Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southwestern Idaho
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/9/08.
Bradley Field (revised 9/4/05) - Floating Feather Airport (revised 5/29/04)
Green Meadow Airport / Campbell Airpark / Dovell Airport / Gem Heliport / Stone Airport / Major Airport / Strawberry Glenn Airport (revised 3/9/08)
Saylor Creek Air Force Range Target Airfield (added 9/4/05) - Walker Field / Caldwell Municipal Airport (revised 9/4/05)
____________________________________________________
Saylor Creek Air Force Range Target Airfield, Hot Spring, ID
42.75 North / 115.58 West (Southeast of Boise, ID)
The Saylor Creek “Landing Strip”, as depicted on the 1992 USGS topo map.
This airfield within the Saylor Creek Air Force Range is used as a air-to-ground target for military aircraft
operating from nearby Mountain Home AFB (25 miles to the northwest).
The date of construction of this airfield has not been determined.
It was not depicted at all on the 1971 & 1981 USGS topo maps.
The earliest depiction of this airfield which has been located
was on the 1992 USGS topo map.
It depicted a single 8,200' runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip”,
within the “Saylor Creek Air Force Range”.
As seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield at Saylor Creek consists of a single 8,200' runway with a parallel taxiway.
Clustered around both sides of the runway are numerous revetments,
housing what appear to be a large number of swept-wing tactical aircraft, and missile launchers.
As seen in a circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo looking east,
the airfield at Saylor Creek remains in largely the same condition,
although an additional number of target aircraft appear to have been added since 1998.
A close-up from the circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo,
showing a number of target aircraft (F-100s?) on the west side of the runway.
As of 2005, no airfield at this location was listed in the FAA Airport/Facility Directory data.
The Saylor Creek airfield is located 7 miles east of Hot Spring, ID.
Thanks to Russell Chmela for pointing out this airfield.
____________________________________________________
Walker Field / Caldwell Municipal Airport, Caldwell, ID
43.67 North / 116.71 West (West of Boise, ID)
Walker Field, as depicted on the 1930 Rand McNally Air Trails Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
The date of construction of the Walker Field / Caldwell Municipal Airport has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in the November 1929 Standard Oil of CA Airplane Landing Fields of the Pacific West (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Walker Field as a commercial airport having a 4,300' east/west runway.
The earliest depiction of Walker Field which has been located
was on the 1930 Rand McNally Air Trails Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Caldwell Walker Municipal Airport as consisting of a 160-acre square loam landing area,
having 4 runways, with the longest being the 3,500' northwest/southeast strip.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
It described Caldwell Walker Municipal Airport as having a 2,640' square loam landing area,
with a building on the southeast side of the field.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Caldwell Airport as having a 3,200' unpaved runway,
with hangars on the south & east sides of the field.
The 1944 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Caldwell as a municipal airport.
The September 1949 Great Salt Lake World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton)
depicted Caldwell as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
Apparently the runway at Caldwell was paved at some point between 1949-53,
as the 1953 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Caldwell as having a 2,400' hard-surface runway.
Caldwell Municipal Airport, as depicted on the 1967 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1967 airport directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Caldwell as having a single 2,400' paved Runway 12/30,
with taxiways leading to several hangars along the east side of the field.
At some point between 1976-81,
a new & larger Caldwell Industrial Airport was built 3 miles southeast of the town of Caldwell.
Caldwell Municipal Airport was presumably closed upon the opening of the new airport,
as only the new airport was listed in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury).
As seen in the 1992 USGS aerial photo,
much of the runway & parallel taxiway of Caldwell Municipal still existed.
However, an industrial facility had been built over the northeast corner of the former airport property,
and a new road had been built over the former runway,
running to the road along the west side of the property.
It does not appear as if any of the original airfield buildings or hangars remain standing.
A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo showed that several other buildings had been built over the site of the former Caldwell Municipal Airport,
with only traces of the northwest & southeast ends of the runway still recognizable.
The site of Caldwell Municipal is located southwest of the intersection of Route 19 & Farmwell Road.
____________________________________________________
Floating Feather Airport, Eagle, ID
43.7 North / 116.31 West (Northwest of Boise, ID)
Floating Feather Airport,
as depicted on the December 1944 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This airport apparently dated back to some point between 1937-44,
as it was not listed in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The earliest reference to Floating Feather Airport which has been located
was in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
It described the field as having a 3,800' unpaved runway.
