Amid increased demand for private flights, Hamilton County has completed the purchase of Sheridan Airport. Photo from Google Maps.

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SHERIDAN — Hamilton County has finalized the $4.2 million purchase of Sheridan Airport, aiming to accommodate rising demand for private aircraft services across the region.

The acquisition from Crouser Properties LLC was completed July 14 and adds Sheridan Airport to the Hamilton County Airport Authority’s portfolio. County officials said the airport, which opened in 1948, will undergo phased improvements over the next decade, including upgrades to the runway, lighting and other facilities.

Located at 27405 Jerkwater Road, approximately one mile east of the Boone County line, Sheridan Airport includes a 3,760-foot paved runway and two grass runways. The airport currently houses nearly 40 aircraft across three multi-unit hangars and one corporate hangar.

The move comes amid a surge in business and private aviation activity in both Hamilton and Boone counties. With continued development projects, including the Eli Lilly and Co. campus at the LEAP Research and Innovation District in Lebanon, local leaders have emphasized the need for additional aviation infrastructure.

Sheridan Airport becomes the second facility managed by the county’s airport authority, which also oversees Indianapolis Executive Airport in Zionsville. Since its acquisition in 2002, Indianapolis Executive has evolved into the busiest non-commercial airport in Indiana focused on business travel, averaging more than 10,000 business flights annually. In 2023, the county completed a $15.2 million runway expansion at the airport, extending it to 7,001 feet.

County officials anticipate Indianapolis Executive Airport will continue to grow, potentially transitioning toward limited commercial operations. A preliminary permit has been approved for a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, which would allow the airport to handle international arrivals, making it the fourth airport in the state with such a capability.

As Indianapolis Executive Airport takes on more business and international traffic, county officials plan to reposition Sheridan Airport to handle smaller, piston-engine aircraft. The move is expected to relieve operational pressure and support broader aviation growth across commercial, private and recreational sectors.

Sheridan Airport originally served as a private airfield for Ken Biddle, founder of Biddle Precision Components. Over time, the airfield evolved to serve the broader needs of northwest Hamilton County.

With the new acquisition, county leaders described the airport as a strategic investment to provide long-term aviation capacity for one of Indiana’s fastest-growing regions.