Zimmerle Airport

The primary reason for closure was economic, driven by the urban expansion of Abilene. As the city grew westward, the land occupied by the airport became increasingly valuable for commercial and residential development, ultimately leading to its sale and redevelopment.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped. It is now a major commercial and retail hub known as 'The Shops at Abilene,' which includes large stores like Sam's Club and Lowe's, along with numerous other businesses and restaurants. Surrounding areas have been developed for residential use. A street running through the development, Zimmerly Road (a common misspelling of the airport's name), serves as a memorial to the former airfield.

Zimmerle Airport was a prominent private general aviation field serving Abilene for over four decades. Established by L.E. Zimmerle, it first appeared on aeronautical charts in 1949. The airport was home to Zimmerle Air Service, which provided flight training, aircraft maintenance, and was an authorized Cessna dealer. It also supported agricultural aviation (crop dusting). The field initially featured two turf runways, with its primary runway (17/35) later being paved and extended to 3,600 feet to better accommodate general aviation traffic.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Zimmerle Airport. The land has been fully and permanently redeveloped for commercial and residential purposes, making any return to aviation operations impossible.