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An inside look into some of the country’s most popular, developing airparks.
According to the online directory Living With Your Plane, there are now more than 400 residential airparks across the United States, many of which can accommodate and cater to the class of pilot that own twin and turbine aircraft. To gain a better understanding of what airpark living truly looks like, we visited with four airparks from around the country: Alpine Airpark (Wyoming), Big South Fork Airpark (Tennessee), Stearman Field (Kansas) and Heaven’s Landing (Georgia).
Alpine Airpark (46U): Alpine, WY
Swiftly ascending to what many consider a “perfect airpark,” Alpine Airpark has come a long way in 13 years. Founder Bill Wiemann, a real estate developer, first flew into the western- Wyoming airport that borders Idaho one year before purchasing the land (it is now communally owned by the residents). At that time, the airport consisted of a crushed gravel, private runway just 20 feet wide. Since then, the property has undergone a flurry of improvements including the expansion of its runway to a generous 5,827 feet of asphalt (70 feet in width) and the addition of a GPS approach and a new FBO.
The runway is impressive in itself for an airpark, but what sets it apart is the approach. Alpine Airpark is situated 5,637 feet above sea level amongst the Palisades Reservoir and the Snake River. During the approach, pilots can see the Tetons
as well as the vast, untapped Wyoming bush. The proximity to unbridled nature allows the local homeowners to enjoy their R&R in some of the highest rated scenery in the country. Residents and visitors (rental homes are also available) enjoy year-round outdoor activities from fly fishing and whitewater rafting to snowmobiling (the area is ranked number two in the world for this winter activity). The airport’s website showcases some of the recreational opportunities and beauty that the location has to offer.
“Our website is a good preview, but we frequently have visi- tors claim that Alpine Airpark is all the more impressive in person,” said Wiemann, who now serves as an associate broker.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH CLEMENS