Ashley Field

The primary reason for closure was economic and related to urban development. The airport occupied what became prime real estate along the increasingly busy US Highway 441. As the Eustis and Mount Dora areas grew, the land's value for commercial development far exceeded its value as a small general aviation airport, leading to its sale and redevelopment.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped and shows no trace of its aviation past. It is now the location of the Eustis Village shopping center, a major retail complex anchored by a Publix supermarket and other stores, located at the intersection of US-441 and David Walker Drive.

Ashley Field, also known as Eustis Airport, was a privately-owned, public-use general aviation airport active from at least the mid-1940s. It served the local communities with facilities for private pilots, flight training, and personal air travel. The airfield featured two unpaved, turf runways arranged in a cross pattern, with the longest runway measuring approximately 2,600 feet. It was a characteristic example of a small-town, post-World War II American airfield supporting the local economy and aviation enthusiasts before being supplanted by larger, regional airports and commercial growth.

There are zero prospects for reopening Ashley Field. The land is fully and densely developed with commercial properties, making any future aviation use impossible. The general aviation needs for the region are currently served by nearby airports such as Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) and Umatilla Municipal Airport (X23).