Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Southeastern West Virginia

Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Southeastern West Virginia

Greenbrier Airfield (revised 9/3/09) - Princeton Airport (revised 1/1/09)

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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 2 runways,

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

Vic Allen recalled, “My mother & father moved to Princeton in 1939 & both of them soloed out of this airport.”

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 2 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."

William Kennedy recalled, “I grew up in nearby Matoaka, WV. I remember the Princeton Airport clearly.

My Mother had a friend who had an airplane there. My first plane ride was from there.

Once he flew over Matoaka real low bouncing his wheels off the flat roof of the Bowling house on Graveyard Hill.

There was also an old WW2 bomber that sat at the end of the runway for many years.

I think the Boy Scouts owned it. It later ended up being painted red & green.”

Vic Allen recalled, “I was born & raised in Princeton & still live there.

As a kid back in the mid-1950s I would often sit on my aunt's back porch, which overlooked the airport, and spend hours watching planes take off & land.

My first helicopter ride was from that airport in the late-1950s.

The helicopter was owned by one of the local bakeries & they were doing a promotion.

I noticed that it was reported to have 2 runways. I can only remember it having one runway.

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."

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

Princeton had 2 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... 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 2 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."

Delbert Whitlow reported in 2006, “The hangar... has been the maintenance department garage for the City of Princeton for probably 30 or 40 years.

In addition to the Princeton Community Hospital & it's huge parking lot,

the airport property is the site of the City Hall, the city's recreation building & softball field.”

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.”

Vic Allen reported in 2008, “City hall is at the east end of the runway & Princeton Community Hospital is on the west end.

The City of Princeton still uses the hangars to maintain city vehicles & equipment.”

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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 was the airfield of the prestigious Greenbrier Resort.

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 2 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).

The brochure described Greenbrier Airport 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.

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 (circa 1950s?) aerial view looking east at the Greenbrier Airport hangar & 5 single-engine planes,

photographed by Don Elmore on August 11, 1985 from a display inside the Greenbrier Airport.

An undated (circa 1950s?) photo looking west at a lineup of aircraft at Greenbrier Airport, including several DC-3s,

photographed by Don Elmore on August 11, 1985 from a display inside the Greenbrier Airport.

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.

George Parker recalled, “Greenbrier Airport in White Sulphur Springs had a storied history of thousands of people

and many important people who passed through heading to the world famous Greenbrier Hotel.

I vividly remember watching the U.S. Air Force Lockheed Jetstar bringing Vice-President Hubert Humphrey [circa 1965-69]

to The Greenbrier through Greenbrier Airport on several occasions, he really liked the Hotel.”

Rick Claymore recalled, “As an airplane-obsessed kid growing up in Charleston, WV,

this was a regular stop on car trips on Route 60, which passed alongside the runway.

This was in the late 1960s / early 1970s.

We stopped for a few minutes to see what was on the runway, usually a couple high-end private planes.

Once, there was a new Schweitzer 2/33 parked there, fresh out of the box.”

Robert Cooper recalled, “From 1966 through the 1970s I flew many trips into & out of Greenbrier

as a corporate pilot with Texas Gulf Sulphur Company.

First in a Lockheed Learstar, then a Cessna 421 & lastly a Citation 500.

I enjoyed meeting Oscar Tate & there were many interesting incidents in getting in & out when the weather was down.

The company also operated a Saberliner & Jetstars & G1s into Greenbrier.”

Glenn Parker recalled, “The Greenbrier Airport... I used to work there as a lineman in the early- to mid-1970s during the summers while going to college.

The city of White Sulphur Springs owned the airport.

Charles 'Oscar' Tate Jr. managed the airport as well as being owner & chief pilot of Greenbrier Airlines, an air charter - air taxi operation.

Oscar, as he was known, had over 30,000 hours of flight time.

During its heyday, Greenbrier Airlines flew over 10,000 passengers per year using 11 single- & twin-engine piston aircraft,

ranging from Cessna 172 to the Lockheed 12A.

Of course, most of the traffic was for The Greenbrier [Hotel].

