Midwest Steel Heliport

Economic reasons. The heliport was a private facility owned and operated by the Midwest Steel Division of National Steel Corporation. National Steel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2001 amid a severe downturn in the American steel industry. During the subsequent corporate restructuring and cost-cutting, non-essential assets like a private heliport were eliminated. The plant's assets were eventually acquired by U.S. Steel in May 2003, by which time the heliport was no longer operational.

The site of the former heliport is now fully integrated into the grounds of the U.S. Steel Midwest Plant. Satellite imagery shows the original helipad markings and designated area have been removed. The land has been repurposed and is now an indistinguishable part of the plant's paved lots, likely used for employee parking, equipment staging, or material storage. The site is on active, private industrial property and is not accessible to the public.

The Midwest Steel Heliport (IN37) was a private-use heliport that served the executive and operational needs of the massive Midwest Steel plant in Portage. Its primary function was to provide rapid transportation for corporate executives, visiting dignitaries, and key personnel to and from the facility, likely connecting it with corporate headquarters or regional airports. The existence of the heliport was indicative of the scale and corporate prestige of National Steel during its peak years of operation. It was not a public-use facility and handled only a small number of private helicopter flights.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. The original infrastructure has been removed, and the business case for its existence was tied to its former owner, National Steel Corporation. The current owner, U.S. Steel, has not expressed any intention of re-establishing a private heliport at this location. Reopening would require new construction and a significant capital investment for a capability that is no longer deemed necessary for the plant's operations. Therefore, the prospect of reopening is considered virtually zero.