Oregon blimp hangar sold for $1 after storm damage; air museum set to reopen

An 83-year-old aircraft hangar in Oregon, United States, which was sold for just $1 after suffering extensive storm damage, is preparing to welcome visitors again. The historic structure, known as Hangar B, houses the Tillamook Air Museum, which has remained closed since December 2025. The museum is now scheduled to reopen on October 29, following its acquisition by a nonprofit organisation. The building was badly damaged when a winter windstorm tore a hole about 200 feet long in its roof. The damage left parts of the wooden structure exposed to rain and other weather conditions. With the building requiring major repairs, the future of the museum remained uncertain for several months, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Things changed in August 2026 when Sean O'Brien, president of the Utah-based nonprofit Vintage Aviation Museum, agreed to purchase the hangar for just $1 and take responsibility for its restoration. He also bought the remaining assets of the Tillamook Air Museum for $20. The sale has since been completed, allowing preparations for the museum's reopening to move forward. Although the damaged roof has not yet been fully repaired, the new owners are working to restore the exhibits and prepare the building for visitors. The reopening will come after nearly 10 months of closure. Why was the historic hangar sold for just $1? The decision to sell Hangar B came after the December 2025 storm caused serious damage to its roof. The 200-foot opening exposed the interior of the enormous wooden building to the weather, making repairs an immediate concern. Initial estimates presented to Port of Tillamook Bay officials suggested that repairing the roof could cost between $2.5 million and $6.5 million. However, O'Brien believes the work can be completed for no more than $450,000. O'Brien, who grew up in Oregon and previously lived in Tillamook, had also volunteered at the air museum. His connection with the area, along with his experience as a general contractor, encouraged him to take responsibility for the building. Repair work will begin once the damaged metal section of the roof is removed. The Port of Tillamook Bay has hired a Seattle-based company to carry out that task. O'Brien expects the roof repairs to be completed by the end of 2026 or early January 2027. "We are honored to reopen the Tillamook Air Museum and preserve its extraordinary aviation history for future generations," O'Brien said in a statement, "while working to bring this historic landmark back to life for the community and visitors from around the world." The 83-year-old World War II-era blimp hangar which houses the Tillamook Air Museum. Built during World War II, survived for 83 years Hangar B was built in 1943 by the US Navy during World War II. It was one of two enormous wooden hangars constructed in Tillamook to accommodate K-class airships, which were used to patrol the West Coast during the war. Both structures were built almost entirely using Douglas fir timber harvested in