Great improvements at Orillia Lake St. John

[PilotDAR]

I flew up to Orillia Lake St. John (CNJ4) today to meet a friend. I was delighted to see very fresh pavement. Runway 12/30 has been completely repaved, and lengthened, the apron greatly expanded, and paved, and very nice footpaths paved down to the lake. On top of the other very nice improvements made recently to the facilities, it is a delight.

In an age of declining GA, it's wonderful to see an airport owner actually investing in the airport! I don't know the new owner, but my appreciative thoughts for the effort and expense made there. I have been a regular user of Lake St. John for more than 30 years, and it is one of the few small airports which has never declined in facilities. And the recent improvements are a good leap forward.

So I'll be buying my gas there, just to so appreciation. I really encourage anyone within range to stop by for gas too. Fill 'er up, and show that we value a good airport by patronizing it!

[boogs82]

I think you forgot to let me know you were in the area lol

[pelmet]

What about the nearby Mara Airport. It has been several years but I remember that shortly after having been newly paved, there were a lot of ruts in the runway. Looked really bad at the time.

[PilotDAR]

The old Mara airport went by the wayside many years ago. The poor paving job on the runway resulted in it breaking up, and there was no care. That runway has been "X'd" for years, and the property is used for very non aviation purposes. It was nice during its brief operation, but interestingly, a part of its downfall was that none of the buildings were built with building permits, which might have been escapable, except that the restaurant required insurance and fire approval as a public occupancy building, and the township would have no part of it without a building permit, which they would not issue retroactively. The airport dwindled along for a while with little public interest, and then the property was sold.

Lake St. John slowed a little after the sudden passing of the owner at the time just about exactly 20 years ago, but it has managed through, and with patronage will grow even better. Perhaps the slightly longer runway will welcome a little more casino traffic. The office has been reconstructed (I trust with a building permit) to accommodate a restaurant upstairs. I hope we can collectively show enough interest to have it become a destination - certainly there are no excuses about the runway and ramp surfaces now!

[rxl]

Worked there in the early eighties for Orillia Air Services. Probably THE most fun I've had in my career. Great to hear about all the improvements. I'll have to drop by and check it out.

[PilotDAR]

Orillia has been a happening place in the last few days, it's nice to see. Even a few American visitors! I have filled up three planes there in the last two days, and hope that the activity continues....

[pelmet]

The old Mara airport went by the wayside many years ago. The poor paving job on the runway resulted in it breaking up, and there was no care.

One time I went there in a Duchess which seems to have the prop tips quite low to the ground. Another pilot had actually had some sort of a prop strike just while taxiing I was told. The runway turnoff to the taxiway was quite rutted and I got in the ruts and stuck. I added a bunch of power and then realized that the prop tips might be hitting the ground. I thought that I might have just had a double prop strike but fortunately did not. Worried the heck out of me for a few minutes though.

[pdw]

Worked there in the early eighties for Orillia Air Services. Probably THE most fun I've had in my career. Great to hear about all the improvements. I'll have to drop by and check it out.

Went there for an open house back then, and before I knew it was invited to get in the floatplane (staight floats) to get the licence. Brings back fond memories ..

[redlaser]

I remember the night when the tornado passed through wrecking most of the aircraft on the field, the barn roof was torn off and landed some fifty feet from the barn, I had tied down my aircraft with only one tie down rope and couldn't find a second one and my taxi to town showed up so I left the plane, next morning I was surprised to see that my aircraft was the only one without any damage to it, I did a walk around and off I went. Feeling very sorry for the other aircraft owners and their aircraft totally destroyed.

[PilotDAR]

I stopped in to Orillia Lake St John airport yesterday, and was pleased to see construction underway for new hangars. I was told of plans for renovation of the existing buildings, re purposing them into a restaurant and offices. Apparently arrangements have also been made for flight training soon as well. It is nice to see growth and investment in our airports!

[PilotDAR]

I attended a Christmas party yesterday at the new facility at Orillia airport. The new facility is magnificent! I had not been back since last summer, so not seen the progress. The original big hangar is now a beautiful restaurant (not open yet), the original offices are gone, replaced by a deck with perfect view of the lake. and the original center shop and paint hanger are the new offices. Of course those original hangars have been replaced with new ones, my tour of those to be in the future. I hope that this historic airport will see the growth and traffic it deserves!

[PilotDAR]

The Tailwinds restaurant will be open at the Lake St. John airport this weekend. A group of us were treated to a pre opening lunch today, and it was very good. We're often looking for a good place to fly to for a meal, so let's frequent them when they're available!

[JasonE]

Sounds good! Another place to fly in for lunch, I'll have to give it a try.

[The Hammer]

YLS has been becoming more of a charter destination as well as people try and avoid YYZ

[Chris M]

Glad to hear it! Last time I visited was a few years ago and it was pretty quiet. Always looking for new $100 burger run opportunities so I'll be out sometime this summer.

[A346Dude]

I was in today; great restaurant and facilities and everyone was very friendly. This is a top notch GA airport.