Hardwick Field

The primary reason for closure was obsolescence and the need for a more modern facility. Hardwick Field had become inadequate for the growing demands of corporate and general aviation. Its runway was relatively short (4,000 feet), it was surrounded by obstructions, and the location was landlocked, preventing any significant expansion. To better serve the community's economic and aviation needs, local authorities decided to construct a new, larger airport at a different site.

The site of the former Hardwick Field has been completely redeveloped and is now a major industrial park. The most significant structure on the property is a large manufacturing plant for the Whirlpool Corporation. All airport infrastructure, including the runway, taxiways, and hangars, has been demolished to make way for industrial facilities. The only public remnant of the airport's existence is the name of a road that runs through the site: 'Hardwick Field Lane'.

Hardwick Field was the first official airport for Cleveland, Tennessee, established between 1935 and 1938. It was named in honor of the Hardwick family, who were prominent local industrialists (Hardwick Stove Company, Hardwick Woolen Mills). Initially featuring unpaved runways, it was later upgraded with a single paved northeast/southwest runway. The airport was a vital hub for general aviation in the region for decades. Critically, it also supported commercial airline service; Southern Airways operated scheduled passenger flights from Hardwick Field using Douglas DC-3 aircraft, connecting Cleveland to its regional network.

There are zero prospects for reopening Hardwick Field. The land has been irrevocably repurposed for heavy industrial use. Furthermore, the city and county are well-served by its modern replacement, the Cleveland Regional Jetport (KRDI), which has a longer runway and superior facilities, making a second airport unnecessary and the original site's reopening both physically impossible and redundant.