Business View Magazine | November 2020

215 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 LEADV I LLE- LAKE COUNTY A I RPORT along that stretch. The goal in meeting with a business consultant is to develop a business plan for growing the airport that includes added infrastructure, increasing ramp length, and having investors come in to build hangars. Because there is a lot of interest from people asking to park and maintain their aircraft at the airport now. Having the title “North America’s Highest Airport” is a good draw for the Leadville-Lake County region, and while they can’t compete with Aspen, they do offer a viable option because the airport is located less than an hour from 10 major ski resorts. Vale and Beaver in under an hour; Keystone and Breckenridge in 45 minutes, as well as a number of popular smaller ski resorts within easy reach. And people don’t have to fight the 1-70 crunch to get there. So the airport is channelling its marketing strategy in that direction. The regional FAA office in Colorado, as well as the Colorado Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division, are well aware of how good a job the County does in keeping the runway and the aprons plowed and clear of snow for winter traffic; they have the equipment; the expertise; and the ability to keep it maintained. The issue is having more ramp and hangar space available. In that regard, Lake County is pursuing an industrial park just outside the fence line that is part of the airport design, as they develop a plan to generate business investment opportunities for building in that area. Inside the fence line, there is space available north and south of the current FBO office that is east of the runway. Given that the runway is 6400 feet and only 500 ft is occupied, that leaves plenty of land open immediately adjacent to the taxiways, mostly for hangar space. “Friendly, accommodating, scenic, accessible, congenial”– these are some of the many compliments heard from executives that fly in to Leadville-Lake County Airport on corporate and private jets. They’re pleased with how easy it is to pull in off the runway and that there are good people to help at the gate.