The Cimarron County Chamber of Commerce is preparing to commemorate two historic milestones: Boise City’s 100th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the cherished Santa Fe Trail Daze festival.

Plan a Series of Unforgettable Events

To ensure these anniversaries are celebrated in style, the Cimarron Chamber of Commerce invites the community to a planning meeting on Monday, September 9th, 2024, at 7:30 am. The meeting will be held at the She Shed (111 E 5th Street, Boise City).

Your Ideas Matter!

Everyone's participation is crucial in bringing this event to life! We invite involvement from current and former residents, friends in surrounding areas, businesses, organizations, churches, youth groups, and individuals. The organizers are eager to hear your ideas for a theme that captures the rich history of the Santa Fe Trail and the vibrant spirit of Boise City.

The Santa Fe Trail and Boise City: A Legacy of Pioneering Spirit

The Santa Fe Trail, a vital trade route that linked Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico, played a significant role in the development of the West. Boise City, established along this historic path, embodies the pioneering spirit that continues to define the community.

Let's Celebrate Together!

The combined celebrations will be held June 4th-8th, 2025. To make these events a success, volunteers are needed! Whether you have a few hours to spare or extensive experience, your contribution is valued.

Get Involved!

Help create a celebration for the ages! Volunteer by contacting the Cimarron Chamber at cimarroncountychamber@gmail.com.

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Boise City, Oklahoma Aviation 2025 - Courtesy Stan Manske

Like most communities, early aviation enthusiasts found a flat spot on the edge of town and made it the community airstrip. The first one in Cimarron County was on pasture land about a mile west of Boise City. It was occasionally used for training and emergencies by pilots from the Army Air Force stationed in Dalhart, Texas. That use ended when the property sold and the new owner broke it out for planting crops. The airstrip was then relocated to a spot north of Boise City and a hanger was constructed there. 

Soon thereafter the airstrip was relocated to the present site of the Boise City Municipal Airport.  In 1943, three local businessmen, John Atkins, Carl G. Etling, and E. B. McMahan purchased forty acres three miles north of Boise City and dedicated it as an airport. A dirt airstrip 2,600 feet long was graded diagonally across the land. 

In the 1950s the adjoining 320 acres of land were purchased by Millard Fowler (a Boise City pilot and agri-businessman) a land trade was made with the town of Boise City to realign the airstrip to its current 4-22 orientation and to extend the runway to 3,820 feet on a 100-acre tract. 

In the 1960s local pilots and businessmen donated enough funds to put a “hard surface” on the approximately thirty-foot-wide strip. The improved surface consisted of oil and gravel over the graded dirt. Donated funds and labor also established a shorter crosswind landing strip with a 16-34 orientation. 

In 1973 Boise City applied for and received the first of several airport development grants from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. This allowed for overlays of the runways, runway lighting, a rotating beacon, VASI lighting, a non-directional beacon, asphalt tie-down ramps, turnarounds, and run-up pads, and an airport lounge with a restroom.  

The local pilots formed the Cimarron Pilots Association and as utilization of the improved facilities increased, the City of Boise City established an Airport Board and with their input established ordinances for a fuel concession, airport usage and the leasing of hanger space for pilots to construct hanger facilities. The Phillips 66 dealer, Denton Ellard operated a fuel concession at the Airport until his death in 1981. Thereafter it was operated briefly by the Pilots Association with fuel delivered by the Boise City Farmers Cooperative. 

By the late 1970s, the local chapter of the Civil Air Patrol had become quite active and with pilot donations a new pilot’s lounge and meeting room was established with a modern (heated-flush toilet) restroom and a pay telephone to call City Hall for the combination of a box to obtain the keys to an airport courtesy car furnished by The First National Bank in Clayton, New Mexico and maintained by the City. 

In the mid-1980s modern aircraft required a longer runway to operate. A Federal Aviation Administration Grant, coupled with funding assistance from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission allowed funds for the acquisition of an additional forty-acre tract on the northeast end of the existing runway. This required the relocation of the County Road to jog around the end of the runway, but it allowed the runway to be extended to its current length of 4,211 feet. The funding also allowed the runway base to be properly compacted and the width of the runway to be extended to sixty feet, as well as medium-intensity runway and taxiway lighting and a lighted wind cone. 

Annual grants from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and airport hanger rental and usage fees have allowed most of the costs of airport maintenance to be covered. Recent grants have financed the installation of LED runway and taxiway lights, a large and well-lighted wind sock, and updated glide slope lights. Highway 287 updates have eliminated the hazardous electric lines along the highway southwest of the runway. Currently, grants have allowed the installation of a 100 octane av-gas and Jet-A self-service fuel station which will be operable in early 2025 and for the demolition of deteriorated hangers and the construction of new hangers which will become available to rent by the summer of 2025.

Here's a quick update on the planning process:

Volunteers are on board! Fourteen dedicated individuals have already stepped up to help.

The City of Boise City is officially on board! They have approved a joint celebration to make this event even more special.

𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒅!

The event will be held June 4th-8th, 2025.

𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚: There are many ways to help, from planning and organizing to day-of tasks.

𝑺𝙥𝒐𝙣𝒔𝙤𝒓 𝒂𝙣 𝙚𝒗𝙚𝒏𝙩: Help make the celebration a success by sponsoring a specific activity or providing financial support.

𝙎𝒑𝙧𝒆𝙖𝒅 𝒕𝙝𝒆 𝒘𝙤𝒓𝙙: Share the news with your friends, family, and community members. Let's make this a celebration that everyone will remember!

Oh yeah, all family and class reunions will be welcome! We would love to see y'all!

For more information or to get involved, please contact the Cimarron Chamber at cimarroncountychamber@gmail.com.

𝑳𝙚𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝙤𝒓𝙠 𝙩𝒐𝙜𝒆𝙩𝒉𝙚𝒓 𝒕𝙤 𝙘𝒓𝙚𝒂𝙩𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝙖𝒏𝙩𝒂𝙨𝒕𝙞𝒄 𝒄𝙚𝒍𝙚𝒃𝙧𝒂𝙩𝒊𝙤𝒏 𝒇𝙤𝒓 𝑩𝙤𝒊𝙨𝒆 𝑪𝙞𝒕𝙮! We will keep y'all posted on Facebook and our website.

p.s. Next meeting will be October 14th, 7:30 a.m. at the She Shed.

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