Sarita, US πΊπΈ Closed Airport
US-0909
-
11 ft
US-TX
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 27.225577Β° N, -97.69765Β° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: XS63
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Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
12/30 |
4084 ft | 30 ft | Caliche | Active |
The exact closure date is unknown, but evidence from aeronautical charts indicates it closed sometime between 1998 and 2009. The airfield was still depicted on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart but was no longer shown on the 2009 Brownsville Sectional Chart.
The airport was a private field belonging to the King Ranch. Its closure was almost certainly a private, operational decision by the ranch's management. Common reasons for such closures include redundancy, as the King Ranch operates other, more modern airports (like King Ranch Airport, KINE), changes in operational needs, or the cost of maintenance outweighing its utility. There is no indication it was closed due to a specific accident or for public/military conversion.
The site is currently undeveloped private ranchland. Satellite imagery of the coordinates reveals the faint, overgrown outline of the former north-south turf runway. The land has reverted to natural pasture and brush, blending in with the surrounding South Texas landscape. The airfield is completely abandoned and unusable for any aviation purposes.
La Parra Ranch Airport's significance is tied directly to its owner, the world-famous King Ranch. It served as a private airstrip for the La Parra division of the ranch. When active, it handled light aircraft operations supporting the vast ranching enterprise. This included transporting ranch owners, personnel, and guests; delivering urgent supplies; and facilitating aerial activities like cattle spotting, fence inspection, and land surveys over the remote and expansive property. The airfield was part of a private aviation network that was crucial for managing one of the largest ranches in the world.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening La Parra Ranch Airport. The decision would be solely at the discretion of its private owner, the King Ranch. Given that the ranch has other active and better-maintained airfields, and this one was allowed to fall into disuse, the likelihood of it being reopened is virtually zero.
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