dale was an FAA flight examiner as well as lead of a great bunch of instructors.”



Platteville's primary east/west runway had apparently been paved at some point between 1971-80,

as the 1980 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted the field as having a 2,200' paved Runway 9/27,

along with a 1,500' unpaved Runway 1/19.

A parachute drop zone was depicted on the northwest side of the field,

anda few small buildings were depicted on the northeast & southeast sides of the field.



The 1982 AOPA Airports USA directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)

described Platteville as having a 2,200' asphalt Runway 9/27 & a 1,550' turf Runway 1/19.

The operators were listed as Nodorft Aviation & Wizzard Radio.



The 1984 USGS topo map depicted Platteville Airport as having a single east/west runway.



In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, Platteville Airport appeared to still be open,

as the runway was not marked with any form of closed runway "X" markings.

The crosswind grass runway was quite noticeable in this picture.

Two hangars & several other smaller buildings were clustered around the eastern end of the runway.



The original Platteville Airport was closed by 1998,

as the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart only depicted the new Platteville Airport (a few miles to the east),

not the original field.



A June 2004 aerial photo by Robbie Culver, looking south at the former Platteville Airport, which is still completely intact.

Several vehicles appeared to be parked on the east end of the paved runway, which was otherwise intact.

The former grass crosswind runway also remained intact, and the hangars also remained standing.



As of 2004 the former Platteville Airport was being used by the Platteville Area Modelers for model aircraft flights.



A 2012 aerial view looking southwest showed the former Platteville Airport to remain intact.



The site of the original Platteville Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Loeffeholz Road & Airport Road, appropriately enough.



Thanks to Robbie Culver for pointing out this airfield.

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Governer Dodge-Quinn Airport / Dodgeville Municipal Airport (55C), Dodgeville, WI

42.995, -90.144 (West of Madison, WI)

What was then known as the "Governer Dodge-Quinn" Airport,

as depicted on the 1967 Milwaukee Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



Governer Dodge-Quinn Airport was apparently built at some point between May-December 1967,

as it was not depicted on the May 1967 Milwaukee Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

The earliest depiction which has been located of Governer Dodge-Quinn Airport was on the December 1967 Milwaukee Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Governer Dodge-Quinn Airport as having a 2,800' unpaved runway.



It was apparently renamed Dodgeville (and gained a paved runway) at some point within the next 3 years,

as the May 1970 Milwaukee Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)

described Dodgeville as having a single 2,800' paved runway.



"Dodgeville Airport" was described in the 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy)

as having a single 2,800' hard-surface Runway 12/30.



A circa 1970s photo of a Piper Warrior of Wenger Flying Service at Dodgeville Airport.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which is available of Dodgeville Airport was on the November 1974 Chicago Sectional Chart.

It depicted Dodgeville as having a single 2,700' paved northwest/southeast runway.



An undated aerial view of a very large number of light planes parked at Dodgeville Airport

(photographed in 2009 by Jason McDowell from a historical display at the Don Q Inn).



An undated aerial view of several light planes parked next to the Don Q Inn at Dodgeville Airport

(photographed in 2009 by Jason McDowell from a historical display at the Don Q Inn).



A 1977 photo of the C-97 on final approach for Dodgeville's little runway

(photographed in 2009 by Jason McDowell from a historical display at the Don Q Inn).



The most remarkable aspect of the Dodgeville Airport is its resident Boeing C-97G,

which serves as a static display at the Don Q Inn which sits adjacent to the south side of the airport.



Dodgeville's C-97G was built in 1952, and it has logged a total of 10,068 hours of flight.

This particular C-97G was used to film 2 commercials for the Mercury Cougar in 1975,

and Farrah Fawcett's autograph appears on the lower fuselage.

It was purchased in 1977 from a bankrupt company in Long Beach, CA.



Registered as N227AR, the C-97G was flown into the comparatively tiny 2,800' runway at Dodgeville in 1977.

Each main landing gear was 3' outside the edge of the runway, creating a large cloud of dust.

Upon touchdown, the plane was put into reverse thrust & the brakes applied to maximum,

stopping the C-97G just in the nick of time.



According to Dick Phillips (retired Northwest Airlines),

"The C-97G was flown into the field by Dick Schmidt.

He was an Air Force Reserve C-97 pilot & a Captain for Air Wisconsin.

I knew him quite well when I worked for Air Wisconsin back in the 1960s & 1970s."



Everett Hayes recalled of the C-97 at Dodgeville, “I saw it land in 1977!

I was coming past the airport & noticed a large crowd there.

I pulled into the parking lot & asked someone what was going on?

I was told that a large airplane was going to land very shortly & that it was purchased by the Don Q Inn for a display.

Well, we waited & waited & waited.

Finally, we could the huge motors in the distance, coming in from the direction of Madison.

Someone mentioned that they had landed these & emptied the fuel tanks, leaving just enough to get to Dodgeville.

It flew over head and circled, dropped the landing gear & extended the flaps.

It slowed up so much it looked as thought it was going to drop out of the sky.

