b'8 RKS TERMINALSNew Terminal Supports Recent and Looming Growth at Southwest Wyoming Regional BY CHRIS JONESA dramatic tale recently unfolded in a rugged corner of theThe sole holdroom was tripled in size to accommodate up to U.S. Mountain West. Its storyline features the widening130 departing travelers, and outside the aircraft parking apron was development of remote mountain lands, a contestedreconfigured to better support dual gate operations. Improvements financial dispute and just a touch of political and financial intrigue.beyond the perimeter fences included an expanded parking lot Although it sounds like a plot from the popular TV saga Yellowstone,and a new circulation roadway, plus better crosswalks, lighting and this is actually the latest chapter in the history of Southwest Wyomingwayfinding. Regional Airport (RKS), the aviation gateway to a rural region inFire suppression systems and data connectivity were also Sweetwater County thats enjoying a multibillion-dollar boom.modernized, and the terminal went from only three wireless access This September, the small airport in Rock Springs, WY, excitedlypoints to more than 20. Television monitors jumped from two up to unveiled an expanded and fully renovated 34,000-square-foota dozen, and advanced security cameras were installed throughout terminal with its first-ever passenger boarding bridge and baggagethe site.conveyor system. Behind the scenes, however, the redevelopmentWere coming from the 1970s to 2025 process was arduous for RKS.really quickly, says Airport Director Devon Planning for the $44 million expansion began nearly a decadeBrubaker. His staff of nine handles everything ago and initially called for upgrading and widening an aged,from customer service and firefighting austere terminal building. But after construction was wellto fueling and baggage handling for all underwayand following an unforeseen, yearlong interruptioncommercial flights and those at an adjacent airport leaders changed course and opted to gut the facility andfixed-based operator.DEVON BRUBAKERbegin largely anew.Aside from the structural supports and a few HVAC units and boilers that had been replaced just before theWelcome to Boomtownterminal renovations began, almost nothing is left of the old facility.Commercial service is provided by United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines, with two nonstops a day to Denver International October 2025AirportImprovement.com'