San Gabriel Valley Airport was first constructed in 1936. It was built on 35 acres of land in the Rio Hondo Riverbed by Mr. Nick Lentine, although the area had been used as a local landing spot for a number of years.

Mr. Lentine started an Army Air Corps Cadet Training School at the airport until World War II when the Airport was closed.

After the war, the airport was purchased by Mr. Livermore who operated it for several years before selling it to Mr. Robert Wanamaker. Mr. Wanamaker increased the airport's size to 70 acres by purchasing adjacent properties and operated the airport until 1965, when the County of Los Angeles entered into a lease with Mr. Wanamaker and took over the operation of the airport to prevent its closing. The County purchased the airport in 1969 for approximately $3 Million.

Because of their poor condition, the runway, taxiway and lighting system were rebuilt and brought up to Federal Aviation Administration standards in 1970. This $425,000 improvement project included a new 4,000-foot runway that provided 62% more aircraft takeoff and landing area than before.

In the early 1970's the airport was serviced by Golden West and Cable Commuter Airlines.

The invasion of the Mediterranean Fruitfly in the 1980's and early 1990's brought most of the local aerial spraying operations to the airport. The State of California and the County Agricultural Departments coordinated all of the night helicopter operations in the Med Fly Aerial Spraying Program.

Other improvements over the years included an FAA Control Tower, hangars for aircraft storage, large hangars for FB0s, new airplane tiedown areas, increased auto parking, a new sewer system with pump station, water and fire hydrant lines, and a large airplane wash rack.

In 1994, an new and innovative asphalt slurry, developed by Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and Petrochem Marketing, Inc., was applied over the entire airport. It was called Rubberized Asphalt Slurry Seal (RASS). This new technique helps the environment by using the remains of old tires in the mixture. Approximately 90,000 tires were recycled into the slurry, providing a much better product than the old slurry coats.

Today, the airport has expanded to 103 acres and is home to over 365 airplanes and helicopters, serving the diverse needs of the City of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Flight training, business and corporate flights, as well as Critical Care Air Ambulance Services are just some of the operations that occur on a daily basis at the airport.

San Gabriel Valley Airport was first constructed in 1936. It was built on 35 acres of land in the Rio Hondo Riverbed by Mr. Nick Lentine, although the area had been used as a local landing spot for a number of years.

Mr. Lentine started an Army Air Corps Cadet Training School at the airport until World War II when the Airport was closed.

After the war, the airport was purchased by Mr. Livermore who operated it for several years before selling it to Mr. Robert Wanamaker. Mr. Wanamaker increased the airport's size to 70 acres by purchasing adjacent properties and operated the airport until 1965, when the County of Los Angeles entered into a lease with Mr. Wanamaker and took over the operation of the airport to prevent its closing. The County purchased the airport in 1969 for approximately $3 Million.

Because of their poor condition, the runway, taxiway and lighting system were rebuilt and brought up to Federal Aviation Administration standards in 1970. This $425,000 improvement project included a new 4,000-foot runway that provided 62% more aircraft takeoff and landing area than before.

In the early 1970's the airport was serviced by Golden West and Cable Commuter Airlines.

The invasion of the Mediterranean Fruitfly in the 1980's and early 1990's brought most of the local aerial spraying operations to the airport. The State of California and the County Agricultural Departments coordinated all of the night helicopter operations in the Med Fly Aerial Spraying Program.

Other improvements over the years included an FAA Control Tower, hangars for aircraft storage, large hangars for FB0s, new airplane tiedown areas, increased auto parking, a new sewer system with pump station, water and fire hydrant lines, and a large airplane wash rack.

In 1994, an new and innovative asphalt slurry, developed by Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and Petrochem Marketing, Inc., was applied over the entire airport. It was called Rubberized Asphalt Slurry Seal (RASS). This new technique helps the environment by using the remains of old tires in the mixture. Approximately 90,000 tires were recycled into the slurry, providing a much better product than the old slurry coats.

Today, the airport has expanded to 103 acres and is home to over 365 airplanes and helicopters, serving the diverse needs of the City of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Flight training, business and corporate flights, as well as Critical Care Air Ambulance Services are just some of the operations that occur on a daily basis at the airport.