Alford A. Bratcher Airport

Replacement and modernization. The city of Marlow constructed a new, modern airport (Marlow Municipal Airport, KMRW) with a longer, 4,000-foot paved runway and superior facilities. The old Alford A. Bratcher Airport, which had a shorter, unpaved runway of approximately 2,600 feet, was considered obsolete and was closed upon the opening of the new facility.

The site has been completely redeveloped for industrial and commercial use. Satellite imagery shows that the former runway area is now occupied by several large industrial buildings, including Wilco Machine & Fab Inc. The faint outline of the old runway is partially visible but is now used as a private access road and outdoor storage area for the businesses located there. The property is privately owned and is no longer recognizable as an airport from the ground.

Originally the Marlow Municipal Airport, it was established in the 1940s during the post-WWII general aviation boom. For about 50 years, it was the primary aviation hub for the Marlow community, serving general aviation traffic including private pilots, potential flight training, and agricultural aircraft. The airport was named in honor of Alford A. Bratcher, a prominent local citizen who was a World War I veteran and served as the mayor of Marlow.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening this site as an airport. The land has been permanently repurposed for industrial use, and the community is served by the newer, far superior Marlow Municipal Airport (KMRW) located a few miles to the northeast. Re-establishing an airport at this location would be economically and logistically unfeasible.