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New Western Iowa Drag Strip Given The Green Light
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Onawa city officials in Iowa recently approved a plan to build a new racing and events complex, which will feature a 1/4-mile drag strip on a defunct airport runway just off I-29 in western Iowa.
The Onawa Racing Inc., a board of directors and racers across Iowa and Nebraska, proposed the complex, to be named Onawa Racing and Events Complex.
The Onawa Racing and Events Complex will be a financially viable alternative use for the underused Onawa Municipal Airport. With the support of the local community and city officials, the board has been able to begin building a multi-purpose entertainment venue.
In addition to weekly drag racing events, which the board hopes to receive NHRA or IHRA sanctioning for, plans also include construction of a permanent 9000 square foot building on the property to host community events, conventions, concerts, fairs and other events. The current roadmap also includes seating for 880 spectators, an outdoor vendor area and a playground.
The Onawa airport closed its doors in July of 2015 after more than 20 years of operation, citing its inability to turn a profit in that time. In May of that year when city officials announced the impending closure, the concept for the dragstrip was already in the works.
“If we can take this airport now and we can turn it back into industrial development and get some real estate taxes coming in on this… we are gaining maybe a lot of business out of this, a lot of tax basis. I think this is a big step in taking a challenge for what we can do for the area,” Vice President of Onawa Racing Inc. Phil Schroder told Siouxland News.
After getting the green light, The Onawa Racing Inc. group announced plans to invest $1 million to complete over three years. The track will create three full-time employment opportunities and 15-20 seasonal positions, with gross projected revenue estimated at $400,000 annually.
The Onawa Racing Inc., a board of directors and racers across Iowa and Nebraska, proposed the complex, to be named Onawa Racing and Events Complex.
The Onawa Racing and Events Complex will be a financially viable alternative use for the underused Onawa Municipal Airport. With the support of the local community and city officials, the board has been able to begin building a multi-purpose entertainment venue.
In addition to weekly drag racing events, which the board hopes to receive NHRA or IHRA sanctioning for, plans also include construction of a permanent 9000 square foot building on the property to host community events, conventions, concerts, fairs and other events. The current roadmap also includes seating for 880 spectators, an outdoor vendor area and a playground.
The Onawa airport closed its doors in July of 2015 after more than 20 years of operation, citing its inability to turn a profit in that time. In May of that year when city officials announced the impending closure, the concept for the dragstrip was already in the works.
“If we can take this airport now and we can turn it back into industrial development and get some real estate taxes coming in on this… we are gaining maybe a lot of business out of this, a lot of tax basis. I think this is a big step in taking a challenge for what we can do for the area,” Vice President of Onawa Racing Inc. Phil Schroder told Siouxland News.
After getting the green light, The Onawa Racing Inc. group announced plans to invest $1 million to complete over three years. The track will create three full-time employment opportunities and 15-20 seasonal positions, with gross projected revenue estimated at $400,000 annually.
