Scope and ContentSaugatuck Airport The Saugatuck airport was a short-lived and unsuccessful project that left the municipality with a tract forever known as the "old airport." There was movement for an airport in Saugatuck as early as 1932 when a landing strip was prepared on the Roger Reed farm on the New Richmond road. According to the Commercial Record for July 29, 1932, "The promoters are hoping and expecting this port to be one of the best licensed ports in the state. Three planes will be there over the weekend for commercial and pleasure flying." Shortly afterwards a 154 acre tract on 134th Avenue just east of 63rd Street was purchased by the Village of Saugatuck and in 1936 a $12,301 WPA project was approved to grade and construct two runways. After reporting that "a gang of men are working on the airport project, more will be employed as the snow leaves" in the February 14, 1936, newspaper, little is said about progress. In 1940 a letter writer complained that the village "had no right" to buy the land. "It's no good as an airport, and we don't need one anyway." According to figures he presents the village purchased 170 acres at the cost of $1,750, but sold the timber on the tract for $600, making the total cost only $1,150. In 1948 the village officially gave up on the airport idea and planted 6,000 white spruce on the land, leading to its second local name "the Christmas Tree farm." The land is still owned by the City of Saugatuck. In the 1960s it was leased to a snowmobile club. More recently the New Age senior citizens club has leased the old snowmobile club house as an activity center.