Eleva, US 🇺🇸 Closed Airport
US-10270
-
990 ft
US-WI
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 44.6411° N, -91.512703° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: WI87 US-4WI7
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
09/27 |
1550 ft | 80 ft | TURF-G | Active |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
Approximately between 2011 and 2013. The airport was listed as active in the 2011 Wisconsin Airport Directory but was absent from subsequent editions. Historical satellite imagery from 2013 clearly shows the runway area being used for agriculture, confirming it had ceased operations by then.
The airport was a privately owned field, and its closure was the result of a private decision by the landowner. The land was subsequently converted back into farmland, which is a common fate for small, private airstrips when the owner decides to sell the property or cease aviation activities. There is no evidence to suggest the closure was due to a specific accident, military conversion, or external economic pressure.
The site of the former airport has been fully reclaimed and is now used for agriculture. The coordinates point to a cultivated farm field where the grass runway once existed. A building that appears to be the former hangar is still visible at the south end of the old strip, likely repurposed as a barn or storage shed for farm equipment.
Gopher STOL Airport was a small, private-use airfield designed for Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. It consisted of a single turf runway, designated 18/36, with dimensions of approximately 1,800 by 100 feet. Its operations were limited to the owner and pilots with prior permission. The airport's significance was not commercial or strategic; rather, it served as a personal, recreational facility for a local aviation enthusiast, embodying the grassroots nature of general aviation.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Gopher STOL Airport. The land is actively farmed, and the cost and regulatory hurdles to re-establish an airfield on private agricultural land are significant. The airport is considered permanently closed.