Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Texas - Western Austin area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 7/1/08.
Austin Mueller Airport (revised 4/1/08) - Haile Airport (revised 7/1/08)
San Marcos Intermediate Field #30 / #31 / #31B / Thompson Field (revised 1/24/06)
(Original) San Marcos Municipal Airport / Robert Lowman Airport (revised 5/10/08) - University Airport (revised 6/14/08)
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University Airport, Austin, TX
30.34 North / 97.71 West (Northwest of Austin Mueller Airport, Austin, TX)
An advertisement for the University Aerial Service Company,
from the 8/23/28 issue of Aviation Magazine (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
University Airport was owned & operated by the University of Texas in Austin.
The date of construction of the field has not been determined.
The earliest reference to University Airport which has been located
was an advertisement for the University Aerial Service Company
in the 8/23/28 issue of Aviation Magazine (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1929 Rand McNally Air Trails Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described University as a commercial airport consisting of a 2,500' square landing area.
The operator was listed as S.W. Ruff.
The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described University as a commercial airport consisting of a 2,500' square sod landing area.
The hangar was said to have "University" & "Austin" painted on the roof.
The location of University Airport, as depicted on a 1936 TX State Highway Department map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
An aerial view looking north at University Airport,
from The Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The directory described University as a commercial airport having 2 sod runways in an L-shape:
a 3,420' north-northeast/south-southwest & 3,130' west-northwest/east-southeast.
The hangar was said to have "University" & "Austin" painted on the roof.
Emma Carter Browning, a pioneer in Austin aviation, and her husband, barnstormer Robert Browning Jr.
started a Fixed Base Operation, Browning Aerial Services, at University Airport in 1939,
and trained many thousands of aviators in the years to come.
University Airport, as depicted on the 1940 Austin Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks).
The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described University as a commercial airport having 2 sod runways in an L-shape:
a 3,420' north-northeast/south-southwest & 3,130' west-northwest/east-southeast.
The hangar was said to have "University" & "Austin" painted on the roof.
A circa 1942 photo (courtesy of the UT library, via David Brooks)
of unformed cadets undergoing aviation training at University Airport.
A 1943 aerial view looking north at University Airport,
from the 1945 Army Air Forces Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Ir depicted the field as having 3 unpaved runways.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described University Airport as having a 2,600' unpaved runway,
and also indicated that Navy flight operations were conducted from the field.
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described University as having 2 asphalt runways in an L-shape:
3,000' north/south & 2,090' northwest/southeast
[this was the only reference among several directories of University having a paved runway,
so this may have been in error].
The field was said to be a "class 2" airport, privately owned & operated.
The field was said to have a hangar, and the manager was listed as Robert Browning.
Browning Aerial Services relocated from University to Austin's Robert Mueller Airport in 1946.
The February 1949 Austin Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted University as having a 3,400' unpaved runway.
University Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point within the next year,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1950 Austin Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks),
nor on the 1954 USGS topo map.
A 1973 aerial photo showed that the site of the former University Airport had been redeveloped,
with no recognizable trace remaining of the former airport.
David Brooks reported in 2004, "Nothing remains of the area where University existed.
I drove along the road & did not recognize anything like a structure that would be associated with an airfield."
As seen in a circa 2006 aerial photo,
not a trace appears to remain of the former University Airport.
The site of University Airport is south of the intersection of North Lemar Boulevard & West Anderson Lane.
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30.32 North / 97.72 West (Northwest of Austin Mueller Airport, Austin, TX)
Haile Airport, as depicted on the 1940 Austin Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
According to Austin Explorer, Haile Airport was established in 1939 by Doc Haile,
in what is now the neighborhood of Skyview.
The small facility was on 50 acres & primarily used for general aviation.
The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Haile as a commercial airport having 3 sod runways,
with the longest being the 2,800' north/south strip.
The field was said to have a hangar.
During WW2 some GI flight training reportedly took place at Haile Airport.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Haile Airport as having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Haile as a "class 1" airport, privately owned & operated.
The field was said to have a total of 4 gravel runways,
with the longest being the 2,800' north/south strip.
The field was said to have 2 hangars.
The operator was listed as the Haile Flying Service, and the manager was F. R. Haile.
According to Austin Explorer, Doc Haile ran Haile Airport until it was closed (for reasons unknown) in 1948.
However, Haile Airport was still depicted as an active airport on the 1950 Austin Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks).
