HISTORIC LONE PINE TERMINAL RESTORED WITH HELP OF RAF GRANT

In Lone Pine, California, the Friends of Lone Pine Airport (FLPA) used an RAF grant for materials to help restore the historic terminal building at O26, the airport just west of the Inyo Range near Death Valley National Park. RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov had applied for the funds, and after FLPA and RAF volunteers worked on the project for many months, Anna Montgomery of FLPA reports that they are close to completing the restoration.

“It’s such a great model – the volunteer labor and donations make the dollars go so much farther,“ Montgomery said.

Inyo County replaced the leaking roof in 2024 and FLPA and RAF volunteers began exterior restoration, investing hundreds of hours patching and repairing damage, priming and painting. They used an RAF grant for the interior and worked through the winter and into spring of 2025. “Banks Glass, owned by RAF Supporter Mark Banks, was a real morale booster when they replaced the remaining windows, and installed windows in the bathrooms,” Montgomery said.

The pilot lounge has a new tongue and groove ceiling, refinished floors, and vintage lighting. “A beautiful new double paned picture window frames the Inyos for pilots who seek shelter from the weather,” Montgomery added.

Volunteers also repainted walls, and installed a new toilet and fixtures in the bathroom. Visitors are welcome to use the newly refurbished kitchen. The building also houses a county office, and its ceiling was repaired and painted. There are new blinds in all the windows.

“The RAF grant and their collaboration made this project possible. It was so empowering to take something that clearly had meaning and history and make it shine again. Many thanks to all the volunteers, their donations of time and materials, and their hard work. A special thanks to Brian Forbes, who did a tremendous job on the skilled carpentry and for donating the vintage lights. Also a special thank you to Banks Glass for their incredible donation of windows and expertise,” Montgomery said.

This was the second RAF supported project at Lone Pine. In 2022, an RAF grant helped the airport add new flushing toilets and enclosed restrooms with running water.

The airport has fuel and is considered a gateway to backcountry airstrips in the region. For more information on Lone Pine/Death Valley Airport, see the Airfield Guide.

Submitted on August 15, 2025