From a Vision to a Reality A new Airport for St. George and the Surrounding Area
After nearly two decades of planning, studies and financial challenges, the new St. George Municipal Airport is about ready for take-off! The new airport, located five miles southeast of downtown St. George will be five times the size of the current mesa-top airport at 1,200 acres and accommodate jet aircraft to suit the needs of visitors and residents of southwestern Utah well into the future.
In the early 1990’s City of St. George officials recognized the eventual need for a larger airport that would someday accommodate jet aircraft. They began preliminary studies and examined every parcel of ground in and around the city suitable for an airport. After a lengthy selection process, on July 7, 1998 the old Civil Aviation Administration landing strip located in Washington County and southeast of St. George was approved by the city council as the preferred site. Some of the studies to address environmental impacts were met with controversy and required extensive research and more studies.
In September of 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Record of Decision allowing the city to move forward with planning and design of a new airport. The city immediately began working on a financial plan which included securing over $120 million in FAA grants as well as the sale of the existing property to fund the new airport. The goal was to build and operate the new facility without placing any kind of a tax burden on area residents. Later that year property was acquired and the terminal building, airport aircraft rescue and firefighting facility, fixed Base operations, general aviation, runways, taxiways, lighting and instrumentation were designed and began construction in the fall of 2008.
When open in January 2011, the new St. George Municipal Airport will be able to accommodate larger jet aircraft capable of carrying passengers to Salt Lake City and a number of other regional destinations currently not available. Thousands of acres of developable property adjacent to the new airport will spur long-term economic development growth for all of Washington County. Visitors to the area will find the new airport to be a convenient way to access St. George and surrounding communities which feature: Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George Marathon, St. George Ironman Triathlon, Tuacahn Amphitheater, 13 golf courses, state parks and easy access to four national parks and monuments including Zion National Park.
After nearly two decades of planning, studies and financial challenges, the new St. George Municipal Airport is about ready for take-off! The new airport, located five miles southeast of downtown St. George will be five times the size of the current mesa-top airport at 1,200 acres and accommodate jet aircraft to suit the needs of visitors and residents of southwestern Utah well into the future.