Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southwestern Colorado
© 2002, © 2010 by Paul Freeman. Revised 11/28/10.
Baca Grande Airfield (revised 9/22/06) - Hanson Airfield / Breckenridge STOLport (revised 1/7/09)
Monte Vista Municipal Airport / Movie Manor Airport (revised 12/29/09) - Navajo Airport (revised 11/28/10)
Star Nelson Airport / Sky Island Ranch Airport (revised 9/9/06)
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37 North / 107.42 West (Southwest of Denver, CO)
Navajo Airport, as depicted on a 1972 NM Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
Jonathan Westerling reported, “Here's a little airfield that's interesting for two reasons.
Firstly, its runway spans the border between two states.
Secondly, its closure garnered some attention with State Senators taking opposite sides.
Its not often that pilots can get attention from Washington to reopen an airport, but that's the case with little Navajo Airfield.
The airstrip was built to support the small community of Arboles, a few hundred residents on the border of Navajo State Park.
Visitors to the park comprised a majority of the landings at the airstrip, though there were a few local pilots in the town.
The airfield is also unique for its runway which straddles the Colorado / New Mexico state line, a fact which contributed to its demise.”
Navajo Airport was evidently constructed at some point between 1970-72,
as it was not yet depicted on the 1970 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction which has been located of Navajo Airport was on the 1972 New Mexico State Division of Aeronautics map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having a 3,000' northeast/southwest dirt runway.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Navajo Airport
was on the 1974 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
It depicted Navajo as a public-use airport having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
The 1975 USGS topo map depicted “Navajo Landing Strip” as having a single northeast/southwest runway,
with a ramp area at the northwest end.
The runway may have been slightly lengthened at some point between 1974-76,
as the 1979 AOPA Airports USA Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling) described “Arboles” Airport
as a 3,600’ runway with an attendant, snack bar, and ballooning operations.
A 1986 FAA inspection (courtesy of the Colorado Department of Transportation) described “Navajo Landing Strip” as having a 3,150’ runway,
and said it was owned by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Notes about the airfield include a camping area & tiedowns at the north end.
It reportedly conducted 400 takeoffs or landings / year.
The earliest photo which has been located of Navajo Airport
was an undated aerial view looking southwest from the 1988 CO Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
The only photo which has been located showing aircraft at Navajo Airport
was a 9/4/93 USGS aerial view looking south, which showed 3 light single-engine aircraft parked on the north end of the field.
The 1994 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Navajo as having a single 3,150' “turf/dirt” Runway 18/36,
described as “Ruf, hold, Sft/wet”.
By 1995, the runway was resurveyed at 3,150' (according to the Colorado Airport Guide).
Jonathan Westerling reported, “Curiously, a 1999 FAA inspection report (courtesy of the CDOT) shows a hand-revised appraisal of the airfield.
The length of the runway was downsized to 2,950’ & the number of annual operations was revised from 340 down to 60.”
The last photo which has been located showing Navajo Airport while open was a 2000 CAP aerial view looking north (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
Jonathan Westerling reported, “The airfield's fate was doomed according to a 2001 letter to the CDOT
from State Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (courtesy of the CDOT Aeronautics division)”.
The letter read: “It has come to my attention that the Colorado Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation
is planning to implement its earlier decision to close the dirt airstrip in Arboles, Colorado at Navajo State Park.
In the 1992 Parks Management Plan, the Division of Parks made it abundantly clear in public meetings
that land near the park would be needed for the improvement & construction of new facilities at some point in the near future.
The Park did allow the airstrip to remain open until the construction and improvements nearby were underway.
While I never like to see an airport or even a minor airstrip close,
I believe that the Division of Parks has taken appropriate steps in its gathering of information & public input in coming to this decision.
Public meetings on this topic were held nearly a decade ago.
And stakeholders who were permitted to offer their input were aware of & accepted the Decision at that time.
While the Division of Parks has allowed the strip to remain in service as a courtesy since then,
it is clear that the continued operation of this remote airstrip poses safety & liability concerns
created both by the need of additional space for park improvements,
and the clear refusal by the State of New Mexico to recognize one third of the airstrip located there for use.
