Rainey Field

The specific reason is not officially documented, which is common for small private airfields. However, the closure was followed by the eventual sale and redevelopment of the land for industrial use. This suggests the closure was likely due to economic reasons, the owner's decision to sell the property, or a lack of desire to continue operating the private strip.

The site of the former Rainey Field has been completely redeveloped. As of 2022, the land is occupied by the Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa County Battery Plant, a major industrial facility that produces high-performance lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. All traces of the former runway, hangar, and other airfield infrastructure have been obliterated by the construction of the factory and its associated parking lots and access roads.

Rainey Field was a small, private general aviation airfield owned and operated by James Rainey. It was established sometime between 1973 and 1981. According to the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory, it featured a single 2,500-foot unpaved turf runway aligned north-south (18/36). The airfield primarily handled light, single-engine aircraft for recreational purposes and was significant only on a local level for its owner and possibly other local pilots. It was never a public, commercial, or military facility. Aerial photos from the 1990s show a well-maintained grass strip with a hangar and a few small planes.

There are zero prospects for reopening Rainey Field. The land has been permanently repurposed for large-scale industrial use by Mercedes-Benz, making the restoration of an airport on this site impossible.