Centennial Airport and the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Tidbits

The HRHS Volunteers had a lovely afternoon at The Perfect Landing Restaurant at Centennial Airport on October 9, 2025. This was their Annual Volunteer Appreciation event, and the group enjoyed a delicious lunch as well as great conversation with one another.

Thank you Sandy Chamberlin for arranging the outing and for being a wonderful Volunteer Coordinator.

Thank you dear HRHS Volunteers for keeping the organization running smoothly before, during, and after the meetings.   We could NOT do it without you!

Happy conversation flowed around the table as the lunches arrived.  Quiet overcame the group, as one and all munched away while enjoying the planes taking off and landing.  It was a busy day at the airport, coupled with gorgeous blue skies.   A perfect autumn afternoon with friends. Here were some of the comments made by attendees during and after the lunch:

“It was a lovely dinner and a great place to have it.”     “Very enjoyable, thank you!”    “My dessert was awesome.”

“Love their muffins.”   “Enjoyed seeing a few planes land and take off.”

In keeping with Our Historical focus, Sandy prepared/searched/provided this history of Centennial Airport, for all to appreciate.

A Brief History of Centennial Airport

Arapahoe County Airport opened on May 12, 1968 and was renamed Centennial Airport on July 13, 1984. Its new name reflects Colorado’s admission to the union as the 38th state in 1876.

One of the busiest general aviation airports in the US, Centennial operates 24/7 and averages 874 operations each day.

Centennial Airport has three asphalt runways over 1,400 acres at an elevation of 5,885 feet.

Key Dates in Centennial Airport’s History

  • 1968 (May 12): Arapahoe County Airport opens.

  • 1970: Construction is completed on a crosswind runway.

  • 1975 (June 9): The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority (ACPAA) is established.

  • 1976: Construction is completed on a parallel runway.

  • 1984 (July 13): Airport is renamed Centennial Airport.

  • 1985: New control tower is built.

Located 12 miles from downtown Denver, Centennial Airport is a community lifeline for the metro area through providing essential resources such as: patient, blood and organ transport; military and Department of Defense support, flight schools, research and development, and critical wildfire response by fueling firefighting aircraft.

Centennial Airport is financially self-sufficient and generates approximately $2.4 billion in economic impact for the local and regional economy. The airport is home to more than 125 businesses and 9.200 jobs.

Did You Know?

Centennial Airport supports community engagement in a variety of uncommon ways. It is home to the Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight Museum, a Go-Kart Track, the Family Sports Center and Golf Course, the Perfect Landing Restaurant and Avalanche Grill, a Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, and  Station 35 of the South Metro Fire Rescue.

FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT AVIATION     

Click above for facts from the FAA