Officials officially cut the ribbon to celebrate the completion of a project at the Packwood Airport Sunday.
Community members and airplane enthusiasts came out in droves to celebrate the recently renovated Packwood Airport during a dedication ceremony that commemorated the completion of the over $2 million project.
Lewis County Commissioner Gary Stamper said there were between 100 and 150 people present at the Sunday dedication event.
“This is an effort where you have the federal, state and county government working together for the common good of a project that is very, very valuable,” Stamper said.
At least 27 airplanes took advantage of the reconstructed runway.
“It was quite an event,” Stamper said.
Commissioner Edna Fund also attended the event, which was held in conjunction with the community chicken barbecue. Fund said there were 400 half pieces of chicken grilled, and organizers ran out by the end of the day.
“It was a great day to see airplanes coming in,” she said. “Everyone made it in safely and made it out safely.”
The project, which also included an extended safety area, LED runway lighting and stormwater drainage improvements, was jointly funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Washington State Department of Transportation and Lewis County.
Stamper said in the future there may be an “airport taxi” that takes pilots and their travelers from the airport to other destinations where they can explore the parks and go camping.
“Then people can fly in and stay and recreate at the parks,” he said.
The Packwood Airport is one of two county-owned airports. The other is in Toledo, and it is scheduled for an improvement project of its own.
