Future of Santa Barbara Airport’s historic hangers up in the air

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The future of the historic hangers at Santa Barbara airport is up in the air.

Airport staff hosted an open house Tuesday evening on the campus of Direct Relief to provide feedback, explore exhibits, and discuss potential fundraising opportunities to support the rehabilitation of the hangers.

The hangers were originally constructed in 1931 and are located near the intersection of Fairview and Hollister Avenue.

The Community Hot Rod Project hopes to restore the two hangers and transform them into a community center. Kevin Haeberle, found of the Hot Rod Project, said the community center would be used to vocational training and a history museum highlighting the automotive and aviation history in the area.

"[The hangers are the site of] the first sanctioned drag racing in the United States, as well as, it was very frequented by Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart," said Haeberle.

"Ultimately I would expect that is probably going to be something that is accessible to the public, whether that be an aviation museum," said Chris Hastert, Airport Director.

In April, airport staff presented a report with four options for the hangers: 1) document and demolish, 2) restore and reuse, 3) relocate, restore, and reuse, 4) and deconstruct or partially demolish. Council directed staff to proceed with public outreach to gauge public opinion on uses for the hangers and to gather options to seek out funding opportunities.

Funding for the project could come from a combination of public and private money to restore the hangers for community use.