Southfork Airport

The closure was due to a change in property ownership. The airfield was a private facility built by Robert Thomas, the original owner of the Southfork Ranch. After the Thomas family sold the vast ranch property in the mid-2000s, the new owners did not have a need for the private runway and ceased its aviation operations. The closure was a private decision by the landowner, not due to military conversion, a specific accident, or broader economic factors.

The physical runway remains intact but is no longer maintained for aviation. Satellite imagery shows a clear, paved strip with no runway markings, taxiway lines, or parked aircraft, indicating it is not in use. The property is now operated as the 'Southfork Ranch & Sporting Club,' a venue for cattle ranching, private events, hunting, and fishing. The former runway is now essentially a long private road on the property and may be used for ground vehicle access, equipment storage, or special events, but not for aviation.

Southfork Airport, also known as Southfork Ranch Airfield (FAA LID: 1FL2), was a significant private airfield. It was established between 1981 and 1987 by rancher Robert Thomas for his personal and business use. The airport featured a substantial 5,000-foot by 75-foot paved runway (18/36), capable of accommodating business jets and other large private aircraft. Its sole purpose was to provide direct, convenient air access to the remote, 7,200-acre Southfork Ranch for its owner, family, and guests. It was a prime example of a well-appointed, large-scale private aviation facility integrated into a large agricultural and recreational estate, bypassing the need to use public airports.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The facility is officially and permanently closed according to the FAA. Reinstating it as an active airfield would require a significant financial investment and a desire from the current property owners to re-certify it for aviation use. Given the ranch's current focus on sporting and event activities, a return to aviation operations is considered highly unlikely.