JANUARY 21, 2025|
Photo – Nathan James at Medicine Bow Airport – Courtesy Nathan James
A Colorado pilot is fundraising to save the historic airmail facility at the Medicine Bow Airport.
Nathan James is an aviation enthusiast from Denver, Colorado with an interest in history. James began flying all the airmail routes in the western United States using his paramotor. After poor weather forced him to land in Medicine Bow, James discovered how intact the town’s concrete airmail arrow and outbuildings are.
From the 1920’s to the 1930’s, the United State Postal Service experimented with flying mail between New York and San Francisco. The airmail pilots, flying repurposed World War One biplanes, would follow a series of concrete arrows on the ground to find their way to their destinations.
James said the Medicine Bow Airport is unique because the majority of its airmail structures, including the beacon tower and weather station, have survived to this day.
James said he felt compelled to save the structures before snow and wind cause irreparable damage. Right now, the weather station urgently needs a new roof.
The old weather station still holds artifacts from the Medicine Bow Airport’s time as an airmail route. James said he found many weather reports issued to pilots over 80 years ago, which he has preserved.
James said his immediate goal is to raise enough money to purchase a new roof for the weather station. While grant opportunities are available, the Medicine Bow Airport’s small size means it is not a priority for Federal Aviation Administration funding.
James estimates the cost of a new weather station roof at $2,600.
The Colorado pilot has created the website Airmailaviator.com to help cover the cost of the roof and other planned improvements. A portion of all merchandise sales goes toward revitalizing the Medicine Bow Airport.
Last September, to increase awareness of the Medicine Bow Airport, James organized a special event where numerous light aircraft pilots landed in the small town. James said he was told that more aircraft landed on that day than had landed in the past 80 years combined.
James said he has already begun planning another Medicine Bow flying event for this fall, featuring at least 15 planes. The event will showcase the cultural value of the entire town of Medicine Bow, including the Virginian Hotel.
One of the most noteworthy events in the history of the Medicine Bow Airport occurred in June of 1931, when Amelia Earhart landed there while searching for fuel. At the time, Earhart was attempting to become the first person to fly an Autogyro (Autogyro – Wikipedia) across the country.
Last August, James met with the governing body of Medicine Bow to discuss the importance of saving the historically significant airport. The town council quickly put together an airport advisory board, led by Councilman Lee Cook and Public Works Director Brian Lashley.
During the January 13th Medicine Bow town council meeting, Councilman Cook said he asked High Plains Power to restore electrical power to the airport free of charge. However, the councilman said the electric company had not responded to his request.
The Medicine Bow Airport Advisory Board is looking for additional volunteers. Members can be from anywhere in Carbon County. For more information, call the Medicine Bow town hall at 379-2225.