The earliest depiction of an airfield at this site which has been located
was on the December 1944 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Marian Woods, her father-in-law Bill Woods was a “back-country pilot & owner of the Floating Feather Airport.
The airport burned in WWII when a plane crashed... the plane was a bomber.
Bill trained many pilots for the war.
His mechanic was Evelynn, one of the first female airplane mechanics in the U.S.”
The September 1949 Great Salt Lake World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton)
depicted Floating Feather Airport as having a 3,900' unpaved runway.
Floating Feather was still depicted as a public-use airport
on the 1967 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Floating Feather was still depicted on the 1979 USGS topo map,
but that does not necessarily prove that the field was still operating at that point.
It was depicted as having a single north/south runway.
At some point between 1967-91, Floating Feather apparently became a private field,
as that is how it was depicted on the 1991 Sectional Chart (according to Robert Pearson).
In the last published FAA Airport/Facility Directory data,
Floating Feather Airport was described as having a single 3,000' dirt Runway 16/34,
and the owner was listed as Marion Case.
Floating Feather Airport was definitely closed at some point before 1998,
as the 1998 USGS aerial photo shows that the property had been covered by a new housing development,
with not a trace remaining of the airfield.
The site of Floating Feather Airport is located northeast of the intersection
of Route 55 & East Floating Feather Road.
____________________________________________________
Green Meadow Airport / Campbell Airpark / Dovell Airport / Gem Heliport /
Stone Airport / Major Airport / Strawberry Glenn Airport (S65), Boise, ID
43.67 North / 116.29 West (Northwest of Downtown Boise, ID)
"Green Meadows" Airport, as depicted on the 1947 ID Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Bob Pearson).
This small former general aviation airport apparently went through numerous names throughout the course of its 3 decades.
No airport at this location was yet depicted on the December 1944 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
“The airport was constructed in 1946. It was owned by Theodore Thomas & W. A. Spivey.
Ownership changed frequently.”
The earliest depiction of an airfield at this location which has been located
was on the 1947 ID Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Bob Pearson),
which labeled it as "Green Meadows" Airport.
The May 1948 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Green Meadow" as a commercial or municipal airport.
It was evidently renamed to “Major Airport” at some point between 1948-52,
as David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file) reported,
“In 1952 it was reported as Major Airport, owned by H. W. Major, Major Aircraft & Engine Service.”
A 1952 FAA diagram (courtesy of David Field) depicted Major Airport as having a single 2,000' turf & bare Runway 9/27.
A shop building was depicted on the northeast side of the field.
"Major" Airport was depicted on the 1953 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
An undated (circa 1950s?) aerial view looking northwest at Major Airport (from the ID DOT Department of Aeronautics, via William Womack).
It depicted the field as having a single unpaved runway,
with a few small buildings & a few light aircraft on the northwest side of the field.
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
in 1958 it was reported under the name of “Campbell Airpark”,
in 1959 as “Dovell Airport”,
and in 1960 as “Gem Heliport”.
A 1962 aerial view looking northwest at Stone Airport (from the ID DOT Department of Aeronautics, via William Womack).
It depicted the field as having a single paved runway,
with a building & over 20 light aircraft on the northeast side of the field.
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
in 1963 the airfield was reported as “Stone Airport... owned by Stone Aviation.
[It was] reported to have 2 Fixed Base Operators.”
The 1967 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted “Stone" Airport as having a single 3,200' Runway 9/27,
with 3 buildings along the northeast side of the field.
The field was also said to have helicopter activity.
The 1967 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Stone" Airport as having a single 2,400' paved runway.
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
in 1969 Strawberry Glen Airport was owned by Jack Hoke, Helicopters Inc.
At some point between 1967-71, the field was apparently renamed again, this time to "Strawberry Glenn Airport",
but its status was changed to a private airfield.
The 1971 ID Airport Directory (courtesy of Robert Pearson)
depicted Strawberry Glenn Airport as having a single 3,000' "soil/cement" runway, oriented northwest/southeast.
Three hangars were located north of the east end of the runway.
The field was described as a "helicopter repair station", operated by Helicopters Inc.
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
“In 1972 the airport was reported to be reopened. It was proposed to be extended to 3,300'.”
A 1973 aerial view looking northwest at Strawberry Glenn Airport (from the ID DOT Department of Aeronautics, via William Womack).
It depicted the field as having a single paved runway,
with several buildings & a large number of light aircraft on the northeast side of the field.
Wayne Hamilton reported, "Greg Poe, an aerobatic show pilot,
received his initial training at Strawberry Glen according to his website."
