Mason City Municipal Airport to break ground on new terminal

(ABC 6 NEWS) – It’s a big day for the Mason City Municipal Airport.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new commercial service terminal will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Monday.

The new 23,000 square foot terminal building will be constructed adjacent to the current terminal building, which was originally built in 1966.

The new terminal will provide for more gate hold space for passengers, a more modern security checkpoint, and additional spaces for the air, bus, and TSA administration.

The total cost for this project is estimated at $13 million dollars.

“This is one of those projects that we talk about, we plan and we dream for it for a really long time. To see it become a reality is going to be extremely exciting for us. The current building hasn’t changed much at all since it was originally constructed. This new facility will help bring us into the modern era,” David Sims, the airport manager at the Mason City Municipal Airport said.

What a lot of people don’t know is the airport is rich in history.

In 1927, The Mason City Chamber of Commerce and the Clausen Worden Post American Legion established the airport.

Charles Lindbergh, the first aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean attended the dedication of the airport in 1927.

Then in 1945, the airport had its first plane touchdown.

It consisted of two paved runways, and a small ramp area.

Then in the 1960s, the primary runway was extended to its current length.

The new facility is expected to open in the Summer of 2024.