Dayton Airpark hopes for more fliers

Maynard Ingalls knew what he wanted to do when he started shooting toys into the air more than 60 years ago.

"Some kids are interested in cars, some kids are interested in boats, some kids are interested in playing ball," he said. "Some of us are interested in airplanes."

Ingalls learned to fly as a teenager and went on to win awards at air shows for years.

He said he found the perfect place to enjoy his retirement when he moved into a house with a private hangar and airstrip behind it at the Dayton Airpark about 13 years ago.

But Ingalls, who is over 80 years old, and other retired homeowners in the subdivision don't know how much longer they will be able to fly.

Ingalls doesn't know if he can pass the federal medical aviation test required to fly the airplane he spent nine years building himself.

"I don't want to give it up, but I'm getting to that point," he said.

Sandy Duncan, president of the homeowners association, said about three-fourths of the homeowners are retired.

Developers plan to expand the 32-home subdivision and small airstrip, adding lights and fueling and maintenance stations to the mile-long airstrip. But few new homeowners have moved to the private airpark recently. And the homeowners' association fees are necessary to fund the improvements.

"We don't have enough funding," Duncan said. "We just don't have enough (residents) paying in."

The subdivision hasn't grown quickly enough to pay for much more than a $1 million reconstruction of the runway two years ago. Developers started an expansion five years ago of the community that started as 25 home lots in 1989.

Lyon County issued 229 new home building permits, 185 of those in Dayton, in 2007, according to the county building department. In 2008, the county issued 54 permits, with 38 in Dayton.

But Doug Thorngren, broker for the subdivision owner Wade Development Company, said Dayton Airpark will grow when the economy gets better.

The airpark has room from another 100 to 150 homes with hangars and 50 to 60 private hangars whose owners will help grow the amenities, he said. The developer hopes to add a fueling station, restaurant and maintenance station with the new fees generated, he said.

"Every time we sell a house, there's someone contributing to the homeowners association," he said.

The economy in Lyon County will get better even if it takes another year and a half, said County Manager Dennis Stark.

The county government is taking the time to plan for the growth, he said.

"The immediate future is not all that bright," he said.

The county has private airports in Dayton and Fernley and owns the airport in Silver Springs. Yerington has its own airport.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.