In 1967, Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes made the decision that each of the 88 counties in Ohio would have an airport. In 1968 a runway was built on 54 acres donated to Vinton County by businessman Gene Engles. To build the runway, an estimated 370,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved on what is reclaimed strip mine land. In 1970, the Vinton County Airport celebrated its Grand Opening. In 1971, a terminal was built, and in 1972, hangars to accommodate 8 airplanes were constructed. CETA workers did much of the work on the hangars.
Bill Abele was our first airport manager, followed by Dick Moss, Lewis Manyak, and Glen Stout.
In January of 1992, the Vinton County Pilots & Boosters Association leased the airport facility from the Vinton County Commissioners, became the airport's Fixed Base Operator, and has operated the airport since that time.