Rancherías Airstrip

No official reason for the closure has been published, as is common for small, private airfields. The most probable cause is economic non-viability leading to abandonment. As a private airstrip likely serving local ranches ('rancherías'), its maintenance may have become too costly for its owners, or the logistical need may have diminished due to improved ground transportation or changes in the ownership/operation of the ranches it served. While there is no direct evidence of forced closure, it occurred in a region where Mexican and U.S. authorities have historically worked to eliminate unregulated airstrips to combat illicit trafficking, which may have been a contributing environmental factor to its abandonment.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced dereliction. The former runway is no longer functional and is barely distinguishable from the surrounding desert landscape. It is heavily overgrown with native scrub and brush, and the surface is severely eroded and washed out in several places. There are no remaining buildings, hangars, or any aviation-related infrastructure. The land has reverted to its natural state as rangeland and is entirely unusable for any aviation purposes.

The airstrip's significance was purely local and private. Its name, 'Rancherías,' indicates its purpose was to serve the surrounding ranches in a remote area of the Hidalgo municipality, Coahuila. When active, it handled general aviation traffic, consisting of small, single- or twin-engine propeller aircraft (e.g., Cessna, Piper). These operations were vital for transporting ranch owners, personnel, and guests, as well as delivering light cargo, mail, and essential supplies. It provided a critical and rapid transportation link to larger towns and cities, bypassing what was likely sparse or difficult road infrastructure at the time.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen Rancherías Airstrip. The prospects for reopening are considered virtually nonexistent for several reasons: 1) The cost to clear, grade, and resurface the runway to modern standards would be prohibitive. 2) The original logistical justification for the airstrip likely no longer exists. 3) Obtaining the required permits from Mexico's Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC) for a private airstrip in this sensitive border region would be extremely challenging due to strict security regulations.