San Pedro Airstrip

No official reason for closure is documented. The most probable reason is abandonment. Airstrips of this nature—unpaved, remote, and lacking any infrastructure—are common in this region of northern Mexico. They are often built for specific, short-term purposes such as supporting mining or ranching operations, or for clandestine activities like smuggling. Once their utility ends, or if they are discovered by authorities, they are simply abandoned and left to be reclaimed by the desert.

As of the latest satellite imagery, the site is completely abandoned. The dirt runway, approximately 950 meters (3,100 feet) long, is still clearly visible from the air but is in a severe state of disrepair. The surface is eroded, washed out in places, and overgrown with desert vegetation. There are no buildings, hangars, fencing, or any other aviation-related infrastructure on the site. The faint presence of vehicle tracks suggests it may be occasionally used as a local access road, but it is unsuitable for any type of aircraft operations.

The airstrip holds no official historical significance and was likely a private-use field. Its primary significance is representative of the numerous unregistered landing strips scattered throughout the Chihuahuan Desert. These fields have historically served a dual purpose in the region: legitimate use for large ranches, geological surveys, or mining operations, and illicit use as 'narco-pistas' (drug-running airstrips) due to their remoteness and proximity to the U.S. border. The nearby town of Coyame del Sotol is famous in ufology circles for the 'Coyame UFO Incident' of August 1974, which allegedly involved a collision between a UFO and a small civilian aircraft. However, there is no direct, verifiable evidence linking this specific airstrip (MX-1535) to that event or the subsequent military recovery operations.

There are no known or published plans, discussions, or prospects for reopening the San Pedro Airstrip. Given its remote location, the complete lack of infrastructure, the poor condition of the runway, and the absence of any apparent economic driver in the immediate vicinity, it is highly improbable that the airstrip will be rehabilitated for future aviation use.