A Mountain Airport’s Long Road Back

Three Years In, Ingalls Field Is Finally on the Verge of a New Beginning

By Danny Cardwell  |  Allegheny Mountain Radio  |  April 23, 2026

Some stories take longer than expected. This is one of them.

More than three years ago, Allegheny Mountain Radio began following the story of Ingalls Field — the highest public use airport east of the Mississippi, perched 3,792 feet above sea level in Bath County, Virginia. Built in 1930 through the efforts of Dan Ingalls, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the airport has served this region for nearly a century. Aviators, military personnel, guests of the Homestead, and travelers from across the Allegheny Highlands have all passed through its doors.

But in early 2023, those doors — quite literally — would no longer close.

The 1960 terminal building, over 5,000 square feet of aging structure, had reached the end of its life. Decades of moisture underneath the foundation had caused it to sink. Trusses were failing. Walls were cracking. The Virginia Department of Aviation delivered a clear message to the Bath County Airport Authority: the building had to go.

What followed has been one of the most complex, layered, and quietly consequential infrastructure stories in the history of this region.

A Process That Moves at Its Own Pace

When Ford first sat down with me in early 2023, the urgency was palpable. The terminal was condemned, a temporary facility was being planned, and the authority was preparing to navigate a gauntlet of state and federal agencies — the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV), the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency among them — each with its own permitting requirements and timelines.

Jeff gave us a glimpse of what this felt like from the inside.

“Three years feels like 30. But we’re dealing with the federal government, we’re dealing with the state government and the Department of Aviation, and it’s a lot of hoops to jump through. It’s a lot slower process than you’d want. But now we actually have a building out of the ground, and we feel like we’re getting there.”

The road has included multiple presentations before the DOAV board in Richmond, EPA permitting, environmental studies, engineering assessments, and two separate grant applications — one for site work and one for the construction of the new terminal itself. It has required the Airport Authority to travel, advocate, and repeatedly make the case that Ingalls Field is worth the investment.

By all accounts, that case was not a hard one to make. In one of the early DOAV board meetings, five of the nine board members had already made the trip to Bath County to see the terminal’s condition for themselves. The message from that board was unambiguous: Ingalls Field is part of the fabric of Virginia, and it cannot go away.

Partners Who Never Blinked

One of the recurring themes in Ford’s account of this project is the role of partnership — particularly with the Virginia Department of Aviation, which Ford credits as an indispensable ally through every complication.

“When you have some bumps in the road and you’ve had to go back and say, hey, we need more help with this or that — they’ve never blinked an eye. They’ve stepped up every time. We’re very proud to be partners with the Department of Aviation.”

That partnership has translated into real dollars. The project is structured around two grants. The first — a site grant covering everything from parking lots and curbs to landscaping, lighting, and the demolition of the old terminal — is funded at 90% state money and 10% local. The second, covering the actual construction of the new terminal building, is 83% state and 17% local.

Crucially, the local share does not come from Bath County taxpayers. It comes from the occupancy tax — the one percent collected on lodging stays across the region, a fund that exists specifically to support tourism infrastructure.

“Not one penny of Bath County taxpayer money goes toward this project. It all comes through occupancy tax. We’re very fortunate to have a place like the Homestead, and all the folks that visit here, providing that funding to support tourism — like Ingalls Field.”

A Winter Delay and a Finish Line in Sight

As of this spring, the new 5,000-square-foot terminal building is under construction. But the project has not been without its setbacks. Over the winter months, the Airport Authority made the decision to halt construction for 53 days due to weather conditions on the mountain.

“We did shut down for weather. We had a brief spell there that was a little chilly. So instead of having those guys working in those conditions, we shut down. That extended the length of the project a little bit, but I think it was the right thing to do. We want to make sure the quality of work up there on the mountain — when we’re finished — is something we’re all real proud of.”

The result of that decision is that the new terminal is not expected to be ready until the end of July 2026. In the meantime, the Airport Authority received approval to extend its temporary facility, which has been in operation since August 2023. The airport has remained open throughout the entire process — a point of pride for Ford and the board.

More Than an Airport

One of the most striking moments in Ford’s interview came when he was asked about the airport’s broader impact on the region — not just Bath County, not just the Homestead, but the entire Allegheny Highlands.

He told the story of a man who had been flying in and out regularly, renting a car, and heading south — never once venturing north toward the Homestead or the surrounding communities. When airport staff finally spoke with him, they discovered he was a movie producer, scouting locations.

“There are things that go on that people don’t even think about. Ingalls Field serves the entire region — homeowners, vacationers, folks from the paper mill in Covington, the military. The military loves Ingalls Field, and that’s one of our main sources of revenue — fuel sales to the military. When you see those big Ospreys flying around and people say it sounds so noisy, I say it sounds like money to us.”

That regional reach is not accidental. When Ingalls Field was originally established, it was managed by a consortium that included Covington, Clifton Forge, Bath County, and Highland County. The roots of the airport were always regional, and Ford believes that identity is just as relevant today.

Trails, History, and a Vision Beyond the Runway

Perhaps the most surprising development in this latest update is how much the Airport Authority’s vision has grown beyond simply replacing a building. Working closely with the Nature Conservancy, the authority has opened the Pinnacle Trail — a new hiking path featuring two overlooks with sweeping views toward Clifton Forge. The trail runs alongside the existing Bear Loop, giving visitors two distinct hiking experiences right at the airport.

And then there is the original terminal — the one built in 1931, the one that Charles Lindbergh once flew into. It is still standing, and Ford wants to restore it.

“We’ve got 95 years under our belt, and we want to restore that original terminal. Charles Lindbergh flew in there. We’ve got a $30,000 grant from the Allegheny Foundation and we’re trying to get local matching funds to get up to $75,000 to restore that building. It would be part of the trail complex. So if anybody has any extra money laying around — look me up.”

The vision Ford is describing is not just a functional airport. It is a destination — a place where you can land a plane, hike a mountain trail, stand at an overlook nearly 4,000 feet in the air, and step inside a piece of American aviation history.

The Kid on the Hill

After three years of board meetings, grant applications, EPA permits, engineering studies, and winter shutdowns, it would be easy to lose sight of why any of this matters. Jeff Ford hasn’t.

In one of my earliest interviews with him, Ford shared a memory that has stayed with me since. As a kid, he used to ride up to Ingalls Field on Sunday afternoons, sit on the bank with his parents and brother, eat a sandwich, and watch Piedmont Airlines fly in and out. It was the kind of quiet, formative experience that shapes a person’s relationship to a place forever.

“There are certain things as a kid that stick with you. The Sunday afternoons, riding up and sitting on the bank, watching the airplanes, having a little picnic with your mom and dad. That sticks with you. I just think it’s one of the most beautiful places in Bath County — almost 4,000 feet in the air, seeing in every direction. If you haven’t been up there, you’ve got to make the drive.”

Allegheny Mountain Radio will continue to follow this story through the completion of the new terminal and any planned grand opening celebration. Previous reports and full-length interviews are available at alleghenymountainradio.org.