Airparks: Home Is Where the Hangar Is

For many, living at a residential airpark with a plane of their own in the hangar is the ultimate aviation goal. Those who live at a fly-in community integrate flying into their daily lives, sharing the spoils of flight with like-minded neighbors.

Ben Sclair has been documenting airparks for more than three decades and followed in the footsteps of his father Dave, who moved the Sclair family to Shady Acres Airport (3B8) in Spanaway, Washington, shortly before creating the Living With Your Plane (livingwithyourplane.com) directory. This resource maps current and anticipated fly-in communities across the country and defines an airpark as a “runway surrounded by residential property where there’s two or more lots with deeded legal access to that common airstrip.”

There are 710 airparks in the world cataloged by the online resource, a majority of which are in the United States. 

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According to Sclair, Hawaii is the only state that doesn’t yet have the option to live alongside your plane, and there are five states with only one airpark each—Connecticut, South Dakota, North Dakota, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The state with the most airparks is Texas with 84, followed by Florida (82) and Washington (60). Fly-in communities can also be found in a handful of other countries, including Canada, Australia, Sweden, France, Germany, and South Africa.

Here are some of the unique communities: 

Spruce Creek Fly-In Community (7FL6)

When moving from Connecticut to Florida three years ago, TJ Shembekar wasn’t initially looking to live at a fly-in community. But hangar waiting lists in the area made it apparent that having a home connected to a hangar was the best option if he wanted his aircraft to be out of the elements. 

He hadn’t heard of Spruce Creek before but was blown away by its size and how pilots can envelop themselves in a true sense of community. 

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“Spruce Creek is not only the most well-known airpark. It’s also the largest in the world,” said Shembekar, noting that what makes the community special are the weekly traditions in which residents eagerly participate. “We have about 600 hangar homes, 1,200 golf course homes, and over 500 aircraft based here. There are over 20 kilometers of taxiways.” 

There is a large tree near the end of the community’s 4,002-foot-by-176-foot paved runway, which serves as a gathering point for many social functions, including a weekly sunset tailgate on Friday nights. This is often followed by a group breakfast fly out on Saturday mornings with at least 30 planes typically involved. 

Shembekar’s Cirrus SR22T has been a part of that breakfast-food-seeking convoy many times and routinely marvels at the variety of aircraft in the community. He estimates that there are roughly two to three dozen other Cirrus aircraft, in addition to jets, turboprops, experimentals, homebuilts, and warbirds of all kinds. 

“The amazing part of the community is how much everyone rallies together, because everybody has this common passion and love for aviation,” he said. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t be living here. The amount of help that people provide each other is unlike anywhere else I’ve ever lived in my life. They jokingly call it ‘assisted living’ because any problem you’re having with your plane, or need a part or tool for a build, somebody in the neighborhood can help you. That’s one of the things that make this airpark special.

“Most airparks are tight-knit communities, but Spruce Creek does it on a scale that is
astounding.”

The Refuge AirRanch (46U)

As a resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, Steve Funk was looking for a mountain getaway that was farther away from home. Jackson Hole was one of the recommendations he received from friends. 

“Wyoming is so majestic, particularly Star Valley,” said Funk, noting that in 2010 he purchased a property at an airpark in Alpine, Wyoming, situated on the Idaho-Wyoming border between the Palisades Reservoir and the Snake River, with the Tetons visible in the distance. 

The airpark sits at an elevation of 5,634 feet msl and is internationally known by pilots as a social community that’s surrounded by stunning scenery and where passion for aviation is palpable. 

Mornings may entail flying warbirds with neighbors, followed by afternoons rafting, hiking, horseback riding, or fly-fishing. Winter sports are particularly popular, with several ski resorts in the area and endless opportunities available for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. 

