Owais Crawford
Denver's Stapleton International Airport, formerly known as Denver Municipal Airport, was Colorado's premier airport for 65 years before it closed in 1995. The airport was replaced by the Denver International Airport, which opened on February 28, 1995, just after Stapleton's closure on February 27. The last revenue flight to land at Stapleton was Delta Flight 569 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. After the closure, most of the buildings were torn down, and the land was redeveloped into a thriving urban community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year opened | 1929 |
| Year closed | 1995 |
| Former name | Denver Municipal Airport |
| Location | 7 miles from downtown Denver |
| Number of runways | 6 |
| Number of terminal concourses | 5 |
| Replacement | Denver International Airport |
| Distance of replacement airport from Denver | 15 miles |
| Area of former airport | 4,000 acres |
| Number of schools | 21 |
| Area of parks and open space | 1,100 acres |
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What You'll Learn
Stapleton International Airport closed in 1995
Stapleton International Airport, formerly known as Denver Municipal Airport, was the primary airport of Denver, Colorado. It opened on October 17, 1929, and operated until February 27, 1995, when the last plane landed on its runways. The airport was then replaced by the Denver International Airport, which opened on February 28, 1995, at 12:01 am.
The closure of Stapleton International Airport marked the end of 65 years of service. At the time of its closure, the airport had six runways and five terminal concourses. The runways were marked with large yellow "X"s, indicating that it was no longer legal or safe for aircraft to land there. The IATA and ICAO airport codes of Stapleton were transferred to the new Denver International Airport, ensuring that all flights destined for Denver would land at the new airport.
The decision to close Stapleton International Airport was made in the late 1980s when city leaders recognized that Denver's needs had outgrown the facility. The airport was facing lawsuits over noise from residents in the nearby Park Hill neighborhood, and the runways were too close together, often having to close during bad weather. Additionally, the airport was too close to the city, and the Federal Aviation Administration had imposed a building height restriction to allow an unimpeded glide slope for runways.
After the closure of Stapleton International Airport, the land was redeveloped into a thriving urban community. The Stapleton Foundation was established in 1990 to develop a visionary plan for the redevelopment of the former airport site. The Foundation published the Stapleton Development Plan, often referred to as "the Green Book", which called for the integration of jobs, open spaces, and community into a new mixed-use residential neighborhood. The redevelopment of the 4,000-acre site required rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, and public services on a large scale. Today, the former airport site is home to a bustling community with schools, parks, and entertainment areas.
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The airport was replaced by Denver International Airport
The Stapleton International Airport was replaced by the Denver International Airport in 1995. The last revenue flight to land at Stapleton was Delta Flight 569 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on February 27, 1995, at 7:59 pm. The final flight to depart from Stapleton was Continental Flight 34, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 bound for London Gatwick Airport. After Flight 34 cleared the runway at 9:39 pm, the airport was shut down, marking the end of 65 years of service.
Stapleton International Airport opened on October 17, 1929, as Denver Municipal Airport, and was the primary airport of Denver, Colorado. It was a hub for several major airlines, including Continental Airlines, United Airlines, and Western Airlines. Over time, the airport expanded and grew alongside the city of Denver.
However, by the late 1980s, city leaders recognized that Denver's needs had outgrown the facility. The airport was facing lawsuits over noise complaints from residents, and the close proximity of the runways often caused issues during inclement weather. As a result, the decision was made to open a new airport, Denver International Airport, located 15 miles east of the city.
The closure of Stapleton International Airport led to a significant redevelopment project. The Stapleton Foundation was established in 1990 to create a visionary plan for the former airport site. The resulting Stapleton Development Plan, often referred to as "the Green Book," emphasized the integration of jobs, open spaces, and community into a new mixed-use residential neighborhood. The redevelopment effort has received national recognition for its commitment to sustainable development, community-building, and environmental stewardship. Today, the former airport site has been transformed into a thriving urban community with over 35,000 residents, 21 schools, and 1,100 acres of parks and open space.
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The land was redeveloped into a thriving urban community
After its closure in 1995, the Stapleton International Airport site was redeveloped into a thriving urban community. The former airport, which covered more than 4,000 acres, underwent rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, and the development of public services on a grand scale.
The transformation of the Stapleton area was guided by the Stapleton Development Plan, also known as "the Green Book". Published in 1995, the plan envisioned a mixed-use residential neighbourhood that integrated jobs, open spaces, and community. To realise this vision, the City of Denver collaborated with various organisations, including Forest City Enterprises, Inc., the Stapleton Development Corporation, and the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA).
DURA played a crucial role in financing regional infrastructure improvements. By issuing bonds, DURA raised funds for projects such as roads, parks, fire stations, schools, and other public works. The redevelopment of Stapleton has received national recognition for its commitment to sustainable development, community-building, and environmental stewardship, winning awards from renowned institutions and organisations.
Today, the former airport site is a bustling community with over 21 schools and 1,100 acres of parks and open spaces. The once-busy runways and concourses have been replaced by homes, businesses, and entertainment venues, creating a vibrant neighbourhood for its residents. The successful transformation of Stapleton has set a precedent for other urban redevelopment initiatives, showcasing the potential for revitalising former industrial sites into thriving communities.
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The airport had been in operation for 65 years
Stapleton was Colorado's premier airport, and a hub for several major airlines, including Continental, United, and Western Airlines. The airport had six runways and five terminal concourses. However, its proximity to the city centre led to noise complaints from residents, and the runways were so close together that they often had to close during bad weather.
After Stapleton's closure in 1995, most of its buildings were torn down, and the land was redeveloped into a thriving urban community. The former airport site now houses 35,000 residents and has 21 schools and 1,100 acres of parks and open space. The redevelopment of Stapleton has become a model for other communities and has received national recognition for its commitment to sustainable development and community-building.
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The airport was Denver's primary airport
The airport, formerly called Denver Municipal Airport, served as the primary airport of Denver, Colorado, from 1929 until 1995. It was opened on October 17, 1929, and was renamed Stapleton Airfield on August 25, 1944.
Denver Municipal Airport was a major airport in the western United States. It was a hub for Continental Airlines, the original Frontier Airlines, People Express, United Airlines, and Western Airlines. Other airlines with smaller operations at the airport included Aspen Airways, today's Frontier Airlines, and Rocky Mountain Airways.
By the early 1990s, Concourses A and B were used exclusively by United and United Express, while Continental used most of Concourses C and D. Most other airlines moved to Concourse E. During this time, several charter services to the United Kingdom were introduced, and Martinair inaugurated services to Amsterdam until the airport's closure.
On February 27, 1995, the last planes landed at Stapleton International Airport. Delta Flight 569 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was the last revenue flight to land, scheduled for 7:59 pm. The airport was then shut down, marking the end of 65 years of service. The land was redeveloped into a thriving urban community, with the former airport buildings torn down, except for a few hangars and an air traffic control tower.
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Frequently asked questions
Stapleton International Airport closed on February 27, 1995. The last revenue flight to land at Stapleton was Delta Flight 569 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
By the late 1980s, City leaders decided that Denver needed a larger airport. Stapleton International Airport was too small and too close to the city. The new Denver International Airport opened in 1995.
The Stapleton Foundation was established in 1990 to develop a visionary plan for the redevelopment of the soon-to-be-vacated Stapleton Airport. The land has since been redeveloped into a thriving urban community of 35,000 residents, with 21 schools and 1,100 acres of parks and open space.
Most of the airport's buildings were torn down, but a few hangars and the air traffic control tower built in the 1960s remain. The control tower was saved and revitalized by the national restaurant and entertainment company Punch Bowl Social.
