Elk Grove Airport

The primary reason for closure was economic pressure driven by rapid urban sprawl. As the city of Elk Grove expanded dramatically in the 1980s, the land value of the airport property skyrocketed, making it far more profitable to sell for residential real estate development than to continue operating as a general aviation airport.

The airport site has been completely redeveloped and is now a dense suburban residential neighborhood. There are no physical remnants of the airport itself. However, its legacy is commemorated through aviation-themed street names in the subdivision, such as Aviation Drive (which runs roughly parallel to the former runway), Kitty Hawk Drive, Wright Brothers Drive, Piper Drive, and Cessna Drive.

Established around 1957-1958, Elk Grove Airport (which had the FAA identifier O37) was a privately-owned, public-use airport that served as a vital hub for the general aviation community south of Sacramento for nearly three decades. It featured a single paved 2,300-foot north/south runway (17/35), hangars, and a fixed-base operator (FBO). The airport was home to flight schools (such as Horizons Unlimited), aircraft maintenance services, and was a base for numerous private pilots and their aircraft. It supported recreational flying, flight training, and other general aviation activities.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The site is fully occupied by housing developments, and the surrounding area is heavily urbanized. Re-establishing an airport at this location is logistically impossible and economically infeasible.