Saline County/Watts Field

The closure was primarily due to the airport being replaced by a new, larger, and more modern facility. The original Watts Field was landlocked by urban growth and commercial development, making it impossible to expand the runway or upgrade facilities to meet modern safety standards and accommodate larger aircraft. The land, being in a prime location adjacent to Interstate 30, was highly valuable for commercial redevelopment, which provided the economic impetus for the move.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped into a major retail center. The land is now occupied by 'The Shoppes of Benton,' a large shopping complex featuring anchor tenants like Target, Kohl's, Academy Sports + Outdoors, HomeGoods, and numerous other stores and restaurants. All physical traces of the runway, taxiways, and airport buildings have been demolished and removed to make way for the current commercial development and its extensive parking lots.

Established around 1962, Saline County/Watts Field served as the primary general aviation airport for Benton and the surrounding Saline County for over four decades. It was a crucial piece of local infrastructure, supporting private pilots, business travel, flight training, and other light aircraft operations. The airport featured a single paved north/south runway (18/36) that was approximately 3,500 feet long, along with several hangars and a small terminal building. It was a typical community airport that supported the local economy before it was ultimately outgrown by the community's needs.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The land has been permanently and irreversibly converted to high-value commercial use. The construction of the Saline County Regional Airport (KSUZ) was the definitive solution to replace Watts Field, and the original site is no longer viable for aviation purposes.