When residents of Martinsville and Henry County think of local airports, the Blue Ridge Airport in Spencer is usually the first that comes to mind. However, tucked away just a few miles northeast of the city is another airport with a story that is both unusual and fascinating.
The Loury Lester Airport was the result of a simple idea among four aviation enthusiasts in the late 1970s. Larry Washington, Arnold Prillaman, Paul Stanley, and Rick Harris shared a love for flying but were frustrated by the long drive across the county to reach the Blue Ridge Airport. Rather than let inconvenience ground their passion, the men decided to create their own solution.
Pooling their resources, the group purchased land off Barrows Mill Road, about three miles from Martinsville. On this property they envisioned more than just a runway. They planned an entire residential community built around aviation. The idea was that each home would include its own hangar, allowing residents to step out of their front doors, taxi their planes directly from their garages, and take to the skies within minutes.
The original runway stretched 3,800 feet in length and 100 feet in width, but records from the Federal Aviation Administration now list it at 4,000 feet. At one time there were plans to extend it even further to 6,000 feet. To help fund the construction, the men decided to sell additional lots for private homes. The only requirement for buyers was that any house built had to be at least 1,500 square feet.
Although the concept appealed to pilots, it was not universally welcomed. When permits for the project were filed in August 1979, some residents voiced concerns. One issue raised was the airport’s close proximity to Beaver Creek Reservoir, which lies less than a mile away. Citizens worried that construction might cause erosion and runoff that could affect the water supply. Another concern came from those loyal to the Blue Ridge Airport, who feared the new airstrip might compete with existing services, drawing pilots away due to its convenient location near the city.
Washington, Prillaman, Stanley, and Harris worked to ease these fears. They assured officials and residents that the new airport would not offer competing services and that erosion would not pose a threat to the reservoir. With these promises, the project moved forward.
Construction of the runway and nearby homes began in the fall of 1979. By March 1980 the Loury Lester Airport officially opened. Its name honors Lowry Lawson Lester, the father of Ralph C. Lester, who founded Nationwide Homes and had been a World War II pilot.
Today, the airport remains active. It is used by pilots flying small planes such as Cessnas, often for practice touch-and-go landings. It also serves a vital role in emergencies, offering a landing site for life flight helicopters.
Though it may not be widely known, the Loury Lester Airport continues to be a quiet but important part of Henry County’s aviation landscape.
Jarred Marlowe is a local resident and historian. He is a member of the Col. George Waller Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Blue & Gray Education Society, and the committee chair for the Martinsville-Henry County 250 Committee. He may be reached at marloweja15@gmail.com.
