ONRC Evening Talk Explores Past, Present, and Future of Quillayute Airport

February 27, 2025 1:30 am
Keen mentioned in the talk float planes on Lake Ozette; here a plane sits on Lake Ozette. During the war many sites along the Sound were scoured for an appropriate small seaplane base, including Lake Ozette, Indian Island, Keystone Harbor, and Penn Cove. The Lake Ozette site never got off the water.
Keen mentioned in the talk float planes on Lake Ozette; here a plane sits on Lake Ozette. During the war many sites along the Sound were scoured for an appropriate small seaplane base, including Lake Ozette, Indian Island, Keystone Harbor, and Penn Cove. The Lake Ozette site never got off the water.

The Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC) hosted its Rosmond Evening Talk Series on Thursday, Feb. 20, featuring a presentation by Chip Keen titled “Quillayute Airport – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.”

Keen provided a historical timeline of the Quillayute Airport, tracing its origins as the former Quillayute Naval Auxiliary Air Station to the late 1930s when the U.S. Army and Navy sought a site. The area, known to the Quileute people as Down River or Camas Prairie, was selected for its strategic location. In 1940, 520 acres were purchased for $24,400, and by October 1941, the Navy had acquired the land and began runway construction. On December 7, 1941, as the attack on Pearl Harbor unfolded, the airfield’s development became even more critical.

To expand the site, crews used sand and gravel from Rialto Beach to create concrete runways in 1942. Personnel began arriving in 1943, and by February 1944, the station was commissioned. Though meant to be a secret ceremony, the event attracted an estimated 700 people—a testament to the challenge of keeping secrets in small towns.

With the Japanese surrender in 1945, the airfield’s role diminished. By 1947, it was deemed non-essential, and in 1962, the state of Washington acquired the property. The City of Forks took ownership in 1997, maintaining it for public use with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Quillayute Airport’s Role in Future Disaster Preparedness

Keen emphasized the airport’s potential importance in disaster response, particularly in the event of a major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. He warned of the catastrophic impact a large-scale quake could have on the region, making Quillayute Airport a vital asset for emergency operations.

“What if it’s Quileute Days and 5,000 people are celebrating?” Keen asked. “A tsunami would hit La Push within 15 minutes, leaving little time to evacuate.”

He noted that the National Guard previously misunderstood the airport’s location, assuming it was on the Quileute Reservation—inside the tsunami zone. However, the airport sits safely outside the danger zone, making it an ideal site for emergency response operations.

Plans for Restoration and Future Use

Efforts to modernize the Quillayute Airport are underway. A microgrid feasibility study for solar energy storage was applied for, and long-term plans include:

• Restoring the hangar

• Adding restrooms

• Installing runway lighting

• An updated website (qa4cr.org) to share progress and information has been created

Since its decommissioning after World War II, the airfield has fallen into disrepair, with abandoned buildings surrounding its single active runway. However, growing recognition of its potential for emergency response has led to increased interest and funding opportunities.

Keen, who serves as Lead Commissioner for Clallam County Fire District 6 and co-owner of Quillayute River Resort, has been a strong advocate for the airport’s redevelopment. Since learning about the Cascadia Subduction Zone in 2015, he has worked to promote the airfield as a key asset for disaster preparedness.

The Rosmond Evening Talk Series is made possible by the Rosmond Family Education Fund.

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