It was depicted as having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
Haile Airport had definitely been closed by 1952,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the August 1952 Austin Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
nor on the 1954 USGS topo map.
As seen in the above 1995 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Haile Airport has been densely redeveloped,
with the only remaining trace being the former hangar (the white building just above the center of the photo).
A 2004 photo of the front of the former Haile Airport hangar.
"Haile Flying Service" is still faintly legible over the hanger door.
The only remaining sign of the airport is one of its metal hangars.
The decaying structure now serves as storage space for Howard Nursery on Koenig Lane.
"Haile Flying Service" can faintly be read over the hangar door.
The hangar was constructed of a metal frame with a corrugated metal surface
that is attached to the frame with metal wire punched through the paneling.
It's not really built to be permanent, but it still does its job today.
Inside there is a large central area for plane storage.
Around it, spaces that must have been used for offices or storage spaces occupy walled off areas where the ceiling was lower.
A 2004 photo of the back of the former Haile Airport hangar.
A 2004 photo of the interior of the former Haile Airport hangar.
A 2004 photo of lettering which remains in the interior of the former hangar,
instructing that all "Must strictly adhere to Civil Air Regulations."
A circa 2005-2006 aerial view looking south at the remaining former Haile Airport hangar.
Two 2008 photos by Dick Merrill of the front & back of the former Haile Airport hangar.
Dick reported, “It doesn't look like the property has been sold yet.”
The site of Haile Airport is located at 111 East Koenig Lane,
only 1.5 miles northwest of the site of Austin Mueller Airport.
Thanks to Konrad Kelly for pointing out this airfield.
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San Marcos Intermediate Field #30 / Intermediate Field 31 / Intermediate Field 31B /
Thompson Field, San Marcos, TX
29.86 North / 97.92 West (Southwest of Austin, TX)
San Marcos Intermediate Field #30, as depicted on the 1934 San Antonio Sectional Chart.
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
The original airport for the town of San Marcos was located on the southeast side of the town.
It apparently was originally established by the Civil Aeronautics Administration as an Intermediate Field,
one of the network of such fields which were established along commercial airways between major cities.
The original San Marcos Airport was evidently established at some point between 1929-31,
as it was not yet listed at all in the 1929 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (according to David Brooks).
The earliest reference to the San Marcos Airport which has been located
was in the 1931 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (according to David Brooks).
It was listed as the CAA Intermediate Field #30.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the 1934 San Antonio Sectional Chart, which depicted it as Site #30.
In 1934 the field was evidently redesignated as Site #31 (according to David Brooks).
In 1940 the field was redesignated yet again as Site #31B (according to David Brooks).
James Patton recalled, "I began taking flying lessons at the old San Marcos Airport in 1944.
I'm sure it was one of the emergency landing fields sited by the CAA,
because it had the standard rotating airways beacon.
Ragsdale Flying Service of Austin operated the field,
which also trained students at Southwest Texas State Teachers College
under the War Training Service (WTS), a sister government entity to CPTP & others.
In 1944 my first instructor still wore his khakis with WTS wings,
so WTS must have been disbanded a short time before.
Several privately-owned airplanes were residents,
among which were a Culver Cadet & a Buhl Pup.
For training, Ragsdale operated one or two J3 Cubs, a Piper J5 Cruiser, and a Meyers OTW biplane."
The San Marcos Airport was depicted as a municipal/commercial field
on the 1945 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The 1946 Haire Publishing Company Airport Directory (according to David Brooks) listed the field as CAA Site 31B.
At some point between 1946-48 the airport was apparently renamed as "Thompson Field",
as that is how it was listed in the 1948 Haire Publishing Company Airport Directory (according to David Brooks).
The 1948 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks) also depicted the field as “Thompson”.
The January 1949 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Thompson Field as having a 2,900' unpaved runway.
The 1950 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks)
described Thompson as having 2 crossing runways (with the longest being a 2,900' turf strip),
and indicated the field sold gas, and carried out minor & major repairs.
Thompson Field was closed at some point between 1950-55,
it was no longer depicted at all on the 1955 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks).
It was eventually replaced by a new San Marcos Municipal Airport, southwest of the town,
and the original airfield was apparently abandoned.
A 1973 aerial view did not show any recognizable trace of a former airfield.
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, a faint outline of the airfield was still recognizable.
The outline of the runways has been superimposed over the photo by David Brooks.
James Patton reported in 2004, "Reacting to a fit of nostalgia, I drove to that location last year.
