Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southeastern Michigan
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/16/08.
Davis Airport (revised 3/16/08) - Washentaw Airport / Young Airport (revised 9/9/06)
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Washentaw Airport / Young Airport, Ann Arbor, MI
42.3 North / 83.86 West (West of Detroit, MI)
Washentaw Airport, as depicted in the 1946 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Doug Ranz).
This little general aviation field was evidently established at some point in 1946,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the July 1946 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
Tina Dowis reported, “My grandfather Robert MacVicar was founder/owner-operator of the Washtenaw Airport.
He also was a pilot in WWII... after the service he then built this airport
and taught flying in the Ann Arbor area for many years.
He also flew many years with Bill Barber who both were known for their airshows.”
The earliest depiction of Washentaw Airport which has been located
was in the 1946 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Doug Ranz).
It depicted the field as having 3 unpaved runways (with the longest being the 2,600' northwest/southeast strip),
and having a single hangar on the east side.
The December 1947 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Washentaw as a commercial/municipal airport.
The 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton)
depicted Washentaw as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.
A 1949 aerial photo of Washentaw Airport, from Wayne State University (courtesy of Greg Steinmayer).
The field had 3 unpaved runways,
along with a row of T-hangars on the east side of the field.
A total of 6 light single-engine aircraft were visible parked on the southeast corner of the field.
It was still depicted as Washtenaw Airport on the May 1957 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1961 aerial photo of Washentaw Airport from Wayne State University (courtesy of Greg Steinmayer)
showed that the southeast corner of the field had been taken up by a drive-in movie theater, which considerably changed the airport's configuration.
The former east/west strip was gone,
and the former southeast/northwest strip had been relocated somewhat farther north, to avoid the drive-in theater.
An additional row of T-hangars had been added at some point between 1949-61.
The parking area had also been relocated to the middle of the southern edge of the field,
but the total of aircraft visible parked on the field had decreased to only 3.
The airport was evidently renamed “Young” at some point between 1957-65,
as that is how it was labeled on the July 1965 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
According to Robert Young Jr., “I was told as a boy from my mother
that it was named in honor of my dad Robert Young Sr.,
who was a pilot & trainer back in the 1940s & 1950s.
My dad worked at Willow Run flying the bombers, and trained many others to do that too.
He worked at Ann Arbor Airport for many years, and helped start the Civil Air Patrol.
Sadly my father passed away in a training accident in 1953, 2 months before I was born.
My Uncle Ernie & my mom used to tell me about the runway being named for him after his death.”
The May 1976 Detroit Terminal Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Young as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
Dave Lyjak recalled of Young Airport, “My dad kept his airplane there for a number of years in the 1970s-80s period
and I learned to fly & soloed there (also learned to drive a stick shift).
We also used to go to the drive-in the southeast corner –
the 1st time I saw 'Blue Max' although Mom & Dad made my brother & I lie down in the back seat whenever Ursula Andress was on screen.”
Young Airport evidently was closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1976-80,
as it was no longer listed among active airports in the 1980 AOPA Airports USA directory (according to Chris Kennedy),
nor depicted at all on the October 1983 Detroit Terminal Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
Although it had evidently already been closed for at least 3 years,
the 1983 USGS topo map still depicted Young Airport as having a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway,
with several rows of T-hangars on the southwest & east sides.
By the time of the 1998 USGS aerial photo, the runway at the former Young Airport was gone,
but several of the former T-hangar buildings remained standing.
A 2006 photo of Greg Steinmayer.
Greg reported, “On the Southern side of the field are 3 large, long hangar buildings,
which I presume to be T-hangars since they have doors on both sides.”
A 2006 photo of Greg Steinmayer.
According to Greg, “On the Eastern end of the field are a lonely T-hangar,
and the foundations of a larger group of T-hangars.”
A 2006 photo of Greg Steinmayer of former runway or taxiway pavement.
According to Greg, “In the middle of the field is that weird paved area which I think MIGHT have been a runway,
but it is very narrow - no more than 8' wide, however it has some markings.
The area is now partially covered by a new industrial building which did not show up in the 1998 aerial photo.”
The site of Young Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Jackson Road & North Staebler Road.
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Davis Airport (2D8), East Lansing, MI
42.77 North / 84.49 West (Northwest of Detroit, MI)
Davis Airport, as depicted on the November 1954 Milwaukee Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This little general aviation field was evidently established at some point between 1948-54,
as it was not yet depicted on the December 1948 Milwaukee Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Davis Airport which has been located
was on the November 1954 Milwaukee Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Davis as having a 2,100' unpaved runway.
A July 1962 photo by John Mathieson of the Sheren Aviation hangar at Davis Airport.
John Mathieson recalled, “I used to fly out of Davis Airport.
It was owned back in the 1960s by Art Davis, a local farmer & long time barnstormer.
Dale Sheren was the fixed base operator.”
A circa 1960s photo by John Mathieson of 5 planes on the Davis Airport flightline.
A circa 1960s photo by John Mathieson of a Piper Tri-Pacer being serviced next to the Sheren Aviation hangar at Davis Airport.
The 1965 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Davis as having 3 unpaved runways, with the longest being the 2,550' Runway 9/27.
Six buildings were depicted on the east side of the field.
The manager was listed as Dale Sheren.
Ron Nelson recalled Davis Airport, “I housed my plane there (Stinson 108-3)
and took my lessons & received my license there in the late 1970s / early 1980s.
At that time there were 10-15 planes housed in the hangars near Runway 9/27.
There was also a larger hangar used by the field operators to house their trainers (they had 2) & an on-site mechanic.
When I flew out of Davis it was well maintained & a lot of fun to hang out at.”
The 1982 AOPA Airports USA directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described Davis Airport as having 3 turf runways, with the longest being the 2,600' Runway 9/27.
The field was said to offer fuel, hangars, tiedowns, charter, flight instruction, and aircraft rental.
The operators were listed as Sheren Aviation & Community Aviation.
In the 1999 USGS aerial photo, Davis Airport unfortunately appeared to be a little airport on its last legs,
with not a single aircraft visible on the field.
The field was otherwise still intact, though, with 3 clear grass runways & 5 hangars.
Davis Airport was “closed permanently, effective 4/5/00”,
according to the MI Bureau of Aeronautics (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Ron Nelson, “The field was closed because the land was sold off
for apartment buildings that are used primarily by Michigan State University students (a couple of miles south),
a small strip mall & some individual houses just north of the site.”
As of 2005, street maps showed that Coleman Road had been extended to the east,
going right across the site of the former Davis Airport.
The airport site is located northwest of the intersection of Coleman Road & Chandler Road.
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