This closure, while clearly not supported by the handful of people who stand to benefit from continued operation of the airstrip,
was not an arbitrary or capricious one on the part of the Division of Parks.”
Jonathan Westerling reported, “In spring of 2001, the airport was officially closed.
The 7/7/01 issue of the local paper [the Pagosa Sun] contained an editorial from a local pilot publicly announcing the closure.”
It read: “On 5/9/01 the airstrip at Arboles, Navajo State Park, was officially closed after 35 years of operation.
However, it is the belief of several that closing of the strip was unnecessary
and disposes of the park's unique ability to provide enjoyment to the outreaches of the state & beyond.
As well, the strip is an excellent base for emergency fire-fighting crews, search and rescue & a training facility for flight instructors.
This is the last public backcountry airstrip in Colorado.”
Jonathan Westerling reported, “In August of 2001, another article appeared in the local paper [the Pagosa Sun]
with additional detail surrounding the airports closure.”
It read: “According to some small-engine aircraft pilots, it is a one-of-a-kind piece of Colorado history that should be maintained for its original use - an airfield.
On the other hand, state management & construction plans outline a rebirth of the dirt field at Navajo State Park
for overflow parking & dry storage as a response to the increasing numbers of boaters & campers.
Right now [2001], the airstrip is closed & has been since mid-May,
about 9 years after the state parks board first voted to remove the airstrip as part of a 1992 management plan.
Currently, the park gets about 120,000 visitors per year, about 90,000 boaters and 30,000 campers, Park Manager John Weiss said.
In comparison, the number of planes landing on the airstrip dropped to 44 in 2000.
Rangers kept statistics on the airfield by counting planes visible on the field as they drove by during regular activities.
Safety & liability are other issues with the airfield that concern Weiss.
For instance, 1/3 of the strip is over the New Mexico state line, and officials from that state have refused to acknowledge an airstrip on their land, Weiss said.
The airstrip also falls short of Federal Aviation Administration standards on several counts.”
Jonathan Westerling reported, “However, according to the NTSB, there were exactly zero safety incidents at the Navajo airstrip in its last 22 years of operation.
Also, the airstrip appears on numerous airfield directories published by the State of New Mexico, so they obviously knew about the existence of the airfield.”
Jonathan Westerling reported, “A year after the airfield closed, Colorado's other Senator, Wayne Allard took an opposite stand.
In a September 2002 letter, he asked Interior Secretary Gale Norton for the swift consideration of reopening of the airstrip.
In his letter he questions the authority of the Colorado Park Service to close the airport in the first place.
It read: “The Park Service believed the airport was theirs to close,
but it turns out that the land belongs to the Bureau of Reclamation & thus could potentially be considered a backcountry landing strip.
Ahough there is support to reopen the airstrip, including support by the Colorado General Assembly
which enacted legislation to remove liability concerns about aircraft operations from state lands,
park management is adamant in its position to keep the airstrip closed.
Arboles has operated safely and without incident as a recreational airstrip since park management constructed it shortly after WW II.
The airstrip is in good condition & little, if any, investment would be required to reopen the facility.
I would like for you kindly to look into the situation & let me know the Department's position on possibly reopening this landing strip.”
Jonathan Westerling reported, “The Colorado Aeronautical Board sent a similar letter
encouraging the reopening of the airfield, but these efforts apparently were unfruitful.”
A 6/18/04 aerial view showed closed-runway “X” symbols on each end of the runway,
and an asphalt parking area for trailers adjacent to the west edge of the runway.
A 7/31/05 aerial view showed the asphalt parking area had been extended over the middle portion of the former runway.
Jonathan Westerling reported, “A 2007 article published by AOPA revisited Arboles as a reason to support airport legislation pending in Congress.”
It read: “The Arboles Airstrip, like many backcountry landing strips, faces an uncertain future.
Navajo State Park & the airstrip straddle the Colorado/New Mexico state line,
blurring jurisdiction & affirming the need for a federal law like the Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act (H.R. 1363/S. 681).
If passed, the bill would nationally codify the process of airport closings & include local and state officials in those decisions.”
Jonathan Westerling reported, “However, the Act was never passed, and according to photos,
the Navajo Landing Strip sits in the same condition it was when it was closed in 2001.”
