Here is some good news from John Dethomas, director of the Idaho Division of Aeronautics:

"With the blessing of the Idaho Aeronautics Advisory Board, the Division of Aeronautics is starting an informal search for one or more airfields in the state that could be developed into desirable recreational fields. If you have ideas or prospective locations for such an airfield, please let me know.

Our premier recreational fields such as Johnson Creek, Smiley Creek, Garden Valley and Cavanaugh Bay are nationally known general aviation destinations. They’re valuable economic and tourism assets for the State and provide excellent recreational flight destinations for Idaho pilots, out-of-state pilots and others. Unfortunately, with their desirability, they also become heavily used during our short summer season. The need for recreational airstrips will only increase in the future and it will probably become increasingly difficult to develop new fields as time goes by. We should start now to look for one or more additional recreational airstrips.

Our premier recreational airports have certain attributes in common: they’re in scenic areas, they have relatively benign landing and takeoff restrictions with smooth, irrigated grass surfaces, they’re near water, hiking, fishing and other recreation, they have good facilities including, at many, such things as warm showers, flush toilets, good camping facilities, courtesy cars and small local communities for such things a food, refreshment or entertainment. In all cases, we would need water for irrigation.

We have several possible avenues for this effort. We could upgrade an existing state-operated airfield, we could take over operation of an existing field from another government agency (either federal or local) or we could develop a new field from scratch, probably most easily done on Idaho State lands controlled by the Department of Lands. Due to limited funding we could initially operate these new fields with minimum improvements but as funding allowed we would make the desired improvements. Among other considerations, it may be desirable to develop a recreational field at lower elevations which would allow a longer season for use than our existing mountain strips.

If you have any ideas for new recreational airfields, please contact me. My phone (208) 334-8788, email john.dethomas [at] itd.idaho.gov or postal at P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707."

Perhaps we can kick around some location ideas here on BCP...

If the lodge at lodge at Big Creek is not going to be rebuilt with private funding, this would be an excellent choice in my mind.

It has road access and is not extremely difficult to land.

My $0.02 worth.

my vote would for sure be the re-opening of the Falconberry on loon...

Yeah, I also have Falconberry on a short list of old strips I put together:
-Horse Heaven
-Falconberry
-Hoodoo
-Elk Meadows
...

I know Falconberry would be a lot more likley (and practical) than something like Hoodoo.

They are also looking for potential new airstrips, so be thinking of areas that are currently underserved, or areas that get too much traffic and could benefit from an alternate.

I saw that in the newsletter..pretty cool. The impression I got was that they wanted a strip at a lower elevation so it could be open longer. I would love to see Falconberry reopened...then when my wife wants to play tennis...

As far as lower elevation places?

I have nothing to contribute here but... God bless Idaho!

Not to change the subject....what is the status on the Big Creek Lodge? Will it be rebuilt? Will the site still be accessable? Will the strip still be open?
Would very much like to return next summer.
HC

What about extending Big Bar? I know to some of you it is plenty long but it it looks like it could be extended beyond its current 1100' length. Its low elevation and could be used much of the year. I'm just guess it could be extended, haven't been there yet, only looked at it on google

There's an old airstrip that has all but been forgotten in the Island Park area. It is called Big Springs. I have been using it for a few years now since it is close to my cabin. My dad and I spent some time cleaning it up a bit (couple sagebrush here and there). It's on state land, so maybe they would like to throw a windsock there and put it back on the sectional? It's close to Big Springs, Island Park Village (condo's, golf course, etc.) and some cabin areas. Old Faithful geyser is 15 nm from the airstrip (short flight). The airstrip located in an already open field (surrounded by trees) that is less restrictive for flight ops. People park their RV's on the ends (by the trees) and camp. Henry's Lake airstrip is 8 nm to the north, but is out in the open (I like camping amongst the trees). I think this is a sleeper, my friends.

got this email today

Thanks for the input. We'll put Big Bar and Big Springs in our review matrix.
We've looked at Big Bar and have concerns about the ability to lengthen that strip but it's low elevation does make it attractive. We'll continue to check.
You make me check my 1950 Airport Facilities Directory to find Big Springs. Looks interesting but at 6300' elevation it may have a short season. We'll check it out further.
R
J V DeThomas

I can't seem to find this Big bar! What is the ident or location?

Go to shortfield.com and search "big bar". There is no ident but coords are 45-32.1-00N 116-31.86-00W. shortfield has good info on it though.

ya know, whee, u have a cool idea with falconberry. my parents were
owners there once, and as a kid i bounced in and out of there in stinsons
and call-airs and sometimes old 206's. the tennis court is still there, and
the foundation for the lodge + the chimney as of last summer. think about
it maybe rebuild the old lodge for our hangout...what a blast, even though
it can't happen, just to have it open again would be like coming home for
me. i've never landed that one, 'cuz it is closed of course, but i have walked
in there...