Wildhay Airport

The airport was closed for economic and operational reasons. It was a private aerodrome owned and operated by Hinton Forest Products, a division of West Fraser Mills Ltd. The closure occurred because the airstrip was no longer required to support the company's local forestry operations. The decision was based on changing logistical needs and the cost of maintenance versus its utility, not due to any specific accident, military conversion, or environmental issue.

The site is abandoned and unmaintained. Satellite imagery confirms the runway's location and shape, but it is completely overgrown with grass, shrubs, and small trees, rendering it unusable for any fixed-wing aircraft. There are no remaining airport buildings or infrastructure on the site. The land has reverted to a natural state, though the linear clearing of the former runway is still distinct from the air.

Wildhay Airport served as a crucial piece of infrastructure for the natural resource industry in a remote part of Alberta. Its primary purpose was to support the forestry operations of its owner, West Fraser Mills. Operations included transporting personnel, light equipment, and supplies to remote logging areas; serving as a forward base for aerial surveys and timber cruising; and potentially supporting aerial firefighting efforts. It was a private, industrial airstrip with no scheduled passenger service or public access. Its significance was purely logistical for the forestry and possibly oil and gas sectors in the region.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Wildhay Airport. Reopening would require a significant private or public investment to clear the land, re-establish a safe runway surface, and certify it for operations. Given its remote location, the decline in its original operational need, and the availability of other regional airports like the Hinton/Jasper-Hinton Airport (CEC4), a future reopening is considered highly unlikely.