Shannon Airport was founded in the 1950s by Sidney Shannon Jr. as a part of his love for aviation, and to honor his father Sidney Shannon Sr. Sidney Shannon Sr. was one of the founders of Eastern Airlines with legendary World War 1 Ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Over the next 30 years the airport became a landmark general aviation airport in the state of Virginia and beyond. In the mid-70s, Shannon founded the Shannon Air Museum at his airport which was one of the largest collections of rare aircraft in the world at the time. The airport had air shows and fly-ins on a regular basis at which time many of the museum aircraft would be flown. Sydney Shannon Jr. passed away in 1981; thereafter, the aircraft were dispersed and moved to Richmond, VA. Over the next 30 years or so, the airport went through many changes. It went from 125 acres to 61 acres. In 2014, local businessman Luke Curtas and his wife Kim purchased Shannon Airport. Repairs and restoration started immediately. The old terminal was remodeled and completely restored, as well as the map for aircraft parking, and the parking lot for vehicles. Shortly afterwards the Robin's Nest Cafe was opened and the Shannon Air Museum was moved back to the Shannon Airport Campus. Shannon Airport is also the Home of the Shannon School of Aeronautics.
