Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Florida, Northern Orlando area
© 2002, © 2006 by Paul Freeman. Revised 10/28/06.
Cannon Mills Airport (revised 11/21/03) - Flying Seminole Ranch
Mt. Plymouth Airport (revised 5/21/05) - Ryan Municipal (revised 3/6/04)
Showalter Airpark (revised 10/28/06) - Taylor Field (revised 3/10/03)
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Mt. Plymouth Airport, Mt. Plymouth, FL
28.79 North / 81.53 West (Northwest of Orlando, FL)
A series of undated photos showing aircraft parked next to the Mt. Plymouth Hotel.
According to the website of the Florida Central Academy, the 150-room Mount Plymouth Hotel was opened in 1926.
The hotel was built at a cost of $350,000, and was the centerpiece of a golfing resort.
An unnamed auxiliary airfield was depicted approximately at Mt. Plymouth on the 1935 Orlando Sectional Chart.
At some point, an airfield was established directly adjacent to the hotel building,
and it was used by hotel guests to fly in & out of the resort.
The date of construction of the airfield has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
appears to be the 1935 Orlando Sectional Chart,
which depicted an unnamed auxiliary airfield in approximately the location of Mt. Plymouth.
The November 1936 "Official Airway Map of FL" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted an airfield just to the southwest of Mt Plymouth.
This location is somewhat different from that depicted on the 1935 chart, but was presumably the same field.
An aerial view of the Mt. Plymouth Airport,
from the Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The directory described Mt. Plymouth as an auxiliary airfield,
having two 2,000' runways, oriented north/south & east/west in a T-shape.
The aerial photo in the directory depicted the Mt. Plymouth directly adjacent to the runways.
It has not been determined how much longer the Mt. Plymouth Hotel (or its airfield) continued to operate.
A 1941 USDA aerial photo of the Mt Plymouth Airport (courtesy of the FL DOT via Brian Rehwinkel).
Although the north/south & northwest/southeast runways were still clear,
there was no indication that the field was still in use as an airport.
The Mt. Plymouth Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1937-42,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the January 1942 Orlando Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
nor listed in the 4/1/44 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
From 1959-83, the former Mt. Plymouth Hotel was reused as the location of the Florida Central Academy.
In its heyday, it was considered one of the finest college preparatory boarding schools in the United States.
In 1983 the property became the custody of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court,
which also ordered the school closed and all business transactions halted pending the settling of claims.
Four days later county health officials condemned the building as unfit for human habitation.
The building quickly fell prey to vandals.
Plumbing was ripped out, walls bashed in, windows broken and graffiti painted on the walls.
Then in 1986, two three story wings of the former hotel were destroyed in a fire set by two teenagers.
One year later, in 1987, fire destroyed the remaining South Wing, in yet another episode of arson.
As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the former north/south runway has been covered with a housing development.
It is believed that the clearing running northwest/southeast (just above the center of the photo)
is the remaining outline of one of the former runways.
The site of the hotel is at the west end of that runway (at the northwest corner of the photo).
A later aerial photo shows that the additional portions of the former airfield have been covered by housing as well.
The site of the Mt. Plymouth Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Westchester Avenue & Timuquana Avenue.
Thanks to Charles "Sandy" Jordan for pointing out the location of this airfield.
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Ryan Municipal Airport, Apopka, FL
28.69 North / 81.51 West (Northwest of Orlando, FL)
Ryan Field, as depicted on the November 1936 "Official Airway Map of FL" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of the Ryan Municipal Airport has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the November 1936 "Official Airway Map of FL" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having two runways in the shape of a "T".
According to the Apopka Historical Trail web site (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel),
Helen McBride leased the Ryan Municipal Airport starting in 1942 to teach military pilots to fly in her four airplanes.
McBride had received her pilot's license in the mid-1930s,
and was a former cross-country air racer.
The January 1942 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
depicted Ryan as an auxiliary airfield.
The earliest directory listing of Ryan Field which has been located
was in the 4/1/44 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
It described Ryan as having a 2,800' unpaved runway.
The 1945 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
depicted Ryan as a commercial or municipal airport.
A 2/21/47 aerial photo of Ryan Field (from the FL DOT, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
depicted Ryan Field as having two runways, oriented north/south & east/west.
It did not seem to depict any buildings at the airport, though.
The runways of Ryan Field were depicted on an August 1950 FL Department of Transportation street map (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel),
but the airport was not labeled.
According to the Apopka Historical Trail web site (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel),
Helen McBride's lease at Ryan Municipal Airport ended in 1952.
A portion of the airport on the northwest corner of Park Avenue & Summit Drive
was sold in 1954 to the Orange County School Board,
and the Dream Lake Elementary School opened the following year.
By the time of the August 1954 Orlando Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
Ryan Field was no longer depicted at all.
As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo, the site of the former Ryan Field has been densely redeveloped,
with not a trace appearing to remain of the former airport.