Funk was driving around the Alpine Airpark property with its developer, Bill Wiemann, a few years after moving in. He thought that a 65-acre parcel of sagebrush-covered land between the airport and highway would be the perfect site to add more homes. This land ultimately became The Refuge AirRanch, which has elevated the experience of living where adventure, aviation, and tranquility meet. The development consists of a 9-acre, 25-unit hangar condo project and 33 roughly 2-acre lots, and only three lots remain. All exquisite private hangar homes are just a minute or two taxi away from the airpark’s most important feature—its long, asphalt runway. Its landing surface is lighted with a GPS approach, and fuel can be delivered directly to residents’ hangars. 

“We have Runway 13/31 here and prevailing winds come from the west,” Funk said. “The Refuge is right at the end of the 5,800-foot-long runway. You cross the county road, the gate goes down, and you do your warmup. You usually take off pointing northwest, so you are right there.”

As Funk reflects on the development of The Refuge, it’s hard not to smile at 15 years of progress. He started the project with the goal of attracting “everybody” to one of the nation’s most scenic spots and has introduced dozens of pilots to an elevated aviation lifestyle. 

Eagle Neck Airpark (1GA0)

“Like many aviators, I long dreamed of living in an airpark community—one where flying was not just a hobby, but a way of life,” said Shashi Kanth, who is currently in the final stages of building a hangar home at Eagle Neck Airpark. “Over the years, I explored numerous airparks across the country. While each had its appeal, I knew I was waiting for the right fit.” 

There were many aspects that attracted the Kanth family to the airpark located south of Savannah, Georgia. The community boasts a paved 3,535-foot-by-41-foot asphalt runway that’s surrounded by approximately 30 homes.

“Eagle Neck is a very low-key, laid-back airpark and is a bookend to a place like Spruce Creek,” Kanth said. “From the moment I arrived, it felt right. Eagle Neck is a small, close-knit aviation community with welcoming neighbors, a well-run HOA, and thoughtfully crafted, pilot-friendly covenants.”

Like all real estate, airpark opportunities are graded by potential residents based on location. Eagle Neck is far enough removed from the hustle and bustle of major cities that its residents have solitude, but those places are all still easily accessible. Kanth looks forward to moving in with his vintage K35 Bonanza.

“What truly sets Eagle Neck apart is its character,” he said. “It is a quiet, unhurried airpark with a beautifully paved and lighted runway, ideal for day-to-day general aviation flying. The sense of camaraderie among fellow pilots is genuine, and the atmosphere is refreshingly relaxed. From the air, the location is hard to beat—just minutes from Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Savannah, and within easy reach of Atlanta.”

Abel Island Airpark (IA23)

Abel Island Airpark is a fly-in community in Guttenberg, Iowa, that has the distinction of being on the Mississippi River. The approach end of Runway 35, which measures 2,540 feet by 160 feet, is a mere distance away from the murky water of the nation’s most significant river.

There are 95 lots in the community, but one day each year the visitors outnumber the residents.  August 15 is scheduled to be the 26th rendition of the community’s annual fly-in.

“I have known about Abel Island for most of my life, but I really hadn’t been that familiar with it. The reason that I ended up here is because of the annual fly-in,” said Bret Kivell, a Titan Tornado and Van’s RV-12 owner. “There aren’t many places where you can go out your front door and go flying or go out your back door and go boating. It’s a type of paradise that’s really hard to describe. If you’re an outdoorsman, this is the perfect place to be. There is such diversity and opportunity to do things here.” 

Not only are there ample outdoor recreation opportunities in the area, there are especially picturesque flying views because of the rolling hills below that were carved by glaciers eons ago. 

Pecan Plantation (0TX1 and 66TE) 

Built on the site of what was once the country’s largest pecan orchard, Pecan Plantation is a 4,200-acre, master-planned development that consists of two airparks in Texas. The development team is  selling the final lots in the newer of the two fly-in communities—The Landings (66TE). 

“Pecan Plantation is truly a one-of-a-kind community,” said Mike Murphy, who supports lot sales. “We call it amenity-rich, and what that means is there’s two 18-hole golf courses and two pools. There’s tennis, pickleball, dog parks, RV hookups, an equestrian center, and we have 15 miles of [frontage] to the Brazos River with a marina that accesses the river and a lake.”