It is interesting to note that one of his pilots was a former manager of the old Princeton, WV airport - George Lynch.”

Glenn continued, “The airport had a 5,200' x 150' paved runway, concrete/asphalt.

The largest planes I knew of landing there was (for pistons) a DC-6B and (for jets) the Lockheed JetStar, Gulfstream III, and a BAC-111.

I personally have put in 1,000 gallons of JP-1 in a Gulfstream II & have put in 1,200 gallons in a Convair 580.

Ironically, the busiest day I can remember was on June 5, 1968,

the same day that the new Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, WV opened for business.

On that day there were 425 operations at Greenbrier Airport, due to simultaneous departure & arrival of 2 large conventions at The Greenbrier.”

In 1968 the much larger Greenbrier Valley Airport was built 6 miles to the northwest,

and it would eventually replace the original Greenbrier Airport.

Asil Ingram recalled, “I grew up in the White Sulphur Springs area

and watched the Greenbrier Airfield or as it was known to us as the Greenbrier Hotel Private Airport.

What caught my attention was the DC-2 pictured on a postcard [above].

That (possibly the same) DC-2 sat parked by the FBO hangar building untill at least December 1981.

Sometime after my departure from WV I found out through correspondence with school friends

that the airport had been closed & was being used as a drag strip for unmodified street cars.

Also through my family which were CSX employees I was told that the sole purpose of the airfield

was to support important government employees who would come to the Greenbrier Hotel.”

The Greenbrier Airport was described by the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)

as having a single 5,200' asphalt/concrete Runway 8/26.

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.

An August 10, 1985 photo by Glenn Parker of George Parker in front of a Falcon 50 trijet at Greenbrier Airport,

on the occasion of the retirement party of Charles O. "Oscar" Tate, Jr..

George recalled, “There were quite a lot of celebrities there including the head of the VA Dept. of Aeronautics,

WV U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph, WV Governor Arch Moore, Jr. & others.”

An August 10, 1985 photo by Glenn Parker of a Stearman biplane & a subscale homebuilt P-47 replica at Greenbrier Airport,

on the occasion of the retirement party of Charles O. "Oscar" Tate, Jr..

An August 10, 1985 photo by Glenn Parker of Don Elmore's DC-3 “Sentimental Journey” at Greenbrier Airport,

on the occasion of the retirement party of Charles O. "Oscar" Tate, Jr..

An August 10, 1985 photo by Glenn Parker of a vintage Lockheed 12A departing Greenbrier Airport.

An August 11, 1985 photo by Don Elmore of a Beech 18 in front of the Greenbrier Airport hangar.

An August 11, 1985 photo by Don Elmore of a Stearman in front of the Greenbrier Airport hangar.

George Parker recalled, “I was at the airport in 1986 when the last Greenbrier Airlines flight departed

to go to their new home at the Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg.

I have no pictures, I do not remember the date, and, like a fool, I did not secure a memento from the airport!

Oscar Tate's son, Chuck Tate was now running Greenbrier Airlines out of Lewisburg.”

Both the original Greenbrier Airport & the new Greenbrier Valley Airport

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

According to Glenn Parker, “The airport, because of being surrounded by hills, was most suited for the slower DC-3, Convairs, F-27, Martin 4-0-4 type of aircraft

who were slower & could loose altitude over the valleys before making a turn-in for a final to the runway.

The advent of the jets really spelled for the demise of the airport

because of their higher speed & need for a straight-in approach void of obstacles (hills).

The handwriting was on the wall & the city & The Greenbrier traded land & cash and the Greenbrier Airport was no more!”

Asil Ingram reported, “I contacted Bob Conte, the Greenbrier Hotel historian,

and said he did not know when the last flight out of the airfield was

but knew the airport definitely closed in 1986.”

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.

A 2000 USGS aerial photo showed the original Greenbrier Airport to remain in basically the same condition,

with closed-runway "X" markings painted along the runway.

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.

The site of the Greenbrier Airport is located in between Route 60 & Interstate 64, two miles southwest of White Sulphur Springs.

Thanks to Christopher Stacy for information about Greenbrier.

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