Airport Timeline

March 21, 1940 - Possible the first air show in Lumberton is held to celebrate the dedication of the new armory, now the Bill Sapp Recreation Center.

August 26, 1940 - The city buys 165 acres of land for the new airport for $6,000. Lumberton is approved for an airport on the North/South line from South America to Canada. The line is moved east to avoid Ft. Bragg.

September 19, 1940 - A proposal is submitted for a Works Progress Administration project for a new Lumberton airport, which is the current airport. The project was approved seven months later. The airport replaces the old airport, which ran parallel to the Lumber River, between West Fifth Street and the river. The city water plant and the WTSB radion station are built over the site.

July 2, 1941 - Construction of the airport begins on a 363 acre site. The site is described as "three miles west of Lumberton beside the Rowland highway."

July 21, 1942 - The first landing is made at the uncompleted airport at 1:00 a.m. by a lost cadet from Greenville, S.C.

January 1943 - (exact date uncertain) The new $750,000 airport opens.

March 26, 1946 - First radio navigation station is installed in a hangar in the airport.

May 19, 1957 - Armed Forces Day air show exhibition draws more than 65,000 people.

December 5, 1960 - The Lumberton City Council creates the Lumberton Airport Commission. The commission's job is to prepare the budget, recommend improvements to the council, oversee normal operations and maintenance.

January 3, 1961 - Horace Barnes is named chairman of the airport commission. Barnes established the first airport in Lumberton in the 1920's.

April 10, 1963 - South Central Airlines announces it will include Lumberton on a route with two daily stops at Raleigh and Charlotte.

May 5, 1963 - South Central Airlines begins passenger service. It is uncertain as to how long the service lasts.

July 29, 1968 - The newly reorganized Lumberton-Robeson County Airport Commission holds its first meeting.

October 29, 1968 - The new 2,400 square foot terminal opens. It cost about $60,000.

October 6, 1977 - The terminal is dedicated to Horace Barnes by Governor Jim Hunt.

August 1, 1980 - Jim Burkhead, Airport manager who ran the airport since 1958, dies.

January 22, 1982 - The Robesonian announces the airport is about to get a weather station.

September 27, 1987 - An air show is held as part of Robeson County's Bicentennial Celebration. About 25,000 people attended the event over two days. It was the last air show at the airport until Celebration of Flight.

May 18, 2003 - Celebration of Flight ends a two-day run. Almost 30,000 people attended the air show, which was part of the statewide celebration commemorating 100 years of powered flight.

May 14-16, 2004 - Mid Atlantic Fly-In ends a two-day run. More than 50,000 people attended the air show.

Dedication

Today