The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) has approved a grant to build a campground at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (KDIJ), located in eastern Idaho at the base of the Grand Teton Mountains.
“Driggs is a world class destination for the pilot community, with access to hiking, biking, fishing, floating, golf, and a small town with numerous shops and restaurants,” said Idaho Liaison Tim Riley. “Teton Aviation, located on the field, is a full service FBO, including a great restaurant and a collection of warbirds in the adjacent museum.”
As an active member of the Driggs airport board, Tim began pursuing the dream of an airport campground to serve the pilot community a year ago. Persistent education and discussion with all stakeholders has paid off as the project has approval to move forward, RAF officials report.
The airport camping project is a collaborative effort between the RAF, the Idaho Aviation Association (IAA), the City of Driggs, and the Driggs Airport Board.
A cedar pavilion will provide shelter and amenities, including a picnic table, barbecue, fire ring, electricity, water, and a port-a-potty. Pilots will also have access to bicycles provided by the IAA Borrow-A-Bike program.
“For pilots seeking an overnight stop en route to the Idaho and Montana backcountry, this is camping with a view of the Grand Tetons and access to food, supplies, and fuel,” Riley said.
In addition to being a camping destination, the campground will be available for clubs or other group fly-ins, he said.
“This project is well-aligned with the RAF mission of using aircraft to access recreational resources,” Riley said. “It also has the potential to be a base camp or an outpost for the RAF goals of creating regional flying locations with high recreational value,” he added.
Riley projects the project should be completed in the summer of 2020.