They had police block off the state highway at the end of the runway in case it didn't stop in time.

Then it hit the runway & reversed it's props & made more noise & raised more dust than anything I had ever seen!

What a sight. It used up all the runway, but got stopped in time.”



Bill Zitner recalled, “The C-97 was the one used on the Mercury Cougar adds,

the one that showed all the cougars coming out of the nose.

Farrah Fawcett was in the commercial, and she signed the left side of the aircraft, between the port nose & door.

That was quite a sight seeing that come in. Unbelievable dust & dirt thrown up. The road was packed with onlookers.”



Dick Wobus recalled, “The C-97 had to wait several days at Madison, WI,

for sufficiently strong southeast winds so it would be able to land uphill at Dodgeville.

The engines were derated from the original maximum power because 115/145 octane fuel was no longer available & 100/130 had to be used instead.

One of the warnings that used to be listed for this airport was that the downward slope increased toward the NW end of the runway

so that the view from either end to the other was blocked.”



Scott Marshall recalled, “I used to fly out to the Dodgeville Airport in the mid-1970s to the mid 1980s.

The Don Q Inn had a great restaurant & you could park along the taxiway that led to the hotel very close to the C-97.

They had plans to turn it into a restaurant. I made many night landings there in my 172 & later on my V35 Bonanza.

Runway 30 started out level to slightly uphill for the first 600-700'. From that point on it was all downhill.

There was a drop off at the end that looked like it was used for a dump.

If you did not land on the first 700' at night you would get a surprise or worse if you were not ready for it.

I saw 2 damaged aircraft over the course of my visits & it may have been one of the reasons it closed.

When the inn was sold the new owners were probably concerned about liability.

The hotel was a very interesting place when Don Quinn owned it.

It had an underground tunnel to the restaurant that had strange dioramas & other things buried in the walls.

In it’s heyday it was the place to fly to & very romantic with various theme rooms & always seemed to be a work in progress. I really miss the place.”



The 1980 USGS topo map depicted Dodgeville Municipal Airport as having a northwest/southeast runway.



Dave Slosson recalled, “I worked at the La Crosse Flight Service Station in 1981-82

and Dodgeville was in our area of responsibility.

I remember plenty of VFR flight plans to & from the airport, and more than one runoff accident due to the slope of the runway.

The airport inn had a great reputation.”



The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury) described Dodgeville Municipal Airport in an unchanged manner.



Ron Planterecalled, "I first saw the plane back in 1986-87. I'm certain the airport was open at that time."



Dodgeville was depicted as a public-use airport on the October 1986 & May 1987 Chicago Sectional Charts (according to Timothy Aanerud).



The 1989 Airport/Facility Directory included the remark: “CAUTION: Runway 12/30 steep down grade to the northwest.

Threshold of Runway 30 is 85' higher than Runway 12.”



Bill Zitner recalled, “The airport had quite a few incidences, especially the downhill westerly landings.

I flew in with a 150 & 172. The airport became private I think around 1990.”



The Dodgeville Airport apparently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1989-90,

as it was no longer depicted at all on the May 1990 Chicago Sectional Chart (according to Timothy Aanerud).



A 1995 USGS aerial view looking northwest showed the Dodgeville Airport runway was clearly marked with closed "X" symbols,

but the airfield was otherwise not redeveloped.

A paved ramp still existed along the south side of the runway,

and there appeared to be at least one hangar still standing on the western edge of the ramp.

Note the C-97G parked at the southeast corner.



The Dodgeville Airport was evidently reopened as a private airfield at some point between 1994-99,

as that is how it was depicted on the November 1999 Chicago Sectional Chart (according to Timothy Aanerud).



The Dodgeville Airport was still listed as a private airfield

on the May 2001 Chicago Sectional Chart (according to Timothy Aanerud).



A series of photos taken 2003 by Ron Plante of the C-97G which sits in front of the Don Q Inn,

adjacent to the south side of the former Dodgeville Municipal Airport.

Ron reported, "I went again yesterday to confirm the plane is still there but the airport is closed.

I went inside the C-97G again, and sadly it is not in good shape.

The plane is in front of the no-longer-glamorous Don Q Inn & Hotel."

He reported that the land of the former airport "now appears to be agricultural."



A 2009 photo by Jason McDowell looking south along Dodgeville's former north/south taxiway leading to the C-97, with the Don Q Inn on the right.



Bill Zitner reported in 2009, “Now there's a bunch of construction-type equipment around the east end of the strip.”



A 2013 aerial view looking northwest at the former Dodgeville Airport shows the runway to remain intact,

but it appears to be used to store a variety of items.

Note the C-97 remaining in the foreground.



A 4/27/18 aerial view by Ron Plante looking east at the former Dodgeville Airport shows the runway to remain intact,

with the Boeing C-97 visible at top-right.



A May 2017 photo of the C-97G which sits in front of the Don Q Inn, adjacent to the south side of the former Dodgeville Municipal Airport.



A 2023 photo looking west at the C-97G in front of the Don Q Inn, adjacent to the south side of the former Dodgeville Municipal Airport.



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