Golden Field (Yellow Hat) Airport

The exact reason is not officially documented. However, as a private airfield serving the Yellow Hat Ranch, its closure was most likely due to economic reasons or a change in circumstances for the owner. Common reasons for such closures include the sale of the property, the owner ceasing to fly, or the cost of maintenance becoming prohibitive for a private-use strip. There is no evidence of military conversion or a specific accident leading to its closure.

The site is currently undeveloped rangeland and is not used for aviation. Satellite imagery clearly shows the faint, deteriorating outlines of the two former runways intersecting in the field. There are no remaining structures such as hangars, terminals, or other aviation-related infrastructure on the site. The land remains privately owned.

Golden Field, more commonly known as Yellow Hat Field, was a private airfield that served the large and remote Yellow Hat Ranch in Huerfano County, Colorado. It was not a public airport and handled no commercial or scheduled operations. Its primary purpose was to provide private air access for the ranch's owners, guests, and potentially for ranch business. The airfield featured two unpaved, perpendicular runways, with the longest being approximately 4,000 feet, making it suitable for a variety of light and some medium-sized general aviation aircraft. Its existence highlights a common practice among owners of large, remote ranches in the American West to maintain private airstrips for transportation and logistics.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Golden Field (Yellow Hat) Airport. As the land is privately owned and the airfield has been decommissioned for decades, reopening would require significant private investment from the current landowner to clear, regrade, and certify the runways. It is highly unlikely to be re-established as an airfield.