La Parra Ranch Airport

Sarita, US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Closed Airport

ICAO

US-0909

IATA

-

Elevation

11 ft

Region

US-TX

Local Time

Loading...

Loading...

Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 27.225577Β° N, -97.69765Β° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: XS63

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.
Nearby Points of Interest

Current Weather Conditions

Loading weather data...

Loading weather data...


Airport Information

Technical Information

For Aviation Geeks

Designation Length Width Surface Status
12/30 4084 ft 30 ft Caliche Active

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

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.

Reason for Closure

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.

Current Status

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.

Historical Significance

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.

Reopening Prospects

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.

Nearby Airports

Kingsville Naval Outlying Landing Field Number 55
US-5038
Riviera, US
Closed Airport
~6 km away
Kingsville Naval Outlying Landing Field Number 54
US-6102
Riviera, US
Closed Airport
~14 km away
Kingsville Naval Outlying Landing Field Number 52
US-6044
Kingsville, US
Closed Airport
~20 km away
Kingsville Naval Outlying Landing Field Number 51
US-5052
Kingsville, US
Closed Airport
~22 km away
La Paloma Ranch Airport
US-6134
Sarita, US
Small Airport
~25 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

User Comments

No comments for this airport yet.

Leave a comment