Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southeastern Utah
© 2002, © 2007 by Paul Freeman. Revised 8/8/07.
(Original) Green River Airport (revised 8/8/07) - (Original) Roosevelt Municipal (revised 9/18/03)
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(Original) Green River Airport (U20), Green River, UT
38.99 North / 110.18 West (Southeast of Salt Lake City, UT)
The original Green River Airport was depicted as an auxiliary airfield
on the March 1954 Grand Junction Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
The first airport for the town of Green River was evidently built at some point between 1949-54,
as it was not depicted on the September 1949 Great Salt Lake World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the March 1954 Grand Junction Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which depicted it as an auxiliary airfield.
The runway at Green River was apparently paved at some point between 1954-63,
as the 1963 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Green River as having a single 4,100' bituminous Runway 9/27.
The operator was listed as Green River Aviation Company, a Cessna dealer.
The original Green River Airport,
as depicted on the November 1965 Grand Junction Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1967 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Green River
as having a curving taxiway which led from the eastern end of the runway to a small ramp,
with several buildings (hangars?) along the northern side of the ramp.
The runway had also been redesignated as Runway 7/25.
The airfield configuration was depicted in the same manner
in the 1972 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The runway configuration remained unchanged
as described in the 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
and the operator remained listed as Green River Aviation.
By the time of the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
the operator had become Redtail Aviation Inc.
The February 4, 1982 FAA Inspection Report (courtesy of David Field)
depicted Green River as having a single 4,200' asphalt Runway 7/25,
with an apron & several hangars on the east side of the field.
The field was said to be owned by the City of Green River,
with the manager listed as Glen Baxter.
Green River was said to have a total of 7 single-engine aircraft based on the field,
which was listed as conducting an average of 558 takeoffs or landings per month.
According to David Field (referencing material in the FAA's Inspection Report), “The airport was abandoned April 11, 1984.”
It has been replaced by a new Green River Municipal Airport,
4 miles southwest of the town of Green River.
As seen in the 1997 USGS aerial photo, the runway remains at the site,
but in a somewhat deteriorated condition.
Several of the former airport buildings also appear to remain at the site,
at the eastern end of the runway.
A 2005 photo by Keith Wood, looking west along the remains of the abandoned Green River Runway,
“which has been trenched the long way down the middle, with sewer & fiber-optic cable laid.
The sewer has been there for quite a while, the fiber-optic cable is new & perhaps still being laid.
There is also a fenced area apparently used for impound.”
A 2005 photo by Keith Wood. “The yellow stripe... is the only remaining runway marking. No Xs or any other markings could be seen.”
Keith reported that an antenna tower used by the Sheriff's Department sits just off the east end of the abandoned runway.
Perhaps the world's largest watermelon ever to inhabit a hangar at an abandoned airfield.
Photographed 2005 by Keith Wood.
Keith reported, “The airfield buildings were at the east end of the airport, arranged in a U with the open end to the south.
There were several hangars.
All seem to have been taken over for city storage.”
A 2005 photo by Keith Wood of “the largest building, with the FBO and/or pilot lounge at the north end (with chimney).”
A 2005 photo by Keith Wood of “the oldest of the airport buildings,
on the north end of the originally with a door which slid upward on cables.
The outer 'pulleys' were spoked car wheels, the inner pulleys were steel wheels.”
A 2005 photo by Keith Wood of “the only remaining 'signage' whatsoever to indicate an airport.
It is on the long hangar, in a window of the FBO.”
Keith reported, “Only one runway light is still in place, several others have been crushed & dumped.
The wind circle was made of tires, which are still in place, with the lights (also crushed) between them.
I found no sign of any fueling facilities or transient parking.”
The site of the original Green River Airport is located in between the D & RG Western Railroad tracks & the Old Highway,
adjacent to the west side of the town of Green River.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
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(Original) Roosevelt Municipal Airport, Roosevelt, UT
40.32 North / 109.98 West (Northeast of Las Vegas, NV)
The original Roosevelt Municipal Airport, as depicted on the 1949 Salt Lake Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
The date of construction of the original Roosevelt Municipal Airport is unknown.
It was evidently built at some point between 1944-49,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the 1949 Salt Lake Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Roosevelt as having a single 3,600' bituminous Runway 13/31
The original Roosevelt Municipal Airport was depicted on the 1970 & 1977 USGS topo maps as an active airfield.
At some point between 1970-78, the original Roosevelt Municipal Airport
was evidently replaced by a newer & larger Municipal Airport to the southwest of the town.
The original Roosevelt Municipal Airport was still depicted on the 1980 USGS topo map,
but was labeled "Abandoned".
In the 1997 USGS aerial photo, the runway of the former airport still appeared to be in fairly decent condition.
It was not marked with any closed runway symbols at all.
A road led away to the east from the midpoint of the runway.
There did not appear to be any trace of any buildings at the site.
The original Roosevelt Municipal Airport was depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2003 aeronautical charts.
The site of the airport is located northeast of the intersection
of North State Street & East 1200 North.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
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