Former STOL airport (Bay Lake, Florida)

USA / Florida / Lake Buena Vista / Bay Lake, Florida
 abandoned / shut down, historical layer / disappeared object, airstrip
Area previously used for Disney's Private Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) airport. Labeled as "Lake Buena Vista STOL Airport" (DWS) on sectional charts in the early 1970s. The approximately 2000 x 100 foot runway was in use from 1971-1975.
www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_OrlandoSW.htm...

No longer used as an airfield. By 1982 the elevated monorail to Epcot adjacent to the strip made its use as a landing site problematic. Now used as a bus staging area and sometimes for staging and storage of large bulk items such as containers.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   28°24'1"N   81°34'21"W

Comments

  • It WAS used as a private liftoff and landing strip but it closed YEARS ago.
  • Closed airstrips are supposed to have X's painted over the entire length, however I dont see any aircraft and also dont see runway numbers which would indicate a closed runway.
  • It was used for there airport for the guest flying in from MCO airport.
  • It was in use from 1971-1975.
  • I remember that Piper had a introduction/demonstration for media types of the then brand new PA-38 Tomahawk here in 1976 or 1977. Apparently it was used very rarely after that.
  • That's because it is only officially closed on the books. Unofficially, it is still used rarely as a landing pad for helos and STOL planes like for Secret Service advance teams when a VIP is stopping by. It was also used by the "Flying Dragon" paraglider in December 2012 when the new FantasyLand area opened.
  • Show all comments
This article was last modified 5 years ago