Thurston Lake Airport

The airport's closure was due to economic and operational reasons tied to the resource sector. It was a private airstrip built to support oil and gas exploration and production activities in the remote Zama oil fields. The closure was likely a result of the completion of specific exploration/drilling projects, consolidation of operations, or a shift in logistical needs that rendered a dedicated, isolated airstrip economically unviable to maintain.

The site is abandoned and is being slowly reclaimed by nature. Current satellite imagery clearly shows the remnants of a single, unpaved (likely gravel or dirt) runway adjacent to Thurston Lake. The runway outline is still distinct but is visibly overgrown with grass and small shrubs. There is no evidence of any remaining buildings, hangars, or ground infrastructure. The site is not used for any official purpose and is inaccessible by road.

Thurston Lake Airport was a private, unregistered aerodrome whose significance was purely logistical. It served as a crucial access point for the oil and gas industry operating in the extremely remote Zama Lake region of northwestern Alberta during the latter half of the 20th century. It facilitated the transport of personnel, time-sensitive equipment, and supplies directly to exploration and production sites, bypassing the difficult and often impassable terrain. The airport never handled scheduled commercial flights and was not open to the public; its sole purpose was to support industrial operations in the boreal forest.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Thurston Lake Airport. Given its remote location, state of disrepair, and the specific industrial purpose it served, reopening would require a significant new resource extraction project in the immediate vicinity to justify the substantial cost of clearing, repairing, and recertifying the airstrip. It is considered permanently closed.