Technically, the Lake Elmo Airport is not in Lake Elmo. That said, the role of the city in the history of this satellite airport has always been strong.
An easy drive to the St. Paul business district or to scenic destinations along the St. Croix River, such as Stillwater, Minnesota and Hudson, Wisconsin, Lake Elmo Airport is conveniently located for both business and leisure travelers.
During World War II, Kelly Brookman remembers that the U.S. Army trained glider pilots at Northport Airport in White Bear Lake. They had several satellite fields in the area, and one was in Lake Elmo on a field that is now occupied by Hagberg's store, just off County Road 14. They used Piper Cub planes, some of which had no engines. Another plane would have to tow the gliders to get airborne. When released, they would fly around and land at one of the satellite fields. The trainee pilots were stationed at the WWI veterans camp in Bayport in barracks that are now gone.
In November 1949, the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) purchased 160 acres of farmland east of Lake Elmo, as the potential site of what they call a "secondary public use airport. They had plans for one paved and two sod runways. The property, actually in Baytown Township, was named Lake Elmo Airport, only about half a mile east of the Old Vlllage. In 1950, a 2,300 foot paved northwest/southeast runway was built. Later, the northwest runway was extended to 2,850 feet, and runway lights and a rotating beacon were installed.
Today, the Lake Elmo Airport accommodates higher performance single and twin engine aircraft and an occasional small jet. It covers 640 acres with many hangers, an aviation flight school and more than 54,000 take-offs and landings per year according to Wikipedia@. There are about 230 aircraft based at the facility. Unicom, a radio frequency for communication with pilots is used, but there is no control tower at the field. Valters Aviation, centered at the airport, is a full service FBO (aviation Fixed Base Operation) and flight school with FAA approval for written exams.
The airport is served by a fixed base operator and an aircraft maintenance provider. Lake Elmo Airport has two runways. Runway 14/32 is 2,850' x 75', while 4/22 measures 2,497' x 75.' There are two non-precision instrument approaches to the airport, which has no control tower. Fueling, flight training and aircraft maintenance services are available from a
fixed-base operator.
The airport is currently developing a Long Term Comprehensive Plan (LTCP) to expand the airport. The most significant changes will be to increase the two runways.
Runway 14/32 will be extended to 3,500' x 75', while 4/22 measures 2,750 x 75'. Taxiways will be developed for both runways.
These changes, together with Lake Elmo's housing expansion are creating some unique challenges for safety and aesthetic values in Lake Elmo.
Source: Memories of Lake Elmo, collected and authored by Gloria VanDemmeltraadt and the Lake Elmo Airport Environmental Assessment News, April 2017.
