Ox Bow Ranch Airport

The exact reason for the closure is not publicly documented, which is typical for a private-use airfield. The closure was almost certainly due to a private decision by the landowner of the Ox Bow Ranch. Common reasons for such closures include a change in property ownership, the owner no longer being a pilot or owning an aircraft, prohibitive costs of maintenance and insurance, or liability concerns.

The site remains part of the private Ox Bow Ranch. Current satellite imagery clearly shows the faint outline of the former north-south runway. However, the strip is completely unmaintained, overgrown with vegetation, and is no longer suitable for aviation. The land has effectively reverted to being part of the surrounding pasture and ranchland. There are no airport facilities, markings, or buildings remaining on the former runway.

Ox Bow Ranch Airport was a private-use airfield serving the large, historic Ox Bow Ranch located along the Missouri River. Its significance was entirely local, providing convenient air access for the ranch's owners and their guests. The airport consisted of a single, unpaved turf/dirt runway (approximately 3,500 feet long) and handled light general aviation aircraft, such as single-engine Cessnas or Pipers. Operations were limited to private transportation and recreational flying, with no record of commercial, military, or significant agricultural (e.g., large-scale crop dusting) activities.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Ox Bow Ranch Airport. Reopening a private airport is a significant undertaking that requires substantial investment from the landowner to restore the runway to a safe condition, as well as an ongoing commitment to maintenance and liability. Given that the airport has been closed for many years, a reopening is considered extremely unlikely.