A 5/9/09 aerial view showed that closed-runway “X” symbols were still visible on both ends of the former Navajo Airport runway.
The site of Navajo Airport is located south of San Juan Marina Road.
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Monte Vista Municipal Airport / Movie Manor Airport, Monte Vista, CO
37.58 North / 106.21 West (Southwest of Denver, CO)
Monte Vista Airport, as depicted on the 1936 Trinidad Sectional Aeronautical Chart.
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
The date of establishment of this very early airfield has not been determined.
The earliest reference which has been located of the Monte Vista Airport
was its listing in the 1931 Department of Commerce Airfield Directory (courtesy of David Brooks via Chris Kennedy).
It described Monte Vista as a municipal airport, located 2.5 miles west of the town.
It was said to consist of a 600 acre gravel square, measuring a mile on each side,
within which were 3 runways, with the longest being a 5,500' northeast/southwest strip.
The February 1944 Trinidad Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Monte Vista Airport as an auxiliary airfield.
The February 1954 Trinidad Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Monte Vista Airport as having a 5,800' unpaved runway.
According to Richard Cutter, “Monarch Airlines operated DC-3s out of here.”
The original Monte Vista Airport was replaced by another field “8 miles west” in the 1950s,
and the original airport was “sold to private owners.
Paul Kelloff has owned the property since 1953 & operated the airport since that time.
The main hangar was moved to the new airport's location.”
The Monte Vista Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1954-62,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the December 1962 Trinidad Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
At some point between 1962-68, it was evidently reopened as Movie Manor Airport,
as that is how it was depicted on the February 1968 Trinidad Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
with a 5,000' unpaved runway.
The 1964 USGS topo map depicted the “Movie Manor Landing Area” as having 2 unpaved runways,
with the northeastern end of one runway truncated by a drive-in movie theater.
It is unclear whether any of the small buildings nearby were related to the airfield.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Movie Manor Airport
was on the February 1977 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Movie Manor as a public-use airport having a 5,000' unpaved runway.
The 1979 USGS topo map depicted the “Movie Manor Airport” as having 2 unpaved runways.
The 1998 USGS aerial photo appeared to show a 3rd runway (oriented east/west) which had been added at some point between 1979-98.
There were no signs of aircraft or other recent aviation usage.
According to Richard Cutter, private owners “operated it until about 1999.”
A June 17, 2005 aerial view looking west at the site of the Monte Vista Airport, showing the remains of the 3 runways.
It is not apparent whether any of the adjacent buildings date from the site's days as an airport.
Richard Cutter reported in 2009, “There is now a drive-in movie & motel (Best Western Movie Manor).
Runways are overgrown with brush & not usable but very visible from the air. All pavement is gone.”
The Monte Vista Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Route 160 & County Road 25.
Thanks to Richard Cutter for pointing out this airfield.
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Baca Grande Airfield, Crestone, CO
37.96 North / 105.78 West (Southwest of Denver, CO)
Baca Grande Airfield, as depicted on the July 1973 CG-19 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This private airfield was evidently established at some point between 1968-73,
as it was not yet depicted on the 1968 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the Baca Grande Airfield which has been located
was on the July 1973 CG-19 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Baca Grande as a private airfield having a 7,000' runway.
The 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy) listed Baca Grande as a private airfield,
and indicated that the Baca Grande Inn (1 mile away) offered lodging.
The Inn was presumably the reason for the airfield's construction.
The February 1977 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Baca Grande as a private airfield with a single 7,000' paved northeast/southwest runway.
Baca Grande was still listed as an active airfield in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
The 1982 USGS topo map depicted the single runway, labeled merely as “Landing Strip”.
Baca Grande Airfield was evidently abandoned (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1982-99,
as it was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 1999 CO Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Duke Sumonia).
The 1999 USGS aerial photo showed that the single paved runway at Baca Grande remained in fine shape.
A paved parking pad was located at the southwest end,
but there did not appear to be any buildings (or remains of buildings) at the site.
A 2004 aerial view by Andy Young looking southwest along the abandoned runway at Baca Grande.
A 2004 aerial view by Andy Young of the pavement of the abandoned runway at Baca Grande.
