Smith Reynolds Airport Celebrates Reopened, Restored Main Terminal

(WINSTON-SALEM, NC) Smith Reynolds Airport marked a new chapter with a public Ribbon-cutting for its renovated Main Terminal on Monday, August 11, 2025, at 10 a.m., restoring the 1940s landmark as the primary front door for corporate, charter, and general aviation in Winston-Salem. Forsyth County scheduled the event at 3801 N. Liberty St., where airport leaders opened a modernized, historically preserved terminal now home to Signature Aviation’s customer operations, on-site car rental by Avis Budget Group, and other key tenants, according to the County’s July 18 announcement.

Renovation highlights and passenger experience

The renovation brings the building’s 1940s Art Moderne character back to life while adding practical changes that travelers and crews will feel immediately.

• The project preserved era-specific style and added a new elevator and interior upgrades that improve access and passenger flow, WFDD reported.
• Airport Director Mark Davidson led the terminal repositioning and emphasized (in WFDD interviews) that moving Signature’s customer-facing services into the Main Terminal makes it “the front door to our community” again.

Inside the lobby, history takes center stage. The terminal’s public areas now feature archival photos and exhibits that trace Smith Reynolds Airport’s origins and the role of aviation in Winston-Salem’s growth. Suspended high above the main hall is a 1930 Savoia-Marchetti S‑56 seaplane, the same type flown by the airport’s namesake, Z. Smith Reynolds, during his 1931–32 London-to-Hong Kong journey, Forsyth County noted. The display ties the refurbished space to the airport’s heritage while serving an active travel function.

The refurbished space blends historic context and functional upgrades so flights, ground handling, and visitors all operate under one roof.

Tenants, services, and operational changes

Signature Aviation, the airport’s fixed-base operator (FBO), has shifted its customer reception and ground handling into the Main Terminal—returning the building to primary public entry use after years of it being secondary.

• Passengers and crews arriving by business jet or charter will now:
  1. Check in through Signature on the terminal’s first floor
  2. Meet ground support and coordinate fueling
  3. Coordinate hangar movements and related services
• On-site tenant mix:
  • Signature Aviation — customer reception and ground handling (first floor)
  • Avis Budget Group — in-terminal car rental counter
  • AVCON — on-airport engineering and consulting
  • Eye Candy Aircraft Management — corporate aviation services
  • Airport Administration — co-located offices for easier coordination

These changes centralize check-in and lounge space, simplify curbside coordination, and speed crew turn times—while retaining the building’s original architectural look and feel.

Historical interpretation and community engagement

Visitors will encounter curated historic displays that walk through the airport’s early years and milestones. The suspended S‑56 centerpiece provides context to the airport’s namesake and early global flights, creating a living exhibit for:

• Community groups
• Schools
• Local visitors and travelers

This blend of exhibit and operational terminal gives the community a way to engage with aviation history inside a functioning transportation hub.

Funding, related projects, and economic impact

Airport Director Davidson cited about $90 million in recent local, county, and state investments supporting airfield improvements, with the terminal renovation as a centerpiece, WFDD reported.

The Winston-Salem Chamber describes Smith Reynolds as North Carolina’s leading general aviation airport by economic impact:

• $894 million — estimated economic impact
• 3,160 jobs
• $22.3 million — state and local taxes

These figures reflect the airport-supported cluster of aviation companies and development sites around the campus.

Control tower funding (separate from terminal)

The terminal work is separate from the control tower renovation. In 2025, the FAA selected Smith Reynolds for a $2 million award under the FY2025 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law FAA Contract Tower Program to modernize the airport-owned tower (roof, windows, radios, HVAC), Airport Beacon Reports noted.

• This tower funding was one of 20 projects nationally and the largest single award on the FY2025 list.
• The tower award did not overlap with the terminal budget.

For general information on the federal program, see the FAA’s official Bipartisan Infrastructure Law page: https://www.faa.gov/bil.

Advanced Air Mobility planning and future opportunities

Forsyth County issued a Request for Qualifications in January 2025 for an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) integration plan to position Smith Reynolds as a regional test site. Goals of the AAM planning effort include:

• Connecting air mobility with local transport
• Building STEM and aviation workforce pathways
• Exploring potential facilities such as vertiport concepts

These outcomes could shape how companies fly, hire, and train in the region in coming years.

VisaVerge.com analysis suggests that improved public front-door facilities influence where companies base flights, meet clients, and host training—factors that can drive more travel activity and support local jobs. Activating the Main Terminal and consolidating on-airport services creates a streamlined ground experience attractive to business travelers and corporate planners.

Practical information for travelers and operators

For near-term arrivals at Smith Reynolds Airport, key practical changes are:

• Primary entry point: Most corporate, charter, and general aviation traffic now flows through the renovated Main Terminal under Signature Aviation’s customer service.
• On-site services: Avis Budget Group car rental in-terminal; AVCON, Eye Candy, and Airport Administration co-located for easier coordination.
• Location and contacts:
  • 3801 N. Liberty St., Winston-Salem, NC 27105
  • Airport main line: 336-607-6120 (per the Airport Board page)

Project schedule, campus work, and next steps

Airport leaders framed the terminal reopening as both a service improvement and a signal to businesses considering the region.

• Renovation schedule: The team set a spring 2025 completion target (Airport Beacon Reports), with the County’s July notice confirming the Aug. 11 Ribbon-cutting date.
• Parallel campus work: Hangar refurbishments, a corporate hangar, and access road improvements—projects highlighted by the Chamber to support higher corporate and general aviation demand.
• Tower renovation: Tenants should watch for scope and schedule updates as the FY2025 FAA award is executed with phased work to minimize operational disruption.
• AAM planning: May inform future facility design and training programs, opening opportunities for students and workers in local aviation careers.

The restored Main Terminal functions as a community space: exhibits and aircraft display connect families, students, and visitors to aviation history—while the updated facility streamlines services for today’s travelers and operators.