Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Southeastern West Virginia

Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Southeastern West Virginia

Greenbrier Airfield (revised 12/30/07) - Princeton Airport (revised 7/16/08)

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Princeton Airport, Princeton, WV

37.36 North / 81.11 West (West of Roanoke, VA)

Princeton Airport, as depicted on a 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart.

The date of construction of Princeton Airport is unknown.

The earliest depiction of the field which has been located is the 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart,

which depicted Princeton as a commercial airport.

The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)

described Princeton Airport as having two runways,

with the longest being a 3,800' shale strip.

Bill Mitchem recalled, "My father in 1940 received his pilot's ticket at the Princeton Airfield."

Apparently the runway at Princeton had been shortened almost by half by 1944,

the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)

described the field as having only a 2,000' runway.

David McKay recalled, "I have vivid memories of playing in the hulk of an old airplane

that sat next to one of the two hangars at the site.

That was probably in the 1951-52 timeframe.

The strip was grass with some gravel as is described.

There we never more that a couple of people around & they didn't bother me as I played."

Eddie Shields recalled, “I took my first airplane ride there with my uncle's PA-12 in 1956. His last name was Croy.”

An undated (circa 1950s?) aerial view looking northwest along Princeton's runway.

A hangar was seen at the northeastern end of the runway, around which were parked 3 single-engine light aircraft.

The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Princeton Municipal Airport

as having a singe 2,800' shale Runway 9/27,

and listed the operator as Princeton Flying Service.

Frank Grose recalled, "I grew up in the Richlands, VA area,

and took flying lessons at Princeton...

the closest FBO that offered them (at an airport we liked).

I remember passing Roselawn Cemetery

(and thinking, 'If I crash, I'll be in a place like that' as we passed it).

I remember looking down at the ball fields when on final

(and thinking, 'They think they are having fun, but I'm the one who is having fun').

I remember turning base leg right down over the little valley through which the creek runs.

I remember looking down on Roselawn Cemetery while on downwind."

"The runway was turf, but with finely crushed gravel on the well-used portion.

Princeton had two nice hangars, made of grey stone blocks.

In the one next to the office (in which was hanging a large wooden prop from a Ryan Standard)

was the shop facilities.

The one to the west is where the airplanes were kept.

The hangars & tie-downs (and the large wind tetrahedron) were on the north side of the strip.

In the 1963 era, two fellows operated the airport.

I only remember that one's first name was Buddy."

According to Lanny, “Buddy's last name was Sessler.

His partner in operating Princeton Flying Service was Doug Barger.”

Frank Grose recalled, "These two guys built one or more Monocoupes from scratch.

They had a large, heavy jig, into which they clamped all the 4130 tubing before tack welding it together.

Instead of installing a radial engine, as was standard for Monocoupes,

they put a flat engine of some type.

The nose looked very 'Piper-ish', but the rest was pure Monocoupe.

As I recall, they sold the first one, had another one flying there,

another airframe was out of the jig & being welded up,

and another airframe in the jig being built, the last time I was there.

I've not seen nor heard of a flat-engined Monocoupe since.

These were not EXPERIMENTAL planes,

so they must have bought the rights to manufacture them.

I'm sure the jig was something they bought."

"My last flight from Princeton was in 1964 with Lake Watkins,

my instructor, in Aeronca 11AC Chief N9450E."

Princeton Airport was still depicted on the 1964 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

However, it apparently closed at some point between 1961-66,

as it was not depicted on the 1966 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

Strangely, the 1979 USGS topo map still contained the label "Princeton Airport",

even though it showed several streets & buildings within the bounds of the former airport.

In the 1996 USGS aerial photo of the site of Princeton Airport,

not a trace of the former airport appears to remain.

The property had been reused for several large buildings & a parking lot.

However, a clue to the former occupant of this property may still be seen on the street signs -

as the site is located southwest of the intersection of Route 19 & Airport Drive.

Former Princeton Airport pilot Frank Grose recalled,

"I was by the area of the old airport a couple of years ago.

It has changed so much that it was difficult to determine where the runway was.

Only the surrounding terrain looked the same."

K. W. Reed reported in 2007, “The black roofed building that sits just beyond the softball field's center field

is the old hangar that is currently used by the city as a maintenance garage.

Airport Drive is found by following the street off the ball field's right foul line one block north & taking the 1^st right.

The large building in the left center of the photo is the Princeton Community Hospital.

The area in the lower left is the Princeton City Park & Pool.”

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Greenbrier Airfield, White Sulphur Springs, WV

37.78 North / 80.33 West (Northwest of Roanoke, VA)

The Greenbrier Airport, as depicted on a 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart.

The cover of a vintage (1930s?) brochure for the Greenbrier Airport, unknown date (courtesy of Willard Keeling).

This is former airfield of the prestigious Greenbrier Resort.

It is located in between Route 60 & Interstate 64, two miles southwest of White Sulphur Springs.

