Photos: Keystone Airport holds grand opening for new building

February 4, 2022October 7, 2021 by Dan Hildebran

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Keystone Heights Airport cut the ribbon on its fixed base operations building during a Wednesday, Sept. 6 ceremony.

(Left) Keystone Heights City Council Member Tony Brown and airport Board Member Chad Rischar with a Lockheed P-3 Orion in the background.

Clay County Commissioner Betsy Condon

The airport’s new administration building, officially called the fixed base operations building. The structure opened in March 2020, but the ribbon cutting was delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Keystone Heights Vice Mayor Steve Hart and Airport Board Chair David Kirkland. Hart said the airport is Keystone Heights’s crown jewel.

(L-r) Airport Board Secretary Bruce Harvin, Vice Chair Scott Fryar and Engineer Bill Prange. Airport Board Chair David Kirkland said Fryar played a large role in designing the structure, providing input to Prange.

: Airport Board Chair David Kirkland. Kirkland said that since its inception in 1942 as Keystone Army Airfield, the airport continues to evolve into an entity that focuses on general, military and corporate aviation.

Airport Manager Maria Hitt. Hitt told the crowd that the airport’s leaders wanted the building, which houses administration offices, a reception area, pilots lounge and other rooms, to be distinctive from other Florida airports.

Bradford County Commissioner Carolyn Spooner and Clay County Commissioner Jim Renninger

Airport Chair David Kirkland cuts the ribbon for the new building.

: (L-r) Keystone Heights City Manager Lynn Rutkowski, Clay County Director of Economic and Development Services Chereese Stewart, City of Keystone Heights Office Manager Shelley Gibbs and Barbara Kirkland.

(L-r) Bradford County Manager Will Sexton, Executive Administrative Assistant Alyssa Winston, Keystone Heights Heritage Commission Chair LaDonna Hart and Vice Mayor Steve Hart.

(L-r) Bradford County Executive Administrative Assistant Alyssa Winston and Bradford County Manager Will Sexton inside a Lockheed P-3 Orion which was on display at the airport.

Bradford County Commissioner Carolyn Spooner entering a Lockheed P-3 Orion which was on display at the airport.

Clay County Manager Howard Wanamaker, Clay County Commissioner Jim Renninger and MHD Rockland Vice President of Flight Operations Todd Falconer inside a Lockheed P-3 Orion which was on display at the airport.

North Florida Chamber of Commerce President Pam Whittle, Capital City Bank’s Ginger Lee and Airport Board Member Chad Rischar.