Gold River Airport

The closure was due to economic reasons. The airport's existence and financial viability were directly dependent on the Gold River Pulp and Paper Mill, which was the town's primary employer and economic engine. When the mill shut down permanently in 1998, the town's population plummeted from around 4,000 to approximately 1,300. This collapse in the local economy eliminated the demand for scheduled air services and business-related travel, making the airport's maintenance and operational costs unsustainable.

The airport is permanently closed and abandoned. The paved runway and taxiway are still physically present and visible on satellite imagery, but they are unmaintained. Large white 'X' markings are painted on the runway thresholds, the standard visual signal indicating that a runway is closed to all air traffic. The site is not used for any official purpose, though it is sometimes used informally by locals for activities like driver training or community gatherings. The infrastructure is slowly being reclaimed by nature, with vegetation growing through cracks in the pavement.

Gold River Airport was a vital transportation hub for the remote community of Gold River, which is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Constructed and largely supported by the Tahsis Company (the mill's operator), the airport featured a single paved runway (approximately 3,000 ft / 914 m). It handled scheduled passenger flights operated by regional carriers like Air Nootka, connecting the town to larger centers such as Campbell River and Vancouver. The airport was crucial for transporting mill personnel, business travelers, and tourists, and it was essential for providing critical services like air ambulance (medevac) flights and supporting general aviation.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Gold River Airport. The economic conditions that led to its closure have not changed, and the town's current population cannot support the significant costs associated with recertifying, maintaining, and operating a public airport. Regional air access for the area is provided by the Campbell River Airport (CYBL), which is accessible from Gold River via Highway 28. Reopening would require a major new economic driver to emerge in the region, which is not anticipated in the foreseeable future.