Haysfield Airport - MD24 was an airport located in Howard County, Maryland.
Haysfield Airport Haysfield | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Owner | Alfred Bassler | ||||||||||
| Operator | Alfred Bassler | ||||||||||
| Serves | Clarksville, Maryland | ||||||||||
| Location | Clarksville, Maryland | ||||||||||
| Opened | 1974 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 2012 | ||||||||||
| Occupants | 27 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 128 m / 420 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 39°14′N 76°56′W / 39.233°N 76.933°W | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  MD24 Location of airport in Maryland | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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History
Haysfield Airport started operations in 1974.[1] The airport was founded by Alfred Bassler. Bassler's father owned a large strategic parcel and airfield where Howard Research Associates intended to build the development of Columbia, Maryland. Bassler exchanged land to avoid capital gains for a 504-acre Hayland farm in nearby Clarksville, Maryland where he established Haysfield Airport and a tree nursery.[2] At its peak the airfield hosted 50 aircraft onsite. The airfield faced regular zoning battles throughout its history.[3][4] There were efforts to convert the airport to public use, but the NSA and Maryland Aviation Administration opposed the plan.[5]
After the September 11th attacks, a series of highly restrictive airspace changes now called the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area overlapped the field slowing business.[6] In 2013, the airfield was closed by the Bassler family corporation in a 5 to 3 vote in order to create the 159 unit Walnut Creek housing development.[7]