We just updated this article to include Mr. Hiram Taylor was the grandson of President Zachary Taylor. His farm, given as a land grant by the King of England, is located in Rockingham County. See update at near bottom of article.
The site of the former Shenandoah Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Route 602 (East Point Road) & Route 947 (Milnes lane & Gum Tree Lane). The entrance to the airport (Farm Lane) sits across the road from the former Shenandoah Pool Supply building at the intersection of Rinaca’s Corner Road and Gum Tree Lane. In 1972 there was a grocery store that occupied this building.
Shenandoah Resident Amos Thomas recalled the following memories about the Airport:
In the late sixties Charlie Morrison took my dad (Owen “Butts” Thomas) and me a ride in a plane one day. My dad sat up front and I sat in small seat behind him. We flew around Shenandoah and I vividly recall Mr. Morrison telling us if anything went wrong with the plane that he would land it in the Shenandoah River! It was my first time flying in an airplane. Who would know that years later I would end up enlisting in the United States Air Force and flying in military aircraft such as C-5, C-141, and the C-130. In 1972 I stayed with my sister in a rental house that was owned by Everett Taylor. This house was almost at the end (near the river cabins) of what is now known as Farm Lane and I would walk up the long lane and pass the hanger building every day while walking up to catch the school bus. This hanger was torn down years ago.
From the website Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields
http://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/VA/Airfields_VA_C.htm#shenandoah
We found the following comments regarding the Shenandoah Airport:
The earliest reference to Shenandoah Airport which has been located came from Charles Jenkins: It was there in the 1940s.
Dad said an Army Air Corps plane landed there with engine trouble. Dad said he caught rides there as a kid in the 1940s.
According to Bill Fravel, Shenandoah: I flew with my father (William E. Fravel) on this sod strip, first in a Cub & then a Luscombe.
My first flight was around 1951. The owner of the land had a Cessna.
I grew up at 723 9th Street & my father claimed he built our house so he could see planes using the field.
The field ran uphill from near the Shenandoah River with a tall stand of trees & had a small shack (where I read flying magazines),
a hangar for the Cessna & a sheet metal windsock near midfield.
I heard a story that a Civil Air Patrol twin-engine plane once landed & ran out of strip & ended up in the swamp just shy of the road & a house across the street at the south end.
The State of Virginia filled in the swamp to extend the strip.
I have heard it called the strip at Rinaca’s Corner.
It was a farm belonging to the owner of the Cessna & he just made his own strip;
there was usually corn on both sides & he still had a road that crossed the strip, which made for interesting landing in the tail-draggers.
If you still had a bit too much speed, it would put you airborne - get to log 2 landings
According to Debbie Burton, Jennings Meadows owned the hangar where the plane was kept
and the little office was on property owned by my granddad Charlie Morrison.
He & Grandpa Meadows we called him owned the plane together - it would seat 2 adults & a child in back and Everett Taylor owned the land where the landing strip was.
On the website Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields you can see local airfields such as Staunton Airport, Burke Field / Hartman Field / Harrisonburg Airport, Gordonsville Intermediate Field, University of Virginia Airport / Milton Field and others.
Current view looking across former sod airfield runway towards the Town of Shenandoah. This gravel road leads down to the former home of Everett Taylor. The large barn next to the house is now home to Rivercrest Farm, Rivervista Event Center, Vacation Cabins and Homes. Rivercrest Farm and Event Center is nestled on over 250 acres along the scenic Shenandoah River. With over a mile and a half of riverfront property and sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Rivercrest Farm is the perfect destination for weddings, vacation home rentals, and event space for corporate retreats and every kind of celebration!
Visit their website at: https://www.rivercrestfarm.net/
This image is from Google Earth showing location of former Shenandoah Airport.
There was another airfield a little further down Rt 602 called Elkton Airport. More about this airport can be found at this link:
https://www.topoquest.com/place-detail.php?id=1498660
Photo and story of the emergency landing of the F7 Tigercat at the Shenandoah Airport. Photo and story provided by Allan Rinaca.
Click here for larger picture of F7 Tigercat
Updated March 28, 2021:
Little history about the property of Rivercrest Farm.
We found this information in the booklet “Fields Our First 116 years – Fields United Methodist Church” This publication was their Bicentennial/Centennial Celebration of the Shenandoah Fields United Methodist Church in Shenandoah Virginian and was dated September 23, 1984 by their Planning Committee.
Mr. Hiram Taylor was the grandson of President Zachary Taylor. His farm, given as a land grant by the King of England, is located in Rockingham County and is now owned by Sonny and Linda Dovel.
The Taylor’s son, Everet, graduated from Bridgewater College and Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh. He returned home and operated the family farm during his lifetime. He was a faithful and devoted member and served Fields Church in many ways. He was a member of the Administrative Board, a trustee, and Chairman of the Cemetery Committee at the time of his death.
The Book Shenandoah The Thomas Family Collection was written by Amos Thomas and includes rare pictures taken by the Thomas family around the Town of Shenandoah. Learn more about this exciting book at the following link:
