In the 1930s, the property was used for growing oats by  bush pilots before the airport development.
In 1940, Byington Ford and his brother, Tirey L. Ford Jr., developed the  Airport for pilot owners who wanted to be “at home a minute or two after getting out of their planes.”
Two hangar houses were built at the airport as well as a prototype hangar-house to serve as an example for the "airborne community of the future."

The grand opening of the airport was on December 7, 1941.
However, on the same day, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
All private planes were banned from flying on the west coast.
As a result, the airport project was put on hold while Ford joined the Army Air Corps to aid in the US war effort.
Following the World War II Ford revived his dream of a residential airpark.

Non pilots bought up many of the Airpark homesites.
To suit their tastes Ford created ranch style house sites of 1-3 acres.
He envisioned hillside homes where residents could view incoming planes.
Dean Wolter ran a flying club at the airfield with a few members.

During World War II, the airfield served as an alternative landing field for the military planes flying out of  Watsonville and King city.

In 1949, the  State of California licensed the airport.
Ford built a residence near the Carmel Valley Village, where he lived for some time.
In 1952, Lou Gardner purchased Ford’s residence and after building motel rooms around the residence, opened the Blue Sky Lodge in 1953.
The lodge is still in operation today.
In 1953, Ford retired and Peter Delfino purchased the property for $35,000.
Delfino developed the airpark runway and hosted several aviation events.
He continued this endeavor into the 1980s.

On November 3, 2000, The California Historical Resources Commission voted to nominate Carmel Valley Vintage Airpark as a State Historic Resource.
The Commission found that development of CVVA by Ford in 1941 was "significant" because it represented the first airpark in the United States and in the world.
On July 3, 2001, an article appeared in the Los Angeles Times that said: “The nation’s first airpark was built in Carmel Valley.
It was started by By Ford, a man with a vision that planes would someday be as popular as cars for everyday transportation.”

The vintage airfield was used by the helicopters fighting the 2016 Soberanes Fire.
In the 1930s, the property was used for growing oats by  bush pilots before the airport development. In 1940, Byington Ford and his brother, Tirey L. Ford Jr., developed the  Airport for pilot owners who wanted to be “at home a minute or two after getting out of their planes.” Two hangar houses were built at the airport as well as a prototype hangar-house to serve as an example for the "airborne community of the future." 
The grand opening of the airport was on December 7, 1941. However, on the same day, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. All private planes were banned from flying on the west coast. As a result, the airport project was put on hold while Ford joined the Army Air Corps to aid in the US war effort. Following the World War II Ford revived his dream of a residential airpark.
Non pilots bought up many of the Airpark homesites. To suit their tastes Ford created ranch style house sites of 1-3 acres. He envisioned hillside homes where residents could view incoming planes. Dean Wolter ran a flying club at the airfield with a few members.
During World War II, the airfield served as an alternative landing field for the military planes flying out of  Watsonville and King city.
In 1949, the  State of California licensed the airport. Ford built a residence near the Carmel Valley Village, where he lived for some time. In 1952, Lou Gardner purchased Ford’s residence and after building motel rooms around the residence, opened the Blue Sky Lodge in 1953. The lodge is still in operation today. In 1953, Ford retired and Peter Delfino purchased the property for $35,000. Delfino developed the airpark runway and hosted several aviation events. He continued this endeavor into the 1980s.
On November 3, 2000, The California Historical Resources Commission voted to nominate Carmel Valley Vintage Airpark as a State Historic Resource. The Commission found that development of CVVA by Ford in 1941 was "significant" because it represented the first airpark in the United States and in the world. On July 3, 2001, an article appeared in the Los Angeles Times that said: “The nation’s first airpark was built in Carmel Valley. It was started by By Ford, a man with a vision that planes would someday be as popular as cars for everyday transportation.”
The vintage airfield was used by the helicopters fighting the 2016 Soberanes Fire.
Carmel Valley Airport