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Showalter Airpark, Winter Park, FL
28.6 North / 81.32 West (Northeast of Orlando, FL)
A 3/17/47 aerial photo of Showalter Airpark, from the FL DOT (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
An undated view of Showalter Airport.
Howard Showalter, Ford Rogers Jr., and Sandy Showalter.
As described on the current Showalter Flying Service web site,
Howard & "Sandy" Showalter and "Buck" Rogers migrated to Florida in late 1945 after completing their military service,
acquired one hundred acres of ground in Winter Park, and built Showalter Airpark.
The Airpark was intended to be the mecca for the private pilot
with a country club atmosphere to make flying attractive to everyone.
With the advent of the G. I. Bill,
flight training became a large part of the operation
and the fleet was increased to three J-3 Cubs, a Luscomb Silvaire, a Taylorcraft and a Fairchild-24.
A 1947 aerial photo depicted Showalter Airpark as having two grass runways,
oriented east/west & northeast/southwest.
The 1949 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Showalter Airport as having a 2,500' unpaved runway.
The Showalter company was expanded to include a flight school at Sanford
and one at Herndon (then the Orlando Municipal Airport).
The original Showalter Airpark was becoming a smaller part of the company's business,
as the growing number of corporate pilots needed an airport with better facilities,
navigation systems and capacity to handle the larger aircraft.
Therefore, when the new terminal was built on Orlando Municipal Airport in 1951,
the Showalter Corporation was the successful bidder to initiate the first Fixed Base Operation on the Municipal Airport.
By the time of the 1957 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
Showalter Airport was still depicted as an active airfield, but it was also labeled "Emerg only".
According to Bob Showalter, "We had moved our main business to the downtown Orlando Airport by 1959."
An early 1960's FL Department of Transportation street map (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
depicted Showalter Airport as having two 2,500' runways, oriented east/west & northeast/southwest.
By the time of the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory, Showalter Airport was obviously on its way out,
as the directory said that the field was unattended, and for "Emergency use only."
It was described as having a single 2,500' turf Runway 9/27.
According to Bob Showalter, "The last plane landed at Showalter Airpark, with me on board with my Dad, in 1963.
We sold the property to a condominium developer."
By the time of the 1966 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
Showalter Airpark was no longer depicted at all.
As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo,
the property of Showalter Airport has been densely redeveloped,
and not a trace remains of the former airfield.
Steve Stern commented in 2004, "Most people can't imagine an airport there since it is very populated.”
The site of Showalter Airpark is located south of the intersection of Aloma Avenue & Balfour Drive.
Showalter Flying Service continues in business today at the Orlando Executive Airport.
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Cannon Mills Airport, Orlando, FL
28.54 North / 81.3 West (East of Orlando Executive Airport, FL)
Cannon Mills Airport, as depicted on the January 1942 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Not much is known about this small former airport.
Cannon Mills Airport was located just east of Orlando Municipal Airport (now Orlando Executive Airport).
The date of construction of Cannon Mills Airport has not been determined.
It was evidently built at some point between 1938-41,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airports Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in the Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Cannon Mills as a commercial airport,
consisting of two sod runways (3,000' east/west & 2,600' north/south) & a hangar.
The earliest depiction of Cannon Mills which has been located
was on the January 1942 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 4/1/44 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Cannon Mills Airport as having a 4,100' unpaved runway.
A February 23 1947 US Government aerial photo of Cannon Mills from the FL DOT (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
depicted what appeared to be a total of four runways,
along with about a half-dozen planes parked around a small building at the southwest corner of the field.
The 1949 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Cannon Mills as having a 4,100' unpaved runway.
Cannon Mills was apparently closed at some point between 1949-57,
as it was no longer depicted by the time of the 1957 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Cannon Mills Airport,
as depicted on an early 1960's FL Department of Transportation street map (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
Even though the field was apparently already closed,
Cannon Mills Airport continued to be depicted
on a FL Department of Transportation street map thought to be from the early 1960s (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
It depicted Cannon Mills Airport as having three runways,
with the longest being a 3,300' east/west strip.
As seen in the circa 2001 aerial photo,
the property of Cannon Mills Airport has been densely redeveloped as the Azelea Park neighborhood,
and not a trace appears to remain of the former airfield.
The site of Cannon Mills Airport is located northeast of the intersection of East/West Expressway & Route 436.
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29.18 North / 82.15 West (Northwest of Orlando, FL)
Taylor Field, as depicted on the 1935 Orlando Sectional Chart.
The date of construction of Ocala's Taylor Field has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Taylor Field as a municipal airport, consisting of 170 acres.
The landing area was said to be a triangular sandy loam field, measuring 4,400' northeast/southwest by 2,100' northwest/southeast.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the 1935 Orlando Sectional Chart,
which depicted "Taylor" as a commercial or municipal airport.
An aerial view looking east at Taylor Field,
from The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The directory depicted Taylor Field as having two paved runways, with the longest being the 3,900' northeast/southwest strip.
