Eagle Lake Airport (ELA)

Eagle Lake Airport (KELA) serves Eagle Lake, Texas, positioned in the heart of the Texas rice belt at coordinates 29.60° latitude and -96.32° longitude approximately 60 miles west of Houston, providing essential aviation access to this agricultural community that serves as the self-proclaimed "Rice Capital of Texas" where vast rice farms, crawfish operations, and outdoor recreation opportunities define the local economy and lifestyle. The airport operates as a vital transportation link for this rural Texas community where agriculture, hunting, fishing, and agribusiness create diverse aviation needs for crop dusters, hunters, business travelers, and residents accessing specialized services not available in small-town Texas. The facility features general aviation terminal infrastructure designed to accommodate agricultural aviation operations, hunting charters, and private aircraft serving the needs of rice farmers, crawfish producers, sportsmen, and business travelers accessing this productive agricultural region known for its vast rice fields, abundant waterfowl, and traditional Texas rural lifestyle. The airport enables efficient transportation for agricultural pilots conducting crop dusting operations, hunters accessing world-class waterfowl hunting opportunities during migration seasons, and business travelers supporting the agribusiness operations that make this region crucial to Texas's agricultural economy. Operational services focus on supporting the agricultural aviation operations that are essential to rice production while facilitating access to some of Texas's premier hunting and fishing opportunities, where the airport serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation experiences that attract sportsmen from across the United States. The airport represents a crucial piece of infrastructure enabling both agricultural operations and recreational tourism in this productive Texas region, demonstrating how rural airports support both traditional farming activities and the hunting/fishing tourism that provides additional economic opportunities for rural Texas communities in the productive coastal prairie ecosystem.