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
“In 1975 it was reconstructed after a flood. It was reported to have 74 based aircraft.”
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
In 1977 it was inspected because there was a runway length discrepancy between various records.
It was agreed that the runway should be reported as 2,600' long.”
The 1977 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Strawberry Glenn as having a single 2,600' Runway 10/28.
A 1978 FAA diagram (courtesy of David Field) depicted Strawberry Glenn Airport as having a single 2,850' asphalt treated runway.
An apron with several T-hangars was depicted on the northeast side of the field.
The runway was still depicted on the 1979 USGS topo map,
but it was labeled simply as "Landing Strip",
which may indicate that the field was closed by that point.
According to David Field (referencing the FAA's airport inspection file),
“In 1980 it was acquired by 'The Riverside Group' & abandoned effective 9/26/1980.”
Strawberry Glenn Airport was definitely closed by 1981,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1981 USGS topo map.
As seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Strawberry Glenn Airport had become completely covered over by homes,
with not a trace remaining of the airfield.
The site of Strawberry Glenn Airport is located northwest of the intersection
of North Strawberry Glenn Road & West Riverside Drive.
____________________________________________________
43.64 North / 116.26 West (North of downtown Boise, ID)
A July 1946 aerial view by Ansgar Johnson of Bradley Field as it was nearing completion (courtesy of Robert Pearson).
According to "A History of Aviation in Idaho" (courtesy of Robert Pearson),
Bradley Field was built by the Aircraft Service Company,
which had previously operated from College Field.
Due to expansion needs, in 1945 the Aircraft Service Company purchased the old Goodman Ranch on Highway 20,
approximately 2 miles northwest of Boise, for the purpose of building a replacement airport.
The new airport was named for Jack Bradley, President of the Aircraft Service Company.
Construction of Bradley's 3,000' x 400' runway was done by the Morrison Knudsen Company.
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described an “American Service Airport”, located 3 miles west-northwest of Boise,
which would appear to be the same airport as Bradley Field.
It was described as being operated by the American Service Company,
with the manager listed as Phil Cox.
The field was said to be 270 acres in size, and to have a single 3,000' gravel northwest/southeast runway,
along with a 120' x 80' hangar.
Completion of the initial construction at Bradley Field was reportedly made during the summer of 1946.
The Aircraft Service Company achieved national recognition as a sales distributor for the North American Navion.
The company's volume made it a national sales leader for Navion aircraft in the 1946-47 period.
The earliest chart depiction of Bradley Field which has been located
was on the 1947 ID Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Bob Pearson).
The May 1948 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Bradley as a commercial or municipal airport.
An undated aerial view looking north at Bradley Airport (courtesy of Robert Pearson).
An undated photo of crowds looking at a Bell 47 helicopter
in front of a hangar of the Aircraft Service Company at Bradley Airport (courtesy of Robert Pearson).
The September 1949 Great Salt Lake World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton)
depicted Bradley as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
The 1953 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Bradley Field as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
Bradley Field apparently gained a paved runway at some point between 1953-67,
as the 1967 Boise Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as having a single 3,000' paved runway.
The 1971 ID Airport Directory (courtesy of Robert Pearson)
depicted Bradley Field as having a single 3,000' paved runway,
with a paved parallel taxiway along the southwest side.
A row of hangars was located along the southwest side of the taxiway,
and the "Skytel & restaurant" were located next to a paved apron.
The manager was James Sparks.
However, the end was near for Bradley Field,
as the remarks said, "Future status undetermined at this time.
Future expansion as a reliever airport."
Unfortunately, instead of being expanded, Bradley Field was closed in 1973.
Its last operator was Capital Flying Service.
Bradley Field was still depicted on the 1979 USGS topo map,
even though it had apparently already been closed for 6 years by that point.
The 1992 USGS aerial photo showed that only the western & eastern portions of the runway & taxiway remained -
two streets (Sawyer Avenue & 52nd Street) had been built over the middle portion of the airfield.
What appeared to be several small hangars also still remained erect, on the west side of the field.
A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo showed that additional buildings had covered the remaining traces of Bradley Field's runway.
However, several small hangars still remained intact, on the west side of the field.
A close-up from the circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo,
showing what appear to be several 60-year old hangars which remain standing.
Jim Lyons reported in 2005 that the Vineyard Church occupies 22 acres of the former airport property,
and is looking for further information on the property's history.
The site of Bradley Field is located northwest of the intersection of
West Chinden Boulevard & 52nd Street.
____________________________________________________