Roosevelt Field

The primary reason for the closure of Roosevelt Field was economic, driven by the rapid post-World War II suburbanization of Long Island. The land became immensely valuable for commercial and residential real estate development, far exceeding its value as an airfield. The rise of larger, more modern airports like LaGuardia and Idlewild (now JFK) also rendered Roosevelt Field's facilities obsolete for the new era of larger airliners. Industrialist and real estate developer William Zeckendorf purchased the property in 1950, sealing its fate as an airport.

The site of the former Roosevelt Field has been completely redeveloped and is now a major commercial hub in Nassau County. The most prominent feature is the Roosevelt Field Mall, one of the largest and most successful shopping malls in the United States, which sits directly on the former airfield grounds. The surrounding area is densely developed with office buildings, corporate parks, restaurants, and other retail centers. A historical marker in the mall's parking lot (near the Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods) indicates the approximate spot where Charles Lindbergh began his takeoff roll. The nearby Cradle of Aviation Museum, located on the grounds of the adjacent former Mitchel Field, preserves and celebrates the rich aviation history of Roosevelt Field and Long Island.

Roosevelt Field holds a legendary status in aviation history and is arguably one of the most famous airfields of the 20th century. Its significance includes:

- **Origins:** It originated as part of the Hempstead Plains Aerodrome, a vast open area ideal for early aviation. During World War I, the U.S. Army Signal Corps established Hazelhurst Field #1 on the site for pilot training. It was renamed Roosevelt Field in 1919 in honor of Quentin Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt's son, who was killed in an air battle in WWI.

- **The Golden Age of Aviation:** In the 1920s and 1930s, it was the busiest civilian airfield in the United States. It became the launching point for numerous historic and record-breaking flights.

- **Charles Lindbergh's Transatlantic Flight:** Its most famous event occurred on May 20, 1927, when Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in the 'Spirit of St. Louis' to complete the first-ever solo, non-stop transatlantic flight, landing in Paris 33.5 hours later. This event catapulted both Lindbergh and the airfield to global fame.

- **Other Famous Aviators:** Many other pioneering aviators used Roosevelt Field for their historic flights, including Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post (who began and ended his record-setting solo round-the-world flights from there), Roscoe Turner, and Howard Hughes.

- **Operations:** When active, it handled a wide range of operations, including flight training, air mail services, general aviation, and serving as a base for early commercial passenger flights before the development of larger municipal airports.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Roosevelt Field as an airport. The land is now occupied by extremely high-value commercial real estate and dense infrastructure. The complete and total redevelopment of the site makes any return to aviation use physically and economically impossible.