Anyone hear based in East Tennessee?

[WaynePierce]

I'm looking for a place near the mountains to retire... And keep my plane hangared. Currently in Memphis but keep the plane in Mississippi.

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by WaynePierce
mis spelled word

[kris_adams]

My uncle lives in a flyin community in Chuckey TN.  Not sure what you are looking for but they might be moving.  Great place that I love flying to in my bird.  Would love to live there:  https://www.airnav.com/airport/04TN.  I can put you in touch if interested.

[WaynePierce]

Sounds perfect, but we're still probably a couple years away. I'm retired but my wife plans on working another couple of years, so we're trying to just get some ideas and maybe an excuse to fly out and check on things. We've also looked at very West North Carolina but hangars don't seem to be available and State income tax...

[mike_elliott]

@rocketman @Junkman

Got your ears on?

[ArtVandelay]

I tried contacting them before Covid when I was looking, never responded, the website is now gone, FWIW.

[Rick Junkin]

@WaynePierce Are you looking for an airpark home or a home near an airport that has available hangars?

I live about 20 miles east of Knoxville in the foothills of the Smokys and bought a hangar at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (KGKT) about 25 minutes away. It's difficult to find t-hangars available for lease here, and at any of the other airports within about 100 miles, but there are still some hangar sites available for lease at KGKT if you want to build there.

If you're looking for airpark communities I can recommend two that I considered. First is Deerfield Resort TN44 in Lafollette TN where @rocketman Ron Dubin has a hangar and I believe still has one or more hangar lots. The other is Scott Municipal KSCX in Oneida TN. I can connect you with people with more information if either of those interest you. Ron also highly recommended New Tazewell Municipal 3A2 as a non-airpark choice but it was further north than we wanted to be.

FWIW we wanted to find a home near Gatlinburg and I researched for a year or so before selecting KGKT as the most suitable airport for our flying, and then another year making plans to build a hangar and searched for a house nearby. As luck would have it we were able to purchase a newly constructed hangar and avoided the build process.

Lots of great airports in the area here, but you'll run into the same issue with hangar availability just about everywhere. I hear its the same in western NC but I didn't look there at all due to the tax benefits of TN.

I'm happy to talk about the research we did if it would be of help to you. You can reach me at (314) 283-5718, please text first.

Cheers,
Rick

[FlyingScot]

I recently heard, but did not confirm, that there is some availability at KRHP (Western Carolina Regional) near Andrews, NC. Not east TN but just as beautiful - 

[Browncbr1]

I’m at TYS in Knoxville.   Not only is there not hangar space in Knoxville, but there is a long wait list.  Someone needs to develop another air park around here for full time residence.

[WaynePierce]

Junkman, We originally just thought we could only dream of a fly in community but that may be something we could swing. I've noticed there is a HUGE shortage of hangars everywhere, this has been very dissapointing.

Flyingscott, we have actually been looking very hard at the Bryson City area. We would love to be in North Carolina. We've got grand-kids in Greensboro (and their parents) as well as here in Memphis.

 

[HawkGT]

I would offer that KMNV is a great option.  Its 30 minutes south of Knoxville along the Smokey Mountains.  They are expanding the airport with new hangers.  Its right along I75 for easy access to Knoxville or Chattanooga.  Its also not far from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge if you want to get in that mess.

[FlyingScot]

1 hour ago, WaynePierce said:

Junkman, We originally just thought we could only dream of a fly in community but that may be something we could swing. I've noticed there is a HUGE shortage of hangars everywhere, this has been very dissapointing.

Flyingscott, we have actually been looking very hard at the Bryson City area. We would love to be in North Carolina. We've got grand-kids in Greensboro (and their parents) as well as here in Memphis.

 

Bryson city is a beautiful area – Andrews is not too far away from there, but neither is Franklin North Carolina. Macon county airport (1A5) is a great strip – 5000 feet, and they may have hangers available - I don’t know. They are super people. I fly in and out of there a lot, and it can be challenging, especially in marginal conditions. There’s high terrain in all quadrants, and only a circle to land GPS-A approach. The wind always seems to be either right down the runway, or mountain-wave-swirling at a 90° crosswind. 

Andrews is also a really nice airport, and easier to get in and out of because of the local geography. 

Feel free to PM me if I can be a help to you about opportunities on the NC side of the mountains. I might also recommend you check out Tusquittee Fly-in community (NC08) near Hayesville. Beautiful and very cool, but at 2700’ and very good grass - doable but maybe on the margins of comfort.