The hangar & beacon are both gone & the area is under cultivation."
The airfield site is located southeast of the intersection of River Road & Old Martindale Road.
Access is from Thompson road in the upper right corner of the picture.
Thanks to David Brooks for pointing out this airfield.
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(Original) San Marcos Municipal Airport / Robert Lowman Airport (5R6), San Marcos, TX
29.85 North / 97.96 West (Southwest of Austin, TX)
The original San Marcos Municipal Airport,
as depicted on the March 1960 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 2nd airport for the town of San Marcos was located 4 miles southwest of the town,
along the southeast side of Route 81 (what would eventually become Interstate 35).
The San Marcos Municipal Airport was apparently built at some point between 1955-57,
as it was not depicted on the 1955 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks).
The earliest reference to the San Marcos Municipal Airport which has been located
was in the 1957 Aviation Week & Business Flyers Airport Directory (according to David Brooks).
The earliest depiction of the San Marcos Municipal Airport which has been located
was on the 1958 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks).
The March 1960 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
and the January 1961 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described San Marcos as having a 3,400' unpaved runway.
San Marcos apparently gained a paved runway within the next year,
as the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described San Marcos
as having a 3,400' asphalt Runway 4/22 & an 1,800' gravel Runway 17/35.
The operator was listed as B.E. Beecroft.
The 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse)
depicted San Marcos as having a total of 5 hangars along the northwest side of Runway 4/22.
The airport manager was listed as A. Churchill,
and the operators were listed as Gafford Aero Repair & San Marcos Aviation.
After the much larger Gary AFB (northeast of the town of San Marcos) had been closed by the military
and became the new San Marcos Municipal Airport,
the original San Marcos Municipal Airport was sold to Robert Lowman in late 1966,
and the field was renamed Robert Lowman Airport in 1967 (according to David Brooks).
Lowman Airport was depicted on the 1968 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks)
as having a single 3,300' paved runway.
The last photo that has been located showing Lowman Airport while it was still open was a 1973 aerial view.
It showed the airport as having a single paved northeast/southwest runway,
along with the unpaved crosswind runway.
Several hangars were located on the northwest side of the field,
around which could be seen a total of 7 light aircraft.
Lowman Airport was still depicted on the 1980 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks).
Robert Lowman Airport was still listed as an active airfield in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
and described as having a single 3,300' asphalt Runway 4/22 & a 2,200' gravel Runway 17/35.
Lowman Airport was apparently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point in 1982,
as it was marked “Closed” on the 1982 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks),
and was no longer listed among active airfields in the 1985 TX Airport Directory.
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the outline of both former runways is still perceptible,
but all of the pavement of the former Runway 4/22 has been removed except for a small portion along the northeast end,
which still has a closed runway "X" marking at its very end.
The former hangars still remained standing,
and were apparently being reused for some commercial purpose.
Garry Mangum recalled of the original San Marcos Airport,
"It was used for some time after it closed as a general aviation field for the flight of radio-controlled aircraft.
I flew there at couple of events on Memorial Day weekend during the late 1990s.
It sadly had to close also due to development."
The former airfield was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.
In a circa 2006 aerial photo of the site of the original San Marcos Municipal Airport,
the outline of both former runways were still perceptible.
The former hangars also still remained standing.
The airfield site is located south of the intersection of Interstate 35 & Redwood Road.
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Austin Mueller Airport (AUS), Austin, TX
30.3 North / 97.7 West
“Austin Airport”, as depicted on The 1929 Rand McNally Air Trails Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
In 1928 voters approved bonds to build Austin's first municipal airport.
The City Council purchased 340 acres for $60,785
on a site outside of the city selected by Army Lt. Claire Chennault (later commander of WW2's famed Flying Tigers).
The earliest depiction which has been located of Austin Mueller Airport
was on the 1929 Rand McNally Air Trails Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described “Austin Airport” as being located 3.75 miles northeast of the city center,
and being 340 acres in size.
It was a municipal field, operated by the city.
Robert Mueller Municipal Airport opened on October 14, 1930,
named for a prominent citizen & city commissioner who died in office in 1926.
The new airport featured a single runway, small office/terminal building, and one bow-trussed hangar.
Braniff International began Austin's first scheduled commercial air service on January 1, 1936.
An aerial view of Austin Mueller Airport,
from the Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The directory described Austin Mueller Airport as consisting of a 2,600' sod square landing area,
within which was a single 1,800' gravel runway.
