Horace Williams Airport

The primary reason for the closure was to facilitate the long-term development plans of its owner, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). The airport was located on a 1,000-acre tract of land designated for 'Carolina North,' a satellite campus intended for research, innovation, and mixed-use development. The university's strategic vision for the land was incompatible with continued airport operations. While operational costs and the need for significant infrastructure upgrades were contributing factors, the decision was driven by the university's strategic land-use planning.

The site of the former airport is now fully incorporated into the University of North Carolina's Carolina North campus. The runway, taxiways, and other aviation-specific infrastructure have been decommissioned and are in the process of being removed or repurposed. The land is slated for future academic buildings, research facilities, and green space as part of the phased development of Carolina North. While large-scale construction on the former airport grounds has not yet commenced, the area is no longer recognizable as an active airfield and is used for university support functions and staging for future projects. The land is preserved for the university's expansion.

Horace Williams Airport had a rich and significant history. Established in the late 1920s on land donated by philosophy professor Horace Williams, it became a vital asset during World War II. During the war, it served as a key training facility for the U.S. Navy's pre-flight school at UNC, where thousands of naval aviators, including future President George H.W. Bush, received their initial flight training. After the war, it transitioned into a crucial general aviation airport for the university and the surrounding community. For over four decades, it was the primary base for the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program, which used a fleet of small aircraft to fly medical professionals and students to underserved rural areas of the state. The airport also handled flights for UNC athletic teams, university executives, organ and medical patient transport for UNC Hospitals, and private pilots.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Horace Williams Airport. The closure was a strategic and permanent decision by the University of North Carolina to enable the development of the Carolina North campus. The land is considered far more valuable to the university's core mission of education and research than for aviation purposes. Any political or community efforts to save the airport prior to its closure were unsuccessful, and the university's development plans are now the sole focus for the site's future.