Utah nonprofit bought WWII hangar for $1 to save museum
The Tillamook Air Museum reopened after the Port of Tillamook Bay sold the 80-year-old structure for a single dollar following a major roof collapse.
By Alessia Desai ·
The Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon has reopened after a decade-long struggle to maintain its historic home.
The Vintage Aviation Museum, a nonprofit based in Spanish Fork, Utah, purchased Hangar B from the Port of Tillamook Bay for $1. The organization also bought the port's aircraft, artifacts, and equipment for $20. The port retained ownership of the land and granted the nonprofit a long-term lease.
The sale resolved a financial standoff that began in December 2025, when a windstorm tore a 200-by-30-foot hole in the hangar's roof. Repair estimates ranged from $2.5 million to $6.5 million, while a full restoration of the 80-year-old structure was projected to cost at least $20 million. In May, the port board voted against repairing the building and began seeking buyers.
Sean O'Brien, president of the Vintage Aviation Museum, sent a proposal to take over the facility in February 2026. O'Brien, a contractor with 38 years of experience, previously volunteered as a docent at the museum. He stated that private ownership would allow for faster and cheaper repairs than the public agency could manage.
Crews finished removing hanging debris from the roof on October 22, a process that cost $542,000. FEMA covered 75% of that expense, with the port paying the remainder. A hole remains in the roof, but O'Brien expects it to be patched by mid-November. The area beneath the damage is currently fenced off for worker safety.
The museum held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 29. Staff spent three weeks reinstalling exhibits with the help of more than 80 volunteers. Christian Gurling, the museum director, noted that staff members worked without pay until the nonprofit hired them. The hangar, built with 3 million board feet of Douglas fir, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
O'Brien plans to determine preliminary repair costs by early December. The nonprofit intends to remove lumber and RV storage from the building and end subleases to other businesses. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