The aerial photo in the directory depicted a single hangar on the field.
A new terminal building opened at Mueller in 1942.
During WW2, Austin Mueller served as one of 4 auxiliary airfields used by nearby Bergstrom AAF.
Austin Mueller Airport, as depicted on the July 1943 Austin Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring).
The 1954 USGS topo map depicted Austin “Municipal Airport” as having 5 paved runways, and numerous taxiways & hangars.
It also depicted the original terminal, on the west side of the field.
In 1956 the city extended Mueller's runway to 7,629' to accommodate jet traffic.
The original site was expanded to 711 acres by acquiring adjoining land, including the farm belonging to Roy Aldrich.
David Brooks recalled, "I flew hundreds of times in & out of Austin over many years (1957-91).
I did fly there as a private pilot & a passenger (mainly) on commercial aircraft.
The original 'new terminal' only had a covered walkway out to the planes
from the central building with its distinctive scalloped roof front.
It was that way up to 1968 as I have a picture of me leaving on a Braniff BAC-111 from the 'gate 1'.
The original terminal was to the side corner which was a wood building, not too much.
At that time, Austin only had about 15-25 flights per day.
When I was going to the UT, my first commercial flight was from there aboard a Braniff CV240.
During the late 1950s, Continental introduced 2 daily Viscounts - first jets into Austin.
I flew on the Viscounts from Austin to Houston on visits to relatives in Houston.
Otherwise, you had Trans Texas’s DC-3s.
Braniff flew on 'large' DC-6 per day into Austin from Dallas Love.
Braniff had about 9 flights per day Dallas to Austin (mainly) & Austin to San Antonio.
Occasionally they operated non-stop to Corpus Christi.
Trans Texas flew to Houston Hobby & Dallas Love.
Continental flew to Houston Hobby, San Angelo, and Midland/Odessa.
While President Johnson was in office during the 1960s,
Braniff flew a single daily non-stop from Austin to Washington Dulles using a Boeing 727-100."
David continued, "There was a viewing area on the terminal part of the building
with stairs you could go up & watch the comings & goings.
They had a total of 5 gates. Just a fence gate to go through to board the aircraft.
During the late 1950s to the early seventies, the principal air carriers serving Austin
were Braniff, Continental & Trans Texas (Texas International later).
That was the choices during regulation days of the FAA."
An early 1960 aerial view looking north at the new Austin Mueller terminal under construction.
The terminal building itself was complete, although work was still underway on the apron & gate pier.
Robert Mueller Airport opened its new 'jet age' passenger terminal in 1960 to replace a much older temporary building.
Although jet service from the airlines serving Austin (Braniff, Trans-Texas & Continental) was still many years off,
the terminal was hailed as a modern showplace for the fast new aircraft.
Never mind that the 707 & DC-8 aircraft couldn't operate from the short runways at the airport!
The building was single-story, with ticketing at the north end & baggage claim to the south.
A full-service restaurant, passenger lobby, newsstand & gift shop were located in between the two,
a design typical of mid-size terminals of the era.
Extending across the apron from the lobby was an open-air passenger pier with parking for 8-10 aircraft.
All boarding was at ground level.
The architecture of the building, in contrast to the layout, was definitely eye-catching.
The main terminal featured a series of waving roof trusses designed to mimic clouds.
Glass walls & landscaped planters inside created a pleasant atmosphere for departing & arriving passengers.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the building, however, was the control tower -
a graceful, curved structure paneled in blue & white, with the cab at the top.
The tower quickly became the terminal's - and one of the city's - most recognizable features.
In 1961 the new Mueller terminal was dedicated in a ceremony
attended by Vice President Lyndon Johnson & Mayor Lester Palmer.
By the time of the 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse),
Mueller had a total of 5 paved runways (the primary runway, 12R/30L, was 7,300'),
as well as numerous taxiways, ramps, hangars, and a terminal with control tower.
By the end of the 1960s, all 3 airlines had introduced jet services at the airport,
Braniff with 727s, Texas International with DC-9s, and Continental with a mix of the 2 types.
In the early 1970s, the airport underwent its first major expansion,
in the form of a second-floor boarding area over the airside pier.
A new sloping ramp was built connecting the main terminal with 6 upper-level gate holdrooms, all equipped with jetway loading bridges.
Braniff operated from the 3 gates on the south side of the pier,
while Continental & Texas International shared the 3 north-side gates.
