Belle Creek Airport

The closure was for economic and operational reasons. Belle Creek Airport was a private airfield built and maintained exclusively to serve the Belle Creek Oil Field. Such industrial airports are often decommissioned when the operating company determines they are no longer cost-effective to maintain, or when the logistical needs of the facility change (e.g., shifting from air transport to ground transport for personnel and equipment). There was no single event like an accident that led to its closure.

The airport is permanently closed and abandoned for aviation purposes. Satellite imagery of the coordinates confirms the asphalt runway is still intact but in a state of disrepair. Large, faded 'X' markings, the standard visual symbol for a closed runway, are visible at both ends. The site is part of the larger Belle Creek Gas Plant and oil field industrial complex. The runway surface appears to be used as a private road or for equipment staging and storage by the energy company that currently operates the field.

Belle Creek Airport (which had the FAA identifier 3V7 when active) was of significant local importance. It was established around 1967 following the discovery of the massive Belle Creek Oil Field. The airport's primary purpose was to support this major oil and gas operation, which is one of the largest in Montana. It featured a single 5,000-foot paved runway (11/29) and was operated by the Gary Operating Company, which managed the oil field. The airport was crucial for flying in executives, engineers, specialized technicians, and time-sensitive equipment from corporate offices (likely in Denver, CO) to a remote but economically vital industrial site. Its existence was directly tied to the boom and sustained operation of the oil field.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Belle Creek Airport. Its original mission as a private corporate airfield is now considered obsolete. The infrastructure has not been maintained for aviation for over two decades, and it would require significant investment to be recertified. Given its remote location and the existence of a public airport in Broadus (Broadus Airport - KBDX) approximately 25 miles to the southwest, there is no public or commercial demand for its reopening.