Old Myrtle Beach Aviation Building knocked down

MYRTLE BEACH -- Workers have demolished the Old Myrtle Beach Aviation Building and are removing debris from the building site. Lauren Morris, Horry County Dept. of Airports Marketing Director says the building was originally scheduled to be torn down last fall but was delayed due to an asbestos problem in the building.

By: | SCNOW
Published: February 08, 2010

MYRTLE BEACH -- Workers have demolished the Old Myrtle Beach Aviation Building and are removing debris from the building site.

Lauren Morris, Horry County Dept. of Airports Marketing Director says the building was originally scheduled to be torn down last fall but was delayed due to an asbestos problem in the building.

Morris says the site of the old building will used for parking at the new terminal, which opened in October.

"General Aviation is a huge part of this community and now this terminal will really be able to take center stage so it's an exciting day. I think it's a bitter-sweet day for a lot of people that are used to seeing this facility," said Morris.

When the base was active, the building's primary use was for flight planning.

Mike Marlowe, Horry County Airports Dept. Aviation Manager, says the old aviation building being knocked down is an important part of American history. It's where several flights were planned during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

“It was primarily for the pilots to come in to receive their weather briefing and to file their flight plan before they took off,” said Marlowe.

Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George H. W. Bush have all been in the old building.

Since the 1950's the terminal was the first building many government figures would enter once they landed in Myrtle Beach.