Charlotte Douglas International Airport will open its Airport Overlook on Friday. The overlook, located at 5130 Airport Overlook Drive, will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Admission is free.
“The airport knows how important the overlook is to the local community and we worked diligently to create a place that people of all ages will enjoy,” said CLT Chief Infrastructure Officer Jack Christine. “This space showcases many displays and features that will educate, inspire and create lasting memories.”
The 600,000-square-foot area was designed to inspire the next generation of aviators. It maintains the spectacular airfield, skyline and terminal views enthusiasts have enjoyed for decades and features modern amenities, LED lighting, paved parking and an expanded food truck staging area. The overlook also has covered picnic areas, restrooms and pet relief areas.
A retired U.S. military fighter jet, an F-4 Phantom II, is on display as well as informative exhibits featuring Carolinas’ aviation history. Young aviators will enjoy the playground, which is purposely crafted to highlight Airport features including a mini air traffic control tower and runway. The site also includes a USAir Flight 1016 memorial. USAir Flight 1016 departed from Columbia, South Carolina, on July 2, 1994, and crashed upon landing at Charlotte Douglas, killing 37 of the 57 people on board.
The entrance to the overlook includes a bright blue tail sign on Old Dowd Road that was formerly located on Josh Birmingham Parkway. Installed in 1992, it was removed in 2014 and restored specifically for the overlook to provide easy wayfinding access.
Work on the $8 million project was completed by Charlotte based Crowder Constructors.
Details about the project are at https://www.cltairport.com/community/airport-overlook/. It’s the fifth overlook at Charlotte’s airport since 1937. The most recent permanent site opened in 1989 and closed Oct. 3, 2022, making way for construction of a new taxiway and a future fourth parallel runway.
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