World War II
The military obtained control of the airport and it was operated as a satellite facility to McChord Field at the start of World War II in 1941. When the war ended, the airport and adjoining property was transferred back to the City of Olympia under the War Surplus Act of 1944, with permanent restrictions that the land and facilities would be maintained and operated as a public airport.

In 1963, the Port of Olympia purchased the airport and its 700 acres of adjoining property from the City of Olympia to facilitate economic development. The airport consists of 835 acres and the adjoining industrial campus has 440 acres.

Businesses
Aviation activity at Olympia includes:

Aerial photography Air ambulance Aircraft maintenance and overhaul Department of Natural Resources aerial firefighting Fixed wing and helicopter flight instruction	Tourism Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife enforcement and wildlife restoration programs Washington State Patrol Washington State Department of Transportation's Aviation Division World War II flight museum

Airport Statistics

• Longest runway - 5,501 feet
• Number of active runways - 2 
• Number of based aircraft - 142 (2015)