ROANOKE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
(WOODRUM FIELD)




A Piedmont DC3 on the Roanoke apron sometime in the 1950s.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel

Roanoke's Woodrum Field opened its new terminal in 1953 - a three-level crescent-shaped building topped by a modern control tower. The design was similar to terminals in Charleston and Norfolk, both opened during the same time period. In the early 1950s Roanoke was served by trunk carriers American and Eastern, as well as local-service airline Piedmont. The building's single gate opened onto the apron, which could hold six aircraft at once.


Two views of ROA in its early days, showing the building's airside facade. Note the "Roanoke, Virginia" and "Woodrum Field" signs on the terminal.


An American Airlines Convair propliner in front of ROA in the 1950s. American ended service at Roanoke by the early 1960s, as it focused on larger cities that could accommodate jets.

American ended Roanoke service in the late 1950s or early 1960s, as smaller prop-driven aircraft were phased out in favor of jets. Piedmont took over some of American's old routes, and Eastern upgraded its aircraft to adjust for the increase in passengers.

By the late 1960s both airlines were operating jet aircraft through the airport, Eastern with 727s and DC9s and Piedmont with 737s. The terminal building was enlarged sometime in the early 1970s to accommodate the larger aircraft. The single boarding gate was replaced by a new curved boarding concourse with four ground-level gates, each with an enclosed holdroom. A large new ticket lobby and baggage claim area was built in the landside 'crescent' of the building as well.

During the 1970s Roanoke served as a major connecting point in Piedmont's route system, handling more than 40 flights a day. After Deregulation, Eastern ended ROA service, although United and USAir began flights in the early 1980s. Piedmont remained the airport's largest carrier, although many of its nonstop routes were replaced by increased service to the airline's hubs in Charlotte, Dayton and Baltimore.


One of Piedmont's 727s rests on the Roanoke ramp in 1982.
Photo by George Hamlin

Despite the shakeup in service in the early 1980s, the airport began planning for a replacement terminal on a site south of the 1953 building. The existing terminal lacked jetway loading bridges, and the small apron became cramped at peak times. The new building was opened in 1989, and the old terminal was converted to a fixed-base operation for general aviation.


Aerial views of the old (left) and new (right) Roanoke terminals in the late 1990s. Note the additions made to the airside of the old terminal in the 1970s, including an enclosed boarding concourse. The old terminal is also visible to the north of the new terminal in the second photo.


Two photos of the old Roanoke terminal in the early 1990s, as seen from an aircraft taxiing to the new terminal.
Photos by Blaine Peters


An aerial view of both the old and new terminal sites in the late 1990s.


The old Roanoke terminal is visible in the background of this 2004 shot of a Delta Connection CRJ.
Photo by Danpio

The 1953 Roanoke terminal is still standing today; however, it is slated to be demolished in 2005 to make way for an expansion of the airport's cargo area.

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