Walter A Swalley Airpark

The closure was a direct result of the death of its owner, operator, and namesake. Walter A Swalley Airpark was a private airfield, and its existence was tied to its owner's passion for aviation. Following his passing, there was no one to continue its operation and maintenance, leading to its eventual closure and reversion to private land.

The site of the former airpark is now used for agricultural purposes. Satellite imagery clearly shows that the former runway area is now an overgrown field, likely used for growing hay or other crops. A building that served as the hangar remains on the south end of the property, and is likely used for farm equipment storage. The land has been fully integrated into the surrounding private farmland.

Walter A Swalley Airpark was a private airfield established sometime between 1970 and 1979. It was owned and operated by Walter A. Swalley, a prominent local figure who was a pilot, a former mayor of Baxter Springs, and the owner of Swalley's Auto Service. The airport featured a single, unpaved north/south runway (18/36) approximately 2,100 feet long. It primarily served as a base for Mr. Swalley's personal and recreational flying activities, accommodating light, single-engine aircraft. Its significance was local, tied to its well-known owner, rather than any commercial, military, or large-scale general aviation operations.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Walter A Swalley Airpark. The land has been repurposed for agriculture for over a decade, and as a small, privately-owned field whose existence was dependent on a single individual, there is no economic or community-driven initiative to restore it to aviation use. The airport is considered permanently closed.