A paved taxiway led to a paved ramp on the north side of the field.
According to the FL Department of State, the Greenville Aviation School opened in November 1941
as a primary flight training facility, located at Ocala's Taylor Field.
The airport was named for the original donor of the property, James Taylor.
The school's owner, Frank Hanley, had moved this facility from Greenville, MS,
while retaining the name of that location for his Florida school.
West Point Cadets made up the first class to arrive at the school in November 1941.
Using the Stearman-designed Kaydet PT-17 trainer,
over 5,000 cadets received primary flight training at this location.
With a monthly payroll of $50,000,
the Greenville School made a significant economic contribution to the Ocala Community.
Taylor Field was depicted as a municipal/commercial field on the January 1942 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
although with the comment “Restricted to Air Corps Training.”
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described "Taylor, Army" as having a 4,000' hard-surface runway.
It was described as a Civilian Pilot Training field,
with "extensive training 15 mile radius."
The Greenville Aviation School at Taylor Field closed in September 1944.
Taylor Field, as depicted on the 1945 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
Taylor Field continued to operate as a civilian airport after WW2.
A 3/9/49 USDA aerial photo of Taylor Field,
from the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
The photo depicted Taylor Field as having three paved runways,
and three hangars along the northwest side of the field.
The airfield did not seem to be very active, as not a single plane was visible anywhere on the field.
A group of dorms/classrooms previously used by the Greenville Aviation School
were still standing on the northeast corner of the field.
As depicted on a 1956 FL Department of Transportation street map (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel),
Taylor Field had three runways.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Taylor Field was having three paved runways, with the longest being the 4,006' Runway 3/21.
A series of hangars was located along a taxiway on the northwest side of the field.
Taylor Field was described by the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory
as having a single 5,000' asphalt Runway 18/36.
Airline service was provided by Eastern Airlines.
Taylor Field was closed in 1962,
when it was replaced by a new & larger airport west of the town.
The Taylor Field property was eventually reused as an industrial park.
By the time of the 1966 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
Taylor Field was no longer depicted at all.
USGS aerial photo 1999.
Brian Rehwinkel reported in 2003, "I visited the site about two weeks ago
and there is very little evidence of the former airfield.
It has been completely transformed into an industrial park.
I did photograph a small portion of the remains of one of the former runways."
The site of Taylor Field is located south of the intersection of State Road 200 & Martin Luther King Avenue.
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Flying Seminole Ranch Airport, Chuluotta, FL
28.65 North / 81.15 West (Northeast of Orlando, FL)
Flying Seminole Airfield, as depicted on the April 1966 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
The date of construction of this former general aviation airport is unknown.
It was apparently built at some point between 1964-66,
as it was not yet depicted on the April 1964 Orlando Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the April 1966 Orlando Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Aerodromes table in the chart described "Flying Seminole Ranch Space University"
as having a single 4,050' turf runway.
Clark True recalled that "I used to fly there often in 1966-67.
At that time it was a 4,000' turf runway & had a small building for the FBO
and a restaurant that put out a great breakfast for about $3, thus the reason for visiting often.
Usually about 5 plane loads from Cocoa & Rockledge would descend upon them
for breakfast on Sunday mornings before air touring the state for the rest of the day."
The 1980 USGS topo map depicted the “Flying Seminole Ranch Airport” as having a single unpaved southeast/northwest runway,
with a single building (a hangar?) on the southwest side of the field.
Flying Seminole Ranch Airport was listed in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
which described the field as having a single 4,000' turf Runway 11/29,
and listed the operator as Flying Seminole.
Jim Ash reported, "I have log book entries up to 1987 from when I flew gliders there.
They were towing a SGS2-33A, a SGS1-26E, and a Grob 103 with a Cessna L-19.
There was a small office structure mid-field, on the south side of the runway, right next to the road, but no hangars.
A developer bought it (rumor) and built a paved runway next to the grass runway on the north side (fact),
before finding out the western end of the airport under the normal approach was environmentally sensitive wetlands (fact).
The project was abandoned, but not before the glider operation moved to Clermont, FL.
They operate now as Seminole Lake Gliderport.
The couple that own the operation are named Knut & Ingrid Kjenslie."
It was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 aeronautical charts.
As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield consisted of a single 4,800' paved runway & parallel taxiway,
along with the previous grass runway to the south of the paved runway.
An aerial photo from 2000 showed that the paved runway has already started to be removed by redevelopment,
and several new roads had been built over the parallel grass runway at some point between 1999-2000.
Steve Stern provided an update to the status of the site of the Flying Seminole Ranch in 2004:
"It is now all housing. Urban sprawl from Orlando. The road that runs by there (419) is now 4-laned."
A later aerial photo shows that new construction covers the site,
with no trace remaining of the former airfield.
The site of the Flying Seminole Ranch Airport is located
north of the intersection of Chuluotta Road & Twin Rivers Boulevard.
Thanks to John Foskett for pointing out this airfield.
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