In addition to the amenities, one of the selling points is that it’s a “city within a city” as there is a grocery store, bank, medical care, hardware store, pharmacy, dry cleaner, barber, veterinarian, car wash, gas station, and four restaurants. 66TE boasts a 3,100-foot-by-50-foot paved and lighted runway, as well as a self-serve 100LL fuel station. 

Murphy feels that the community’s location in Granbury, about 70 miles southwest of Dallas, makes it an attractive option for those working in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A collection of airline pilots call Pecan Plantation home.

“The Landings allow aviation to be more of a lifestyle than a hobby that you have to schedule around,” Murphy said. “You can fly when you want and be surrounded by like-minded individuals. Some airparks give you great flying or great living. I would say that Pecan gives you both, because it’s more than just an airpark here.” 

For those wanting to experience airpark living firsthand, the development team hosts tours for interested parties and welcomes them to stay overnight at the onsite hotel. 

Cameron Airpark (O61)

Tom Noonan moved to California for work and found that living at an airpark would allow him to significantly cut his commute time and be in a part of the state he preferred.

“I can commute in 35 minutes by flying my Turbo Arrow, compared to a two-hour drive in no traffic—or up to three and a half hours in traffic,” said Noonan, noting that living next to other aviation enthusiasts is simply a bonus. 

The fly-in community has a residential through-the-fence (RTTF) agreement with the public-use airport, allowing its residents access to the 4,051-foot-by-50-foot asphalt runway. On one side of the runway there are about 115 homes, and there is a nonresident hangar park on the other side. 

Among other things, Cameron Airpark’s location makes it an especially coveted fly-in community that’s about half an hour east of Sacramento. 

“We are in the foothills of the Sierras, right below the snow line, and above the valley fog—about an hour from [Lake] Tahoe,” Noonan said. “When you fly here, you can take a deep breath. It’s a completely different world from the Bay Area, which is only a short flight away. A lot of airparks tend to be out in the middle of nowhere, removed from everything. But what’s great about Cameron Park is everything you need is within a 15-minute drive, but you still have a little bit of a rural feel.”

There is an active flying community at the airpark, including a resident population of T-34’s. Its pilots have invested into the aviation infrastructure, having recently added a fully-certified AWOS III and webcams to showcase live weather. 

If you’re thinking about moving to an airpark, Noonan advises to take the plunge.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I was hesitant to move here but buying a hangar home is like buying a condo. You want to make sure it’s well run and financially sound. Community outreach is also really important, because airports have a bad connotation sometimes [with noise]. We invite the community to our airpark throughout the year, for a car show, fireworks, or something else.”

Discovery Bay at Norwalk Landing (MO06)

Discovery Bay at Norwalk Landing is a fly-in community with a 2,260-foot-by-40-foot runway that provides sweeping views of one of the country’s most popular lakes below. It’s easy to see when flying into the community why airpark homeowners chose to live in the Missouri Ozarks.

“We are on Table Rock Lake [near Branson], which is 60 miles long, and we have boat slips available on-site,” said Ralph Lemme, who is the community’s developer. “It’s a big lake, with arms off it, that’s good for fishing. That’s the main draw and it is what got me down here from South Dakota.” 

People as far as Australia have bought in the community. There are eight aircraft based at the airpark full time and five part time, some of which will transition to full time as their owners enter retirement. 

Eric, Ralph’s son, is a Piper Cherokee 140 owner who lives in the airpark and helps run its day-to-day operations. 

He agrees that the lake is a significant draw, as is the ability to live with your plane away from the hecticness of more populated areas. 

“What I tell everybody is I grew up in Colorado, was stationed in Hawaii, and lived in Florida for seven years, but this is my favorite place,” said Eric, noting that the location may be secluded but there are multiple larger towns within an hour drive. “We have a little bit of everything here. The weather is almost always perfect for flying, and you still get all the seasons. As a pilot, it’s amazing living here because of the convenience. There’s nothing like walking out your back door into your hangar and having your plane there.

“You can taxi out and take off whenever you want over a beautiful lake.”

This feature first appeared in the April Issue 969 of the FLYING print edition.