The Greenbrier's web site mentions that an airfield was built in 1930,

but fails to mention any subsequent history, or why it was closed.

The earliest official reference of the Greenbrier Airport which has been located

was in the 1934 Department of Commerce Airfield Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).

It described Greenbrier as having an irregularly-shaped turf landing area, measuring 5,000' x 2,500'.

Chris Kennedy pointed out that the 1935 USGS topo map depicted the two hangars of the Greenbrier Airport,

and the open field of the landing area, but the map did not label it as an airfield.

"I guess the map makers didn't recognize it as an airstrip."

The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)

described White Sulphur Springs Airport as having an irregular 5,000' x 2,500' sod landing area.

The aerial photo in the directory depicted a single hangars at the northeast corner of the field.

In 1942, the Greenbrier hotel was taken over by the Federal Government,

and renamed Ashford General Hospital.

The airfield was taken over by the government & renamed Greenbrier Army Airfield.

It was used to support the operations of the hospital.

The Greenbrier returned to normal civilian operations in 1946.

According to a pilot who had flown in & out of the airfield when it was still operating,

approaches could be challenging at times because of the location of the field relative to surrounding terrain.

The Greenbrier Airport was served for an unknown period by Greenbrier Airlines,

which offered a non-scheduled air taxi service connecting Greenbrier with Roanoke, Charleston & Washington.

The airline was operated by Charles Tate, a former TWA pilot.

In an undated advertisement (courtesy of Willard Keeling),

Greenbrier Airlines boasted of a 25 year perfect safety record.

A DC-2 at the Greenbrier Airport, from an undated (1950s?) brochure (courtesy of Willard Keeling).

An aerial view of the Greenbrier Airport, from an undated (1950s?) brochure (courtesy of Willard Keeling).

A map of the Greenbrier Airport from an undated (1950s?) brochure (courtesy of Willard Keeling).

A series of undated (circa 1950s?) postcards of the Greenbrier Airport, courtesy of Willard Keeling.

An undated (1950s?) advertisement for Greenbrier Airlines (courtesy of Willard Keeling),

with several of their aircraft pictured in front of the hangar at the former Greenbrier Airport.

An undated brochure for the Greenbrier Airport (courtesy of Willard Keeling)

described the field as totaling 175 acres, with a 5,000' x 2,500' grass landing area.

A 100' x 82' metal hangar & the administration building were located on the northeast side of the field, along Route 60.

The operator was listed as Tate-Clark Flying Service.

Frank Cain reported, "I had the occasion about 1960-61 to meet Charlie Tate,

the pilot who flew out of Greenbrier Airport (WVA).

At the time, he flew a Lockheed 10A & a Cessna 180 out of the strip. A very engaging fellow.

I dropped in to refuel (at the time, I was flying a D18 Twin Beech) and got to meet him.

I often wondered whatever happened to his 10A - a remarkable airplane.

It was still the same as it was when it was built in 1937 -

all the instruments were original, only the radios were updated -

he had a Narco Mark II "Coffee Grinder" radio in it!"

After the end of the Cold War, a 1993 article in the Washington Post

disclosed that the Greenbrier had for many years maintained a secret bomb shelter

designed to protect the entire US House of Representatives & Senate.

Construction for the secret shelter began in 1959,

and it became operational in 1962.

The Greenbrier Airport may have had a role as a support facility for this secret role as a bomb shelter.

The Greenbrier Airport's runway was apparently paved by 1962,

as it was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory as having a single 5,000' paved runway.

It was also listed in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),

which described the airfield as consisting of a single 5,200' asphalt/concrete Runway 8/26.

It was still depicted as an airfield on the 1983 USGS topo map.

At some point between 1966-79,

the much larger Greenbrier Valley Airport was built six miles to the northwest.

The 1983 USGS topo map depicted the Greenbrier Airport as having a single paved runway,

with a single hangar at the northeast corner of the field.

Both the original Greenbrier Airport & the new Greenbrier Valley Airport

were listed in the 1986 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).

The original Greenbrier Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1986-90,

as the 1990 USGS aerial photo showed the runway to have closed-runway "X" markings painted along it.

The hangar had been removed, but its foundation was still perceptible.

According to Jonathan Goodish, who recently traveled through the area,

the former airfield was noticeable as a relatively long span of pavement,

painted with abandoned runway "X" markings,

and was surrounded by a fence identifying the property as a "Hunting Ground" & "No Trespassing."

CSX Hotels was listed on the signage as the property owner.

Willard Keeling visited the site in 2002,

and reported that "the Greenbrier is developing a new golf course on the site of the old airfield.

The site has been completely graded over & planting is now taking place for the new greens.

There is nothing there now that even hints that a airfield was there in the past.

Looks like next spring they will be playing golf on the old airfield."

A pretty picture, of a sad sight - a 2003 photo by Willard Keeling of the former Greenbrier Airport, now a golf course.

Thanks to Christopher Stacy for information about Greenbrier.

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