Cheap flights to Merrill C Meigs
- Merrill C Meigs airport, also known as Meigs Field, was a small airport located on Northerly Island in Lake Michigan, Chicago. It was named after Merrill C. Meigs, the publisher of the Chicago Herald and Examiner who advocated for the creation of a downtown airport.
- Meigs Field opened in 1948 and was primarily used for general aviation and business flights. It was known for its unique location, just minutes away from downtown Chicago, offering convenient access to the city for business travelers. The airport had a single runway and a small terminal building.
- In 1996, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley ordered the closure of Meigs Field and the destruction of the runway. The decision was controversial and came as a surprise to many, as the closure was done overnight without any prior notice. Mayor Daley justified the closure by citing security concerns, but critics argued that it was a political move to convert the land into a park.
- The destruction of the runway at Meigs Field sparked a significant backlash from the aviation community, as well as legal action by pilots and aviation organizations. However, the efforts to reopen the airport were unsuccessful, and the area was eventually transformed into a park known as Northerly Island.
- Today, remnants of Meigs Field can still be seen in the form of taxiways, aprons, and the terminal building, which has since been converted into a concert venue called the Charter One Pavilion. The closure of Meigs Field remains a contentious issue among aviation enthusiasts and preservation advocates.