June 17, 2026
Runway ghosts and comment-section fuel
Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields
The internet is obsessed with this massive map of forgotten runways and the feelings got real
TLDR: A giant hobby website documenting 2,868 forgotten airfields is winning people over with history, mystery, and eerie photos of places that used to matter. Readers are split between nostalgia, sadness over disappearing local airfields, and irritation that the post didn’t make clear it was focused on the United States.
A lovingly maintained website about abandoned and little-known airfields sounds niche, but the comment section turned it into a full-on nostalgia fest with a side of local drama. The site, created by aviation enthusiast Paul Freeman, catalogs a staggering 2,868 airfields across all 50 states, mixing old photos, vanished landing strips, and stories that make empty pavement feel weirdly emotional. And yes, readers were very emotional about it.
The strongest vibe? Pure admiration. One commenter basically summed up the mood: this is the kind of internet people miss — a passion project built over decades because someone simply cares. Another reader confessed the site sent them down a rabbit hole of satellite images and old maps, which is the most wholesome version of "I blacked out and lost six hours online" imaginable. But then came the heavier stuff: one former pilot described seeing a once-busy field now preserved only in photos of decay, turning the thread from "cool website" into digital ghost story territory.
And of course, there was debate. One commenter dropped the spiciest take of the thread: old airfields are disappearing because people fight to shut them down, while rules make opening new ones nearly impossible. That brought a whiff of classic neighborhood-vs-history tension. Meanwhile, an international reader popped in with the most relatable complaint of all: "Great, but maybe tell us this is [USA] before we get our hopes up?" In other words, the community reaction was equal parts awe, grief, grumbling, and map-nerd chaos.
Key Points
- •The website *Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields* documents vanished or abandoned airfields and their histories.
- •The page credits the work to Paul Freeman, with copyright years 2002 and 2026, and notes it was revised on 6/13/26.
- •Freeman says his interest in abandoned airfields stems from both their emergency safety value for pilots and their historical significance.
- •The site states that it contains descriptions and images of 2,868 airfields.
- •The article includes a state-by-state index covering all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, along with update dates and a list of site supporters.