Gretchen Hawk, executive directo,r and treasurer Don Willis in the WACO Museum Hangar, home to vintage WACO aircraft, displays and the history of the aircraft company. The WACO Historical Society continues to grow and expand its horizons at its museum and airfield at Troy's south end.
TROY - Supporters of WACO Field are flying high over the increased use of the organization's grounds, museum and learning center.
The nonprofit WACO Historical Society salutes the WACO Aircraft Co. of Troy, the largest manufacturer of civil aircraft in the country in the 1920s and early 1930s. WACO also built gliders during World War II.
The WACO site this summer will see the return of traditional activities, including park and ride service and air rides during the June Strawberry Festival and the organization's annual aircraft fly-in, again with air rides, in September.
In between the grounds and the skies above, the air field will host or be involved in three big summer events in Troy: the return of the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, an International Harvester Scout/Light Truck Nationals Show and the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover featuring Mumford & Sons over Labor Day Weekend.
Among estimates at WACO for those events are 2,500 from GOBA; 5,000 people, 250 show vehicles and 1,000 vehicles for the International Harvester event centered at WACO; and 7,000 vehicles and more than 15,000 people for Gentlemen of the Road.
It's a schedule WACO leaders have been working toward since the facility began with the raising of the red barn on the 70-plus acre site in 1997.
"I think our facility improvements are starting to pay dividends," said Don Willis, a WACO volunteer and organization treasurer. "We are trying to get ourselves in first-class operating condition."
A building housing classrooms, the office, library, gift shop and displays; the museum building; and most recently, a picnic shelter, Quonset hangar and an aviation lab have joined the barn.
The facilities are available for public use, including the picnic shelter for up to 120 with restrooms; catered events in the hangar (meetings, weddings); and tour, educational events, lectures and reunions.
Use of the Learning Center continues to grow, too, said Gretchen Hawk, executive director. Among center offerings are a preschool program, rocket workshops, aviation summer camps, STEM teacher training, school outreach and robotics.
Willis and Hawk said support has come from individuals as well as foundations and local businesses.
Hawk attributed growing interest to word of mouth.
"We have had docents from the Air Force Museum come here and are overwhelmed by this little place and what we have," she said.
WACO needs more volunteers. A volunteer open house is planned 7 p.m. April 25 at WACO Field, 1865 S. County Road 25A. More information is available at 937-335-9226 or www.wacoairmuseum.org.
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