Elbel Airport

The airport was a private field owned and operated by a single individual, Dr. Charles R. Elbel. The closure is directly attributed to the owner's passing in 2011. It is common for such private airfields to cease operations when the owner is no longer able to maintain them.

The airport is permanently closed and defunct. Current satellite imagery of the location shows the distinct outline of the former grass runway, but it is completely overgrown with vegetation and is no longer suitable for any aviation activity. The small hangars on the property appear to still be standing, but the land itself is private property and has reverted to a fallow field.

Elbel Airport was a private general aviation airfield with no major historical, commercial, or military significance. Its primary role was to serve as the personal airstrip for its owner, Dr. Charles R. Elbel, a local veterinarian and pilot. When active, the airport featured a single turf runway, approximately 2,600 feet long, designated as Runway 9/27. A few small hangars were located on the southwest side of the property to store private aircraft. Operations were limited to recreational flying by the owner and possibly invited guests.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Elbel Airport. As the site is privately owned and has been unmaintained for over a decade, a return to aviation use is considered extremely unlikely. Any such effort would require significant private investment and recertification, for which there is no public indication of interest.