A Fredericksburg-area businessman plans to refurbish Shannon Airport and eventually build a manufacturing plant for his companies on or near the property.
Luke Curtas and his wife, Kim, on Friday purchased the 61.5-acre airport property off Tidewater Trail in Spotsylvania County through Shannon Airport LLC. He declined to reveal the sales price, and the deed has not yet been recorded.
Aire Shannon Inc., whose principals were Robert Stanley and Billie Toombs, had owned and operated the airport since 1997. Wealthy businessman Sidney Shannon founded the airport and opened it in 1950.
Curtas, a pilot who keeps his plane at Shannon Airport, plans to refurbish the property and continue running it as an airport. He said Stanley and Toombs wanted to sell it to someone who would continue operating it as an airport.
He said Toombs, who has worked at the airport for almost 46 years, will continue to manage the facility while Stanley moves on to other pursuits.
Curtas wants to refurbish the terminal and other parts of the airport “to its glory days.” He hopes to use the facility to get children interested in aviation, bring in visitors to the region and assist with business travel.
Curtas said being able to fly in and out of general aviation airports such as Shannon has helped his businesses tremendously, as it allows him to spend far less time on travel. He noted that a 2011 Virginia Department of Aviation report indicated that Shannon generates $11.8 million in economic activity annually.
Curtas within a few years wants to build a new manufacturing plant at or near the airport for his two companies, both of which already operate in Spotsylvania. He stressed that the airport will remain open even after the plant is up and running.
Curtas owns Mid-Atlantic Vinyl Products, which is headquartered on Commonwealth Drive off U.S. 1 near Cosner’s Corner and makes vinyl railing, fencing and columns for porches, decks and backyards.
He also owns Regency Polymer Materials, which buys vinyl and aluminum scrap and grinds the materials into a powder used by Mid-Atlantic Vinyl and other manufacturers. Regency Polymer leases a 48,320-square-foot building at 5112 Park Drive near the intersection of U.S. 1 and Courthouse Road.
Curtas wants both companies doing business under one roof within two or three years.
Mid-Atlantic Vinyl is now looking to sell its headquarters on Commonwealth Drive with an eye toward the new plant planned at Shannon Airport. The property is listed with J.R. Burdette and Jonathan Gardner with Coldwell Banker Elite Commercial. Curtas said Mid-Atlantic Vinyl would likely lease the property back from the new owner until the airport plant is ready.
http://news.fredericksburg.com/businessbrowser/2014/03/03/local-businessman-buys-shannon-airport/