Lykes Palmdale Airport

The airport was a private field owned and operated by Lykes Brothers, Inc., a major agricultural corporation. While no single official reason was publicly stated, the closure was a business decision by the company. This is typical for private airfields and was likely due to a combination of factors, including changing corporate needs, the high cost of maintenance and liability insurance, and the consolidation of company operations. The land was ultimately more valuable for the company's core agricultural activities.

The site remains private property owned by Lykes Brothers. The paved runway is still fully intact and clearly visible from satellite imagery. However, it is no longer maintained for aviation purposes and is not in use as an airport. The asphalt surface is now used for agricultural support, such as parking heavy farm equipment, staging materials for the surrounding citrus groves, and other logistical needs related to the ongoing farming operations.

Lykes Palmdale Airport, also known as Lykesland Airport, was a significant private aviation facility for Lykes Brothers, Inc. Established sometime before 1968, it featured a single paved 4,400-foot runway (9/27). Its primary purpose was to support the company's vast citrus and cattle operations in south-central Florida. The airport handled corporate aircraft for executive transport, planes for aerial land surveys, and likely served as a base or staging area for agricultural aviation (crop dusting). Its history is directly tied to the growth and management of one of Florida's most prominent agribusinesses in the 20th century.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Lykes Palmdale Airport. The land is an integral part of an active, large-scale agricultural enterprise. Given that the original corporate owner closed the facility due to a lack of need, and the land is now repurposed for agricultural support, a return to aviation use is considered extremely unlikely.