Since the Wright Brothers first defied gravity, the dream of flight has been etched into the American spirit, a dream that found a powerful foothold in Lewis County with the establishment of the Chehalis–Centralia Airport. Forged from the collaboration of two cities, its legacy was cemented during World War II when it served as a vital training ground for the pilots who would secure the skies.
In the decades since, it has trained military aviators, anchored the region’s essential airmail and night-flying routes, and welcomed commercial airline services that connected Lewis County to the broader world. Today, it endures not just as an airport, but as a testament to the determination of a community that refused to let its dream be grounded.
From Farmland to Airfield: The Founding of Paul Donahoe Field
The story of Lewis County’s aviation history began in 1927, when the Donahoe family sold approximately 44 acres of their 600-acre farm to the city of Chehalis and Lewis County for over $13,000. This parcel, developed into a simple dirt runway, was dedicated as Paul Donahoe Field on May 21, 1927. The ceremony was a significant community event, drawing an estimated crowd of 4,000 people who watched flying performances by a dozen aircraft, including military airships.
The commitment to the airfield was immediate. In 1928, the first hangar, a 5,000-square-foot structure, was built, and the county purchased an additional 50 acres to expand the facility, signaling that this was more than a passing novelty.
The airport’s early significance was cemented by its integration into the national aviation system. As part of a 1926 initiative to improve airmail service, Chehalis was chosen as one of eleven West Coast locations to receive a powerful 7,500,000-candlepower beacon. By 1929, the United States Department of Commerce had authorized a $6,000 project to light the field for night flying, and the federal government leased the property to install the equipment and establish it as an emergency airstrip.
That same year, the new airport was awarded the distinction of being named one of the “Best in the West.” During this period of growth, from the late 1920s into the mid-1930s, the St. John Air Service managed the airport’s operations. This tenure included basing the Queen of the Cowlitz, a sister ship to Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, at the field.
The County-City Airport Answers the Call to Service During World War II
The local partnership that would define the airport’s future was solidified on the eve of global conflict. Just before World War II, the City of Chehalis and Lewis County formalized their joint ownership, acquiring an additional 81 acres in 1941 to bring the site to a total of 295 acres and formally establishing the County-City Airport. With three runways and a greatly expanded footprint, the field had grown far beyond its farm-strip origins and was positioned for a larger role as the nation braced for war.
When the United States entered the conflict, the federal government seized control of the airport, using it as a training base for new pilots and a practice strip for Boeing bombers. Nearly $800,000 was invested in improvements, including two paved 5,000-foot runways, dikes, and a drainage system to protect the site from flooding. These wartime upgrades would permanently reshape the airfield, transforming it into a modern facility. When the war ended and peace returned, local control was restored, and the airport quickly shifted to civilian use.
Chehalis–Centralia Airport History in the Postwar Era
With the war over, the County-City board resumed local control and immediately capitalized on the military-grade infrastructure by attracting Lewis County’s first scheduled carrier, West Coast Airlines. This commercial passenger service connected the region to the wider Pacific Northwest until it was canceled in 1958 amid industry changes. The subsequent years focused on governance, starting with the City of Chehalis annexing the airport land in 1959 and formally taking sole ownership in 1960, though operations remained cooperative with the county. The complex local relationship was finally formalized in September 1961 when, after several delays, an official, enduring partnership was established among Centralia, Chehalis, and Lewis County, ensuring the cooperative management of this regional asset.
That same year, the Airport Board took shape, giving the airport a steady framework for decision-making as it entered a new era. Over time, the board oversaw both expansion and contraction: the closure of Runway 1–19 in the late 1970s due to surface buckling, and the installation of new runway lighting in 1983 to improve safety and extend operations. These measures underscored the airport’s ability to adapt, even as its governance structure remained a delicate balance of shared responsibility.
Innovation and Sustainability Drive the Airport Toward a Greener, Busier Future
By the early 2000s, the cooperative framework that had sustained the airport for half a century began to unravel. Centralia withdrew from the joint operating agreement in 2004, and Lewis County followed in 2013, ultimately dissolving the Airport Board and leaving Chehalis as the sole owner on January 1, 2014. This consolidation of authority paved the way for a new chapter of focused development. The airport immediately began securing critical investments, including a $1.48 million state loan in 2020 for modern fuel storage tanks and a selection in 2021 as one of Washington’s first beta-test sites for electric aircraft.
Now under unified leadership, the airport is charting an ambitious course for the future, emphasizing both innovation and education. It expanded its landholdings with the 2023 purchase of the Barnes property and launched the CHAISE project in 2024 to become a hub for sustainable aviation energy and technology. The airport’s commitment to flight training is extensive, running robust programs that cater to all ages.
For youth, the Lewis County Civil Air Patrol offers free instruction starting as young as 12 years old, with the possibility of earning a pilot’s license. Meanwhile, adults over 18 looking for a definitive jump-start into aviation can utilize the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Flying Start Program, with the half-day class providing free mentorship, a first flight, and clear instructions on how to continue formal pilot training.
Visitors can also explore the airfield’s heritage and watch aircraft operations from the Interpretive Park, which features panels detailing the history of the airport and the life of famous test pilot Scott Crossfield, who grew up in nearby Boistfort and used the airfield in his youth when learning to fly. With a new FAA master plan adopted in 2025, the first since 2001, the airport is formally planning for projected growth to 70,000 annual operations by 2045, ensuring its legacy of adaptation continues for the next generation.
