Texas' Most Unique Airport: 1940s Hotel and Diner

After crosswinds diverted us to Kerrville, we finally made it to Gillespie County Airport (T82) in Fredericksburg, Texas - and flying in to see the 1940s-themed Hangar Hotel and Airport Diner from the air made the wait totally worth it. We spent two nights waking up at the airport, planespotting at sunset, and soaking in the immersive WWII theming. The unexpected highlight? A Texas National Guard CH-47F Chinook landed right in front of us - we got a full tour, a patch, and photos. We also explored downtown Fredericksburg and the Museum of the Pacific War. This place felt like home and we didn't want to leave.

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TRANSIENT PARKING
Transient parking is located midfield directly in front of the Hangar Hotel and Airport Diner and is FREE! If you’d like covered or hangered parking make your way to Fredericksburg FBO located just north of the Terminal Building (look for the fuel pump midfield and fuel trucks).

FUEL
Full service fuel is provided by the FBO. There are two self-serve fuel pumps on field. One is located directly adjacent to the FBO, the other is located at the north end of the airport near the hangars.

PRO-TIP: The fuel at the northern end of the airport pump is cheaper.

RESTROOMS
Restrooms are located within the Terminal Building, in the FBO, the Airport Diner and on Hangar Hotel (near the coffee station).

RENTAL CARS / RIDESHARE
Car rentals are available on site at the FBO. Rentals start at $110/day. Reserve your car in advance to ensure availability. If interested, the FBO can provide a list of available rideshare drivers. The list includes direct phone numbers to the drivers in lieu of having to book through Lyft or Uber. Our ride from the Hangar Hotel to downtown Fredericksburg cost $15 one way.

FOOD
The Airport Diner is located on field directly in front of transient parking. Snag a booth with a view out onto the field for the ultimate views, you’ll likely catch a vintage plane landing. The diner has a great variety of breakfast and lunch options to choose form. Grab a malt or milkshake to complete the experience. The pancakes are fluffy, the bacon is crispy and service is friendly.

TERMINAL BUILDING
The terminal building is filled with amenities for pilots. You’ll find a conference room with snacks and coffee, clean restrooms, a bottle filling station and an active bulletin board. Take a peek at the binder on the coffee table for some fascinating history of the airport and surrounding area. You’ll also find the Airport Manager’s office located here.

FBO
Fredericksburg FBO is the FBO on field. They provide full service fuel, car rentals and have an open lounge with seating, dedicated pilot’s lunge and kitchen area. Service is incredibly friendly. Covered parking and short or long term hangar rentals are also available through Fredericksburg FBO.

LODGING
The Hangar Hotel is incredible. You stay right on the field with an equally as fun diner right next door. The sunsets here are magical. If you love being surrounded by planes, pilots and aviation enthusiasts, enjoy the vibes of the golden age of aviation this is the right hotel for you. The quiet and calm atmosphere makes for a relaxing stay filled with planespotting, good food, shopping in Downtown Fredericksburg and wine tasting. The best time to visit is the fall but we were here in December and got luck with the weather. Foggy mornings led to clear skies and comfortable temps by noon each day. Our stay averaged $187/night and with fees for a 2 night stay out total was $427.14. Not bad for a unique experience if you ask us!

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DISCLAIMER:
This video is NOT intended to be instructional. We are not CFIs. This video has been edited for brevity and clarity and is for informational purposes only. We are sharing our experience flying into this particular airport. Your experience may vary. When in doubt ask ATC and your CFI.
#GeneralAviation #TexasVacation #Flying

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:40 Flight Route
00:57 METAR
01:12 A Little Bit of History
05:30 Hangar Hotel History
06:27 Info You Need to Know
06:51 Weather at T82
08:06 FBO on Field
08:37 Instrument Approaches
09:15 Lodging & Café on Field
09:45 Self-Serve Fuel Available
10:24 Finally at Fredericksburg
12:24 Airport Diner
14:38 Hangar Hotel
17:00 Chinook Surprise
18:27 Texas National Guard
20:08 T82 at Sunset
21:13 The Best Views at T82
21:57 Self-serve Fuel Pump
22:51 T82 Terminal Building
24:39 Fredericksburg FBO
25:06 Rental Car Alternates
25:49 Downtown Fredericksburg
26:12 Museum of the Pacific War
27:34 Backwoods BBQ
29:04 Fredericksburg Highlight
31:54 Final Thoughts - Hangar Hotel
32:47 Thank YOU so Much!
34:28 Fuel Pump #2
35:14 Go Fly Go Discover
35:48 Takeoff (Tail cam Departure)