Chilko Lake (Wilderness Ranch) Airport

The closure was due to economic and operational reasons tied directly to the Wilderness Ranch. The airport was a private aerodrome (PPR - Prior Permission Required) that existed solely to serve the fly-in tourist lodge. When the ranch ceased its commercial operations and was eventually sold, the airstrip lost its purpose. There was no longer a business entity to maintain the runway, manage permissions, and bear the liability, leading to its decommissioning.

The airport is permanently closed and unserviceable. Satellite imagery from recent years confirms that the gravel/turf runway is no longer maintained and is becoming overgrown with vegetation. The land is private property, and the former airstrip has effectively reverted to a natural field. It is completely unsuitable for any aircraft operations. The associated ranch buildings are under private ownership and are not operating as a public lodge.

The airport's significance was entirely linked to high-end wilderness tourism in the remote Chilcotin region of British Columbia. It was not a public airport but a critical piece of infrastructure for the exclusive Wilderness Ranch lodge. For decades, it handled general aviation traffic, including chartered flights and private aircraft (such as de Havilland Beavers, Otters, Cessnas, and Pipers). These aircraft transported guests, staff, and essential supplies to the otherwise difficult-to-access lodge, which specialized in activities like grizzly bear viewing, horseback riding, and fishing. The airport was a classic example of a Canadian bush strip enabling access to remote natural wonders for commercial tourism.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport. Re-establishing an aerodrome on the site would be a significant undertaking, requiring substantial investment to clear and regrade the runway, meet modern Transport Canada safety and certification standards, and establish a new commercial or private need for fly-in access. Given the remote location and the private status of the land, reopening is highly unlikely unless a new, well-funded commercial venture requiring an airstrip were to acquire the property.