The baggage claim area was also extended & carousels installed.
Traffic really started to grow after deregulation in 1978.
Southwest Airlines began service that year, with flights to Dallas, Houston & Midland.
Following the Continental / Texas International merger & collapse of Braniff in 1982,
a slew of new airlines opened up routes to Austin -
Delta, American, United, USAir, Piedmont, America West, TWA, Ozark & Republic, among others.
A 5-gate 'rotunda' was added to the end of the passenger pier in the early 1980s to accommodate the extra airlines.
American & Delta took over this addition & remained its primary tenants until the terminal closed in 1999.
A circa 1980-85 aerial view of Mueller (courtesy of Steve Cruse).
In the mid-1980s, the city of Austin abandoned plans to construct a new terminal & parallel runway
and instead began searching for a site to build a replacement airport.
In the meantime, they approved a 'stopgap' bond package to allow for improvements at Mueller.
Southwest, which had become the airport's largest carrier, opened its own 'unit terminal' in 1988.
Known as the East Terminal, it featured 4 jetway-equipped gates & a single large departure lounge,
constructed above new ticket counters & operations offices.
The arrival & departure roadways were also widened & redesigned.
For a time during the early 1990s, American even operated DC-10s on the Austin-DFW run,
although these were later replaced by 757s & MD-80s.
The East Terminal was bursting at the seams with Southwest flights -
Austin had some of Southwest's fastest turnarounds as a result of pressure to accommodate incoming flights.
A circa late 1990s aerial view of Austin Mueller, while the field was still open.
In 1997 the State of Texas, after considering plans to take over Mueller & keep it open as an airport,
announced it would instead acquire 282 acres of the Mueller site for a new office complex.
The tower at Austin Mueller, decorated for Christmas 1998, shortly before its closure.
Photo copyright Airnikon, used by permission.
After almost 40 years of operations, Austin-Mueller finally closed its doors in March of 1999
and all operations transferred to Bergstrom.
A circa 2000 aerial view by Bill Gunn looking looking southeast at Austin Mueller,
taken about one year after the the field was closed.
For several years after the closure, as the city finalized redevelopment plans,
the extensive aviation infrastructure at Mueller sat completely abandoned.
The Aircraft Owner's & Pilots Association had lobbied to reopen Mueller for general aviation use,
but this was an uphill battle.
The local government's redevelopment plan called for absolutely no future aviation uses,
but rather for homes & businesses to cover the site.
A 2001 photo (copyright Jason Knutson, used by permission) of the abandoned control tower at Austin Mueller.
A 2001 photo (copyright Jason Knutson, used by permission) of the abandoned Delta & American Airlines jetways at Austin Mueller.
Two 2002 photos of the passenger pier being demolished at Austin-Mueller - a sad day in the former airport's history.
Major demolition & redevelopment of the Mueller site finally got underway in 2002.
The main pier & rotunda came down first, although Southwest's East Terminal has supposedly been removed as well.
The control tower will remain on the site as a memorial to the airport.
By September 2002, there was no trace of the pier area,
and the touchdown marks on the runways were beginning to fade as well.
A 2003 aerial view looking south at the remains of Austin Mueller Airport, by Dick Merrill.
Notice the terminal has already been completely removed.
What an incredible waste of infrastructure paid for by the taxpayers.
A 2003 photo by Scott Murdock of the Austin Mueller control tower.
Scott observed, "The control tower stands, as do the airport access roads with overhead signs,
and the parking areas with their access gates & tollbooths.
But the terminal building itself has been demolished, making an eerie setting."
A 2003 photo by Scott Murdock of a former Austin Mueller hangar.
In an incredible case of irony (and poor municipal planning!),
as of 2003, several elected Austin leaders were lobbying for Austin Mueller to be reopened,
as a general aviation reliever airport.
This would be to alleviate the lack of general aviation facilities in the Austin area,
now that Austin Executive Airport had been closed,
and the "new" Austin International Airport (the former Bergstrom AFB) offered extremely limited general aviation facilities.
They couldn't have just saved a lot of tax dollars & effort by keeping it open, could they?
A circa 2005-2006 aerial view looking north at the odd sight of the former Austin Mueller control tower,
now standing alone, with the site of the now-demolished terminal building just behind it.
A circa 2005-2006 aerial view looking west at one of several former hangars remaining on the north side of the former field,
this one emblazoned with the TX flag on the side.
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