Apple Valley Airport (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Apple Valley Airport is a private airport
located one mile southeast of Buxton
in Washington County
, Oregon
, United States
. Built in 1994 by a Portland
TV personality, the subsequent owners have pushed to expand operations at the airport. Near U.S. 26
west of the Portland metropolitan area
, the 2470 feet (752.9 m) long turf airstrip is used for agricultural operations.
, known as "Ramblin' Rod" to Portland
TV viewers, for his private airplane alongside his log cabin
home. In 2004, Mike and Jennie Applebee purchased the property and airstrip from the estate of Anders. In 2005, the owner announced plans to convert the airstrip into a commercial operation and include services such as flight training. Owner Jim Applebee was issued citations by the county in June 2005 for operations at the airport. Neighbors formed a group to oppose the conversion and hired an attorney. The application failed as incomplete and the citations were dismissed by the court.
In 2006, the owners filed again with the county to expand the use of the airport, which was to include commercial use and the basing of ten aircraft with usage to total 3,016 departures each year. A land-use meeting was held in September 2006, with the county denying the application for commercial use at the airport. In 2007, the Applebees appealed the county’s decision to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), but lost the decision in June. Later LUBA sent part of the case back to the county and the Applebees were allowed to have agricultural operations at the airstrip, but they dropped an appeal to the Oregon Court of Appeals
in November 2007 and announced plans to sell the property. In October 2008, the Applebees received initial approval to expand the airport grounds by adding a hangar
, parking lot, and helipad
.
near the community of Buxton, adjacent to the Sunset Highway
. Owned by Applebee Aviation, the airport is east of Fisher Road on the north side of the highway in the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range
. The airport is used as a base for agricultural based aviation
such as spraying crops with pesticides and fertilizers. An unattended private facility, it is at an elevation of 247 feet (75.3 m) above sea level with a runway alignment of 11/29.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located one mile southeast of Buxton
Buxton, Oregon
Buxton is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States, near Oregon Route 47.The Buxton area was settled by Henry T. Buxton in 1884, and the town was named for his family, including his father, also named Henry Buxton, a pioneer of 1841. A post office was established on...
in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1994 by a Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
TV personality, the subsequent owners have pushed to expand operations at the airport. Near U.S. 26
U.S. Route 26 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 26 is a major cross-state state highway, connecting U.S. Route 101 on the Oregon Coast near Seaside with the Idaho state line east of Nyssa. Local highway names include the Sunset Highway No. 47, Mount Hood Highway No. 26, and John Day Highway No...
west of the Portland metropolitan area
Portland metropolitan area
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area , also known as the Portland metropolitan area or Greater Portland, is an urban area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered around the city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S...
, the 2470 feet (752.9 m) long turf airstrip is used for agricultural operations.
History
The airstrip was constructed in 1994 by Rod AndersRamblin' Rod Anders
Ramblin' Rod Anders , born Rodney Carl Andersen, was the host of The Ramblin' Rod Show, a morning children's program, from 1964 until his retirement on August 8, 1997. The Portland, Oregon KPTV host was well known locally for his iconic, button-covered sweater, which he wore on air...
, known as "Ramblin' Rod" to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
TV viewers, for his private airplane alongside his log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
home. In 2004, Mike and Jennie Applebee purchased the property and airstrip from the estate of Anders. In 2005, the owner announced plans to convert the airstrip into a commercial operation and include services such as flight training. Owner Jim Applebee was issued citations by the county in June 2005 for operations at the airport. Neighbors formed a group to oppose the conversion and hired an attorney. The application failed as incomplete and the citations were dismissed by the court.
In 2006, the owners filed again with the county to expand the use of the airport, which was to include commercial use and the basing of ten aircraft with usage to total 3,016 departures each year. A land-use meeting was held in September 2006, with the county denying the application for commercial use at the airport. In 2007, the Applebees appealed the county’s decision to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), but lost the decision in June. Later LUBA sent part of the case back to the county and the Applebees were allowed to have agricultural operations at the airstrip, but they dropped an appeal to the Oregon Court of Appeals
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
in November 2007 and announced plans to sell the property. In October 2008, the Applebees received initial approval to expand the airport grounds by adding a hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
, parking lot, and helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
.
Details
The 2470 feet (752.9 m) long runway is located in rural Washington CountyWashington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
near the community of Buxton, adjacent to the Sunset Highway
Sunset Highway (Oregon)
The Sunset Highway No. 47 , in the state of Oregon, is an official designation for the portion of U.S. Route 26 between its western terminus, south of Seaside, and the interchange with Interstate 405 in downtown Portland...
. Owned by Applebee Aviation, the airport is east of Fisher Road on the north side of the highway in the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range
Northern Oregon Coast Range
The Northern Oregon Coast Range is the northern section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, located in the northwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States. This section of the mountain range, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, contains peaks as high...
. The airport is used as a base for agricultural based aviation
Aerial application
Aerial application, commonly called crop dusting, involves spraying crops with fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides from an agricultural aircraft. The specific spreading of fertilizer is also known as aerial topdressing....
such as spraying crops with pesticides and fertilizers. An unattended private facility, it is at an elevation of 247 feet (75.3 m) above sea level with a runway alignment of 11/29.