Marlboro Airport

The closure of Marlboro Airport was primarily due to economic reasons, specifically the sale of the property for commercial redevelopment. The airport, which had been owned by the Stetson family for over 50 years, was situated on a large, valuable parcel of land in a growing suburban area. The rising real estate values made selling the land to a developer significantly more profitable than continuing to operate a small general aviation airport. The owner, Sandra Stetson, sold the 118-acre property to developer Atlantic Management Corp. for a reported $14.5 million. The decision was a business one, driven by the high value of the land for industrial and commercial use, a common fate for many small, privately-owned airports located in areas of urban expansion.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped and is no longer recognizable as an airfield. All runways, taxiways, hangars, and the terminal building have been demolished. The property is now a large-scale industrial and logistics park known as 'The Campus at Marlborough'. The most prominent tenant is Amazon, which constructed a massive, 825,000-square-foot robotics and fulfillment center on the land where the runways once were. The site is now characterized by large warehouse buildings, extensive parking lots, and trucking infrastructure, fully repurposed for commercial and industrial use.

Marlboro Airport was a historically significant general aviation hub for the MetroWest region of Massachusetts for nearly a century. Established in 1922, it was one of the oldest continuously operating airfields in the state. For 97 years, it served as a vital base for private pilots, flight training, and small aviation-related businesses. The airport featured a single paved runway (01/19) and a parallel grass runway. It was home to Don's Flying Service, a well-known flight school, as well as aircraft maintenance facilities and hangars for dozens of private aircraft. The airport primarily handled single and twin-engine propeller aircraft and was a beloved institution for the local aviation community, known for its friendly, classic airfield atmosphere. Its closure marked the end of an era for general aviation in the region.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Marlboro Airport. The land has been permanently and irreversibly redeveloped with large, permanent industrial structures. The construction of the Amazon fulfillment center and other commercial buildings on the former airport grounds makes any future restoration as an aviation facility physically and economically impossible. The sale and subsequent redevelopment were final, marking a permanent end to aviation activities at this location.