Gunsight Mountain Airport

The airport was privately owned and operated by the Gunsight Mountain Lodge. While no single official reason was published, the closure is attributed to a combination of factors common for small, private airstrips in Alaska. These likely include the high cost of maintenance and insurance, significant liability concerns for the lodge's owners, and potentially a decline in use. The A/FD noted the runway was turf and closed seasonally from October to May, indicating challenging operational conditions that would have contributed to high upkeep costs. There is no evidence of a specific accident, land sale for redevelopment, or military conversion leading to the closure.

The site of the former airport is currently an unused, overgrown field. Satellite imagery of the coordinates confirms the location is just east of the Glenn Highway and south of the lodge. The faint, straight outline of the former 1,800-foot runway is still visible but is covered in grass and shrubs. The land has not been redeveloped for other purposes and is effectively abandoned, slowly reverting to nature. It is not maintained or used for any aviation or ground-based activity.

Gunsight Mountain Airport was a classic Alaskan bush airstrip that served as a vital transportation link for the historic Gunsight Mountain Lodge. Its primary function was to support tourism and general aviation. When active, its operations included:
- **Fly-in Tourism:** Pilots from around Alaska and beyond would fly their private aircraft directly to the lodge for accommodation, dining, and as a base for recreation.
- **Charter Operations:** The airstrip facilitated charter flights for guests, offering access to remote areas for hunting, fishing, flightseeing, and other backcountry adventures in the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains.
- **Logistical Support:** It provided a means for transporting supplies and personnel to the relatively remote lodge.
Its historical significance lies in its role as an integral part of a classic Alaskan roadhouse, representing an era where aviation was deeply intertwined with remote tourism and commerce.

There are no known plans or public prospects for reopening Gunsight Mountain Airport. The land is privately owned by the lodge, which has changed hands since the airport's closure. Re-establishing a functional and certified airport would require a substantial financial investment in clearing and grading the land, runway restoration, marking, and securing the necessary insurance and permits. Given that the lodge operates successfully without it and the significant costs and liabilities involved, a return to aviation service is considered highly unlikely.