Elmore and Sthal Airstrip

Economic reasons. As a privately owned airstrip, its closure is almost certainly linked to the cessation of the business or agricultural enterprise that it was built to support. Private airfields like this are often closed when the owner sells the property, the business becomes defunct, or the cost of maintenance is no longer justifiable. There is no evidence to suggest it was closed due to a major accident, safety mandate, or military conversion.

The airport is permanently closed and abandoned. The physical runway is still visible but is in a state of complete disrepair. Satellite imagery shows extensive cracking, potholes, and significant vegetation growing through the asphalt surface, making it unusable for any aviation activity. The surrounding land is actively used for agriculture, and the airstrip itself lies derelict within these farmlands. There are no remaining operational facilities on the site.

Elmore and Sthal Airstrip was a private general aviation facility. The name suggests it was owned or operated by a private company or individuals, likely involved in the region's prominent agricultural industry (ranching or farming) or possibly oil and gas exploration. Its primary function would have been to support these operations, handling light to medium aircraft for:
- **Agricultural Aviation:** Crop dusting and spraying, a common use for such airstrips in rural Mexico.
- **Corporate/Private Transport:** Flying personnel, owners, clients, and high-priority parts to and from a remote location.
- **Logistics:** Light cargo transport.
The single paved runway is approximately 1,250 meters (4,100 feet) long, making it suitable for a range of propeller aircraft from single-engine Cessnas to twin-engine turboprops like the King Air.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Elmore and Sthal Airstrip. The significant cost required to excavate, rebuild, and resurface the runway, combined with the apparent lack of any current economic driver for an airfield at this specific location, makes its reactivation highly improbable. For all practical purposes, the closure is permanent.