Howell-New Lenox Airport

The closure was for economic reasons, specifically due to the increasing value of the land for real estate development. As the suburbs of Chicago expanded, the pressure from suburban sprawl made the property more valuable for residential housing than for continued use as a general aviation airport. The owner, William Howell, ultimately sold the land to developers.

The airport site has been completely redeveloped into a residential subdivision named 'Sky Harbor'. There are no longer any visible remnants of the runways, hangars, or other airport facilities. The airport's history is commemorated by a street name within the development: 'S. Howell Airport Drive', which runs through the former location of the airfield.

Established around 1946 by William 'Bill' Howell, a WWII flight instructor, Howell-New Lenox Airport was a classic post-war general aviation field. For over 50 years, it was a vital community hub for pilots in the south Chicago suburbs. It primarily handled general aviation traffic, including flight training (it was home to a popular flight school), aircraft rental, private aircraft storage, and aircraft maintenance. It featured both paved and turf runways and was a beloved home base for many local aviation enthusiasts.

There are zero prospects for reopening. The land has been irreversibly transformed into a dense residential neighborhood, making it physically and legally impossible to re-establish an airport on the site.