b'40 D25 HANGARSManitowish Waters Airport Adds Hangarsto Satisfy COVID-Related DemandBY RONNIE WENDTManitowish Waters Airport (D25)Chairman John Hanson. Hangar space FACTS&FIGURESin northern Wisconsin is morewas suddenly in high demand when an Project: Adding Hangar Space than just a place for planes toinflux of people with private planes used land. Its a testament to visionary thinkingor purchased secondary homes in the Location: Manitowish Waters Airport, in WIback in 1945.area and started telecommuting from the Current Options: 7 privately owned box hangarsTown founders established the airportpicturesque vacation spot. housing 7+ aircraft; 35 privately owned nested T hangars housing 35+ aircraft; 1 airport-owned hangar with 5even though Manitowish Waters only hadThe pandemic made working remotely 50x50 units housing 5+ aircraft250 residents at the time. After World Warpractical and accepted, says Jerry Wilke, In Process: 4 more standalone hangars; 10 nested TII, the airport helped transform the areachairman of the Airport Committee. hangars for 35 aircraft known for its lush forests, crystal clearEmployees and companies have Site Development Costs: $575,000 (grading, utilitieslakes and legendary fishing into a thrivingembraced the change! connections, stormwater drainage, taxiway access) tourist destination.Visitors who previously came to Funding: State & federal grants; local funds The small town and its airfield haveManitowish Waters for weekend getaways Frequently Used Contractor: Walters Buildings since flourished, but the COVID-19now stay for weeks at a time, and many Of Note: Demand for hangars spiked when visitors usedpandemic recently introduced a newwant shelter for the aircraft that shuttle vacation homes or purchased homes during the COVID-19challenge for Airport Manager and Townthem in and out. pandemic to work remotely from the popular vacation area October 2024AirportImprovement.com'