New airport terminal opens in Two Harbors

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — Thursday marked the opening of a new airport terminal in Two Harbors.

The Richard B. Heglsen Airport unveiled its newly constructed terminal in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In an over $1 million investment that was funded through a federal grant, the Two Harbors location was one of the few selected.

The original terminal, built in 1976, was in need of repair and a small space for their needs.

“Number one, it was really small for our needs. We’ve got a lot more traffic than we used to see in 1976 when that building was constructed. The other building needed new windows. It wasn’t ADA, accessible. It was using a wood stove for heat to supplement a furnace. That wasn’t sufficient,” said City Administrator Patty Nordean.

The airport is used for tourism, economic development, flying in corporate executives, police work. And even fire services.

“It’s used by the county by in particular, when we had the Brimstone fires last summer, this was kind of a clearinghouse for some of the National Guard and some of the helicopters and planes that had to fly in to help fight the forest fires,” said Two Harbors Mayor Lew Conner.

The building has been in use for a few months, but on Thursday, the final touches were made.