{"id":33904,"date":"2026-01-19T23:14:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T23:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/?p=33904"},"modified":"2026-01-19T23:14:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T23:14:41","slug":"alton-bay-ice-runway-set-to-open-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/state-news\/new-hampshire\/alton-bay-ice-runway-set-to-open-soon\/%20","title":{"rendered":"Alton Bay Ice Runway Set to Open Soon\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Alton Bay, New Hampshire Ice Runway is close to opening for the season with the layout and installation of all of the cones and markers complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airport manager, Jason Leavitt, said the runway will be 2,900-ft long and 100-ft wide. \u201cThe parking area is also laid out and will be similar size as last year and should provide parking for nearly 40 aircraft. We still have a little layout work on the parallel taxiway, but it will be full length with at least two crossovers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jason Leavitt<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Jason along with Paul LaRochelle, the runway manager, have been checking the depth of the ice from the south end of the ramp to the north end of the runway and found it to be 10 to 11 inches. Next week they should get to the 12 inches needed to open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year, it was looking like a strong possibility of beating the previous early open date of January 8th in, I believe 2014,\u201d said Jason. However, because of a period of warmer weather this week, this year\u2019s opening has been delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One new thing that pilots can expect this year is a more permanent FBO. \u201cIn the past few seasons, we have used a temporary ice fishing shelter as the FBO,\u201d Jason shared. \u201cThis year we will have a trailer that will be set up as a location where pilots can get their Congratulation Certificate, a cup of hot chocolate, and Ice Runway swag.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Andrew Stevens, last year, enjoyed some yummy chili and coffee at Shibley\u2019s at the Pier, overlooking the ice runway on Alton Bay. Serving up the yummies was Shawn Cullen. His in-laws own the restaurant. Photo by Kate Stevens.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Over the years the popularity of the Alton Bay Ice runway has increased, and last year was the best year on record with 764 landings in the season. \u201cIf the runway opens in the next couple of weeks we have the opportunity to have a longer season and a good chance at having more landings than even last year,\u201d said Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter Carnival<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Alton Bay Winter Carnival is set for Sunday, February 15, from 10 am \u2013 2 pm. \u201cThe Alton Business Association and the Ice Runway have always worked well together,\u201d said Jason, \u201cThe Bay is always better when the weather allows for both to be operational on Winter Carnival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cAfter last year\u2019s cancellation due to an ice storm, the Alton Bay Winter Carnival 2026 returns with favorable winter temperatures\u2014and ice willing\u2014for a day of community celebration,\u201d said Sarah Goodrum, Chairperson with the Alton Business Association. \u201cBeloved traditions are back, including the Ice House Decorating Contest, food trucks, and local vendors, all set against the unique winter backdrop of Alton Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Alton Bay, New Hampshire Ice Runway is close to opening for the season with the layout and installation of all of the cones and markers complete. Airport manager, Jason Leavitt, said the runway will be 2,900-ft long and 100-ft wide. \u201cThe parking area is also laid out and will be similar size as last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":33905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-hampshire"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/unnamed-51-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33904"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33904\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33911,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33904\/revisions\/33911"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}