Update 11/1/2022:
Yes, this cache is still active and available. No, the airport will not be destroyed. It has been de-listed for aircraft landings as of 8/25/2020 and you can no longer land aircraft here but the structures will remain and the property developed as a park for local residents. Stop stealing the cache container, you are not saving it from imminent destruction, nothing is being removed other than the runway. Please continue to visit and log this geocache by car, bike, foot, etc, but you are no longer allowed to land personal or passenger aircraft here.
Update 10/25/2023:
There is no more overnight camping at the north end of the airport property as this was provided for the aircraft owners who were passing through or were tourist visiting the area using the "Fly In, Camp Out" method. With the closure of the runways on 8/25/2020, the amenities of the campsite were removed (outhouse, fire pit, benches, hand-pump water well, etc). All that remains is a section of pavers with recognition to a Boy Scout for one of the many past Eagle Projects in the former campsite. Camping sites are still available 2.5 miles west at the Holland State Park DNR Campground. A huge thanks to the Scouts of Troop 43 for the many, many Eagle Projects that were done at this airport over several decades including many campsite improvements, the memorial flags and pathways around the aircraft monument, tree-top height trimming on the north runway glide path, and also thanks to Troop 316 for the Eagle Project of maintenance to the trees along Ottawa Beach Road. If you are on site for the equestrian trails in the woods by the Perry Street entrance to the airport property, the trail boundaries will prevent you from bringing your horses to the geocache. Please stop by after your ride.
Original text and cache info is as follows.
NOTE: Depending on winter snow conditions, this cache may be a D-1 / T-1, or it may be as hard as a 3/3 if the snow drifts are high over the cache. The cache is available year round, but you may have to dig for it. For the 2008/2009 winter, we have changed the difficulty to a 2.5 / 2.5 (as of 3/15/2009 it is back to a 1/1).
This geocache is a standard ammo can, located in the parking lot of a very small community airport. The cache contents are kid friendly, with a trade-an-aircraft theme (matchbox sized). The cache is handicapped accessible, located at ground level (you must traverse a short section of lawn), and may be hidden in snow during the winter months. A quick grab for anyone on foot, bike, car, or even flying in by small aircraft. Caution: The cache container is close to the road & bike path so please keep an eye on your children for safety. The runway itself does not pose an safety threat as it is over 1,000 feet away from the cache container, but please do not walk out to the runway as it is a restricted area protected under FAA federal laws.
History
During World War II, this airport served as a training facility for pilots preparing to enter the Navy. The runway was painted like an aircraft carrier, and pilots would practice take-offs and landings under simulated constraints. During the Vietnam War era, the airport was used briefly for testing Bell helicopters in snow storm conditions. Since then, it has served the community as a home for small aircraft (privately owned planes, helicopters, and powered parachutes), hobby and experimental projects, an opportunity for tourists and visitors to fly in using small aircraft, and serves as a community outreach and educational opportunity.
Theme & Contents
The cache has been well stocked with small, matchbox sized airplanes for kid-friendly tradeables, and a special First-To-Find prize. There will actually be 2 FTF prizes awarded, one for the first to arrive by land and is contained in the cache, and a second/special prize for the first person to arrive by air. Please email me through my contact information to receive this special arrive-by-air prize, and I will need a picture of you with your aircraft for the construction of this special prize.
When logging this cache, please state the method of transportation you used to get here, I.E.: car, bike, jogging, airplane, helicopter, powered parachute, etc. Not required, but we would love to see records of the NC numbers (tail numbers) of your aircraft in the log entries if applicable, to see who has come by aircraft.
Aircraft Landing Info
For those arriving by air, check your flight maps before your trip and plan your flight and landing accordingly. This is a uncontrolled airport (no tower, no staff), but it does have a control frequency of 122.8 Mhz, and keying your radio mic 5 times will activate the runway lights on a 45 minute timer. The runway is at 603' elevation, 2,999 feet long, and best suited for small/light aircraft. Fuel is available onsite, and instructions and a phone number are located on the office door. Overnight tiedowns are located in front of the office, and there are no fees or costs unless you need fuel or hanger space for the night. Thanks for visiting the cache and God bless.
Cache Permission
This geocache was approved by the Park Twp Airport Board of Directors at their July 2008 meeting and placed with assistance from the Airport Manager.
Cache Logging Info
Updated 8-25-2012: Please do not post pictures of the cache location or container in the logs. This helps reduce the chance of theft and it also helps give some element of challenge and surprise to future cachers who come to search later. Remember, all cache coordinates are hidden until you are logged in, but anybody can see the pictures without having a Geocaching Login/Username and can therefore identify caches by pictures and muggle/steal them. Most cache owners do not want pictures of the ground zero area, final hiding locations, or cache containers, posted to on-line logs for these reasons (exceptions being Web-Cams caches, some Virtual, some Earthcaches, and other caches with specific instructions to do so). Please feel free to post pictures of the other cool stuff that you've observed in the area, such as aircraft, yourselves, public events that may be occurring, other noteworthy items, etc. Thanks again for your help and continued support. We appreciate you taking the time to search for our cache, we hope you enjoyed it, wish you the best of God's blessings.