The Baca Grande Airfield is located on the east side of Route 66T, 3 miles southwest of Crestone.
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Hanson Airfield / Breckenridge STOLport, Breckenridge, CO
39.51 North / 106.05 West (West-Southwest of Denver, CO)
What was originally known as "Hanson" Airfield,
as depicted on the October 1963 Sangre De Christo Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton).
This short takeoff & landing airport was apparently established at some point between 1959-63,
as it was not yet depicted on the May 1959 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of an airfield at this location which has been located
was on the October 1963 Sangre De Christo Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton).
It depicted it under its original name of "Hanson",
and it was described as having a 4,000' unpaved runway.
The 1970 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Vince Granato)
depicted "Hanson" as a private airfield with a 4,000' unpaved runway.
Notice also that the Dillon Reservoir (north of the field) had been created -
it was not depicted on the 1963 chart.
Previous Breckenridge resident Douglas Barr reported that "the Breckenridge Airport was in operation in 1971.
There was a runway and a fuel tank (on stilts)."
The August 1977 CG-19 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Breckenridge" as a private airfield with a 4,200' unpaved runway.
It was listed as "Summit County (Breckenridge STOLport)"
in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury).
It was described as having a single 5,200' dirt & gravel Runway 16/34,
and it included the remark, "Caution: Private. Closed to public."
Even though the runway at Breckenridge was 5,200' long,
it was still considered a "short takeoff & landing" facility,
due to its extremely high elevation: 9,401 feet above sea level!
It must have ranked among the highest airports in the US.
The 1987 USGS topo map still depicted the Breckenridge Airport as having a single north/south runway.
It was still depicted as "Breckenridge (Pvt)" on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart,
by which point the runway had been lengthened to 6,100'.
As it existed in the 2001 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield consisted of a single 4,600' runway.
It is not known if any of the surrounding buildings were related to the airfield.
The Breckenridge STOLport was evidently closed at some point between 1998-2002,
as it was no longer listed in FAA records as an active airfield as of 2002,
and it is no longer depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield) on 2002 aeronautical charts.
Brekenridge STOLport is located in between Route 9 & Airport Road, south of Coyne Valley Road.
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Star Nelson Airport / Sky Island Ranch Airport (3CO0), Delta, CO
38.74 North / 108 West (West-Southwest of Denver, CO)
Star Nelson Airport, as depicted on the 1982 USGS topo map.
Photo of the airport while in use has not been located.
This airport was located on top of a small mesa,
three miles east of the town of Delta, CO.
The date of construction of this field is unknown.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was on the Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Delta as a municipal airport located 3.5 miles east of the town,
with three "sandy loam" runways (with the longest being the 3,600' east/west strip).
The 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Delta airport as having three sandy loam runways oriented in a "V",
with the longest being a 3,600' east/west strip.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Delta Airport as having three "sandy loam" runways,
with the longest being a 3,600' east/west strip.
A hangar was described as having "Delta Airport" painted on the roof.
Delta Airport was described by the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
as having a 3,800' runway.
Star Nelson was depicted on the 1949 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
as having a 5,600' unpaved runway.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described "Starr Nelson" Airport as having three gravel runways:
5,900' Runway 4/22, 3,700' Runway 9/27, and 3,200' Runway 18/36.
The operator was listed as G.H. Carmichael.
Star Nelson Airport was apparently replaced at some point between 1962-67 by Blake Field, 5 miles northwest.
Star Nelson was no longer depicted on the December 1967 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
"Star Nelson Airport" was still depicted on the 1982 USGS topo map,
even though it had apparently been closed for about two decades by that point.
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo, the airport consisted of three runways (the longest was 3,000'),
as well as one small hangar & a few smaller structures at the northeast portion.
In August of 1994 this abandoned airport was evidently reopened, after going unused for at least 27 years,
as that is when the FAA Airport/Facility Directory listed as the activation date for the “Sky Island Ranch Airport”,
a private field at this location.
As of 2005, the field was said to be owned by Andrew Moffat,
and to have 3 single-engine aircraft based on the field.
Sky Island Ranch Airport is located along G Road, three miles east of Delta.
Thanks to Lonnie Woodard for pointing out this field.
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