Business Development

From snubbed to cherished...

After nearly 50 years, people are finally beginning to pay attention to Barrow County Airport

By Jason Taylor

Despite a 50-mile separation, it’s conceivable that Barrow County, Georgia, like its suburban brethren, will eventually be devoured by Atlanta’s ravenous sprawl. Or maybe the once unassuming Northeast Georgia tract, which in the past five years has seen half a dozen industrial firms take root along Highway 316, the area’s major corridor, will pounce first. Not so fast, say the voices in between. Either way, one of the biggest beneficiaries of this progression has been the Barrow County Airport (WDR).

Even decades following the airport’s completion in the 1940s, most of Barrow’s residents figured WDR to be little more than a hangout for country-boy pilots and crop dusters. They saw little purpose in devoting attention, not to mention tax dollars, to the facility.

Interest finally started picking up about five years ago. Until then it appeared as if WDR would remain a stagnant fixture among Barrow’s more relevant extensions like the Chateau Elan Winery, Fort Yargo State Park or even Road Atlanta.

The partners

The joint-use facility is currently home to 20 National Guard helicopters and over 150 business and private aircraft. With a location outside Class B airspace, WDR experiences little congestion,  making it a perfect place to learn to fly.

A few years ago, Owen Battle obtained his pilots license and promptly recognized a lack of hangar space around most airports. He soon left the home building industry and started Air Battle, Inc. (770-231-5053), a hangar leasing and construction business.   

Romanair (770-867-4001) is the airport’s FBO. Services include fuel, aircraft maintenance, catering and aviation accessories. Rave Aviation (770-867-3105) offers maintenance, avionics sales and service and aircraft detailing.

Stop by the Spitfire Deli (770-867-0086 or www.spitfiredeli.com).    

Development sites are available at WDR.
Please contact the airport director's office for more information.

(770) 307-3013
Email: wdrairport@wdrairport.com

Map of future airport development.
Click to open the full sized picture in .pdf format.