Have you ever felt the wind whisper secrets of the past? Here at New Orleans Lakefront Airport those secrets are woven into the very fabric of the place. This isn’t just an airport. It’s a living monument to ambition ingenuity and resilience.
New Orleans Lakefront Airport opened in 1934. It was more than just a place for planes. It was a marvel of Art Deco design. A testament to the vision of Huey Long Louisiana’s governor. He dreamed of an airport that would rival the world’s best. The airport was built on a man-made peninsula. Six million cubic yards of fill were pumped in. It cost $4.5 million a fortune at the time.
Originally named Shushan Airport it was later renamed. The name change reflected the changing fortunes of Abraham Shushan. He was the president of the Orleans Levee Board. His later involvement in scandals led to the name change to New Orleans Airport. Then later to Lakefront Airport. The IATA code NEW however remains a reminder of that original grand vision. The airport’s stunning Art Deco terminal is a sight to behold. It’s lavish interior features stunning original details. These details were hidden for decades behind a Cold War bomb shelter facade. Today they are restored to their former glory.
Lakefront Airport played a key role during World War II. It housed the Tropical Weather School in 1945. Then it served as a critical piece of infrastructure in the Cold War. The terminal’s thick concrete panels were added in the 1960s. They turned the terminal into a bomb shelter.
Tragedy struck in 1981. Ammunition manufacturer Joyce Hornady was killed in a plane crash. The plane crashed into Lake Pontchartrain during a foggy approach. Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Isaac in 2012 brought further devastation. The airport survived however. It continues to operate. The airport’s resilience is a testament to the spirit of New Orleans. The airport has been used in numerous films. It served as a setting for the 2011 film Green Lantern. It also appeared in the Netflix film Project Power.
Today Lakefront Airport remains a vital part of New Orleans’ aviation heritage. It’s a place where history meets modern aviation. It’s a place where you can feel the spirit of the past. The whispers of the wind carry the stories of those who built it those who flew from it and those who continue to keep its legacy alive.