Tulsa Downtown Airpark

The primary reason for the closure was economic and developmental. The land, being very close to downtown Tulsa, became extremely valuable for industrial development. As the city of Tulsa expanded northward, the airport became surrounded by urban growth, making expansion impossible and creating safety and noise concerns. The development and success of the more modern Richard L. Jones Jr. Airport (Riverside, KRVS) also drew away much of the general aviation traffic, making the Downtown Airpark less economically viable. The owners ultimately sold the land for redevelopment into an industrial park.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped and is now the Cherokee Industrial Park. There are no visible remnants of the runways, taxiways, or hangars. The land is occupied by numerous large industrial buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and commercial businesses. The street grid of the industrial park now covers the area where the airport once stood.

Tulsa Downtown Airpark, originally known as Brown Airport, held significant historical importance for the city and the nation. It opened in 1935 and was operated by W.E. 'Billy' Brown. Its most crucial role was during World War II, when the Brown Flying School became a major contractor for the U.S. government's Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) and later the War Training Service (WTS). The school trained thousands of pilots for the Army Air Forces, making a substantial contribution to the war effort. For decades, it was Tulsa's primary general aviation airport, serving a bustling community of private pilots, corporate aircraft, and charter services. It featured multiple runways (including a 3,300-foot paved runway) and numerous hangars, and was a hub of aviation activity long before Riverside Airport became the city's main general aviation reliever.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the Tulsa Downtown Airpark. The land has been fully and densely redeveloped for industrial use for over 50 years. The cost to acquire the land, demolish the existing infrastructure, and rebuild an airport would be prohibitive and logistically unfeasible. Furthermore, the airspace is now integrated with the traffic patterns for Tulsa International Airport (KTUL), making it unsuitable for a new airfield.