Bentonville's Thaden Field Becoming World Class Destination Airport

Bentonville Airport is poised to become the best in class destination airport with an innovative masterplan. Also known as Thaden Field, the hometown airport has been in operation for 72 years and is home to a variety of private aircrafts from local aviators.

Rather than competing with other private airfields in the area, Bentonville Municipal Airport will take a brilliant approach to attract locals and tourists. Aviation director of Runway NWA, a Walton backed civic group in Bentonville wants to focus on community enrichment. With this approach the airfield masterplan is aimed at creating an environment that generates interest in aviation and attracting a broad scope of people beyond pilots and tenants.

Thaden Field will still offer the same excellent service to jets and vendors, and will also include a new dynamic to engage the community and visitors with interactive aviation related actives.

“What we’re trying to create [at Thaden Field] is a destination, where you’re coming to the airport,” he said, “Not the tall fences and the badges and the intimidating security, but more of the type of place you heard people 50 years ago saying, ‘I grew up at the airport, the hangar doors were open, lawn chairs were out, people were flying in.’

“We may easily end up best in class in terms of a destination airport.” said Chad Cox, aviation director of Runway NWA

For the last 3 years the plans have been pushing forward to create opportunity for “Backcountry Aviation” which will allow people to take their airplanes for fly-in trips to remote areas. With 60 grass strips within 80 miles the “Flying Oz” plan will allow people to take advantage of rivers, hiking trails, and mountain bike trails by plane.

Cox explains to talkbusiness.net : “We see the Bentonville airport as a jump-off point for adventure.”

“People can easily fly from Bentonville to Kings River Outfitters [in Eureka Springs] or Byrd’s Adventure Center [in Ozark] or Gaston’s [in Lakeview] for a morning to fish. They can get there quickly, and it’s cool to [land on] a grass strip. When they are ready to leave, they are back to Northwest Arkansas in half an hour.”

Classes at Thaden Field will be offered through Summit Aviation and include instruction in this particular method of taking off and landing on grass runway strips. They offer a variety of services including charters, classes, and aviation supplies.

New flying club through OZ1 Flying Club are aimed to make access to aircraft more affordable with a cooperative approach to the operating costs. Membership is $75 a month.

Legislation has also made this Backcountry approach easier with the Recreational Use Statute passed in 2012. The legislation helps protect landowners from liability associated with allowing airplanes to land on their private airstrips.

The new 22,000 SF Thaden Fieldhouse is being completed. It will house an aviations exhibit hangar, retail space, conference room, lounge, restaurant, and the Summit Aviation flight school.

This new restaurant is being operated by Bentonville’s well known Ropeswing Hospitality Group. The restaurant will be named “Louise,” after Louise McPhetridge Thaden, the famous aviator in the 1920s and 1930s, who grew up in Bentonville.

Expansive parks are being added just to the north of the airfield and Lake Bentonville will be expanded. Linking the lake and field house will be a boardwalk which will offer kayaks and paddle boards. There is also a 70 acre public park, Osage Prairie Park” which is currently under development. This park is just North of the airfield and will include archery, music venue, apple orchard, and walking trails featuring sculptures.

Read The Full Bentonville Municipal Airport Masterplan Here

About Thaden Field Namesake: Our local municipal airport was named after Louise McPhetridge Thaden, born in Bentonville, she is recognized for her significant contributions to aviation. In the 1920s, she set the women’s altitude record, solo endurance record, and speed record. Along with Amelia Earhart she was a co-founder of the Ninety-Nines.

Live Like a Local: Read Our Bentonville Arkansas Relocation Guide Here