Gananoque Seaplane Base

Economic reasons. The seaplane base was not a standalone entity but rather the operating location for a private air tour company. When the company, 1000 Islands Air System Inc., ceased its flight operations, the base effectively closed due to the loss of its sole commercial tenant and purpose.

The physical location identified by the coordinates is now the Gananoque Municipal Marina. The docks and waterfront are used exclusively for recreational and transient boaters. There are no longer any dedicated facilities, signage, or infrastructure supporting commercial seaplane operations. While a private seaplane could technically still land on the waterway, the organized commercial base is gone.

The Gananoque Seaplane Base was a key component of the tourism industry in the Thousand Islands region for several decades. Its primary function was to support sightseeing flights over the St. Lawrence River, offering tourists aerial views of the islands, cottages, and famous landmarks like Boldt Castle. The main operator, 1000 Islands Air System Inc., flew iconic Canadian floatplanes such as the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, which were synonymous with this type of wilderness and scenic flying. The base provided a unique and popular attraction for visitors to Gananoque. It should be noted that 'CA-1126' is an unofficial identifier used by third-party aviation databases; the official designation for the water aerodrome by Transport Canada was CDS8.

There are no known public plans or active proposals to reopen a dedicated commercial seaplane base at this location. The aerial tourism market in the Gananoque area is now primarily served by helicopter tour operators.