Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Northern Minnesota

Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Northern Minnesota

Sandstone Municipal (revised 8/15/04) - Skyport Airport / Devil's Track Municipal (revised 5/1/05)

____________________________________________________

Skyport Airport / Devil's Track Municipal Airport (GRM), Grand Marais, MN

47.82 North / 90.38 West (Northeast of St. Paul, MN)

Skyport Airport & Seaplane Base,

as depicted on the November 1948 Duluth Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

This small general aviation airport was located

on the shore of Devil's Track Lake a few miles south of the Canadian Border.

It previously consisted of both a runway for land plane operations & a seaplane base.

Skyport Airport was evidently established at some point between 1944-62,

as it was not yet depicted at all on the December 1944 Duluth Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)

or the March 1945 Green Bay World Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

The earliest depiction of the field which has been located

was on the November 1948 Duluth Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted “Skyport” as a municipal/commercial airport & a seaplane base.

The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described "Grand Marais Municipal" as having a single turf 2,600' Runway 9/27,

listed the operator as Skyport Lodge.

By the time of the July 1969 Duluth Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),

Devil's Track had a single 2,800' paved runway & its own NDB navigational beacon.

Dave Lee recalled of Skyport Lodge, “I used to work there in the early 1970s.

At that time it was owned by Clarence Krotz, and run by his family.

I used to spend summers up there, and do odd jobs around the place for them.”

According to Randy Sohn, Devil's Track Airport was operated by Duane & Judy Cole.

Devil's Track Municipal Airport,

as depicted on the July 1990 Approach Procedures (courtesy of Timothy Aanerud).

As of the 1991 USGS aerial photo,

the airfield consisted of a single paved 2,800' Runway 9/22,

a small ramp & several single-aircraft hangars.

The last listing which has been located of the Devil's Track Municipal Airport as an active airfields

was in the 1989 North Central Airport Facility Directory.

The Devil's Track Municipal Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1989-93,

as the 1993 Airport/Facility Directory showed that it had been replaced

by the new Grand Marais Cook County Airport, a mile to the north.

Only the seaplane facilities at Devil's Track Lake continue to remain active,

with a new name & identifier: Grand Marais Cook County Seaplane Base (0G5).

Thanks to Timothy Aanerud for pointing out this airfield.

____________________________________________________

Sandstone Municipal Airport (57Y), Sandstone, MN

46.12 North / 92.89 West (North of Minneapolis, MN)

Sandstone Municipal Airport, as depicted on the November 1971 CF-18 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

This small former general aviation airport was located adjacent to US I-35,

on the grounds of the Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution.

Sandstone Municipal Airport was evidently established at some point between 1954-62,

as it was not yet depicted at all on the April, 1954 Duluth Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

The earliest reference to the field which has been located

was in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,

which described Sandstone as having a 2,600' long sod runway.

The operator was listed as Rex Kerr.

The earliest depiction of Sandstone Municipal Airport which has been located

was on the November 1971 CF-18 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

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

Sandstone apparerntly gained a paved runway at some point between 1971-79,

as the July 1979 Green Bay Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted the field as having a single 2,900' paved runway.

The 1987 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Sandstone as having a single 2,900' paved Runway 17/35,

with a taxiway leading to a ramp on the east side of the field with a few small buildings,

including the Administration building.

The 1991 USGS aerial photo depicted the field as having a single 2,900' paved Runway 17/35,

and a small paved ramp area.

There were not any hangars on the field,

and no aircraft were visible in the field either.

The 1998 Airport/Facility Directory described Sandstone Municipal Airport

as having a single 2,900' asphalt Runway 17/35.

However, the field was described as being unattended,

and the remarks said, "Runway 17/35 surface cracking & breaking up, cracks 2" wide with grass."

Sandstone Municipal Airport was closed for unknown reasons in 2001.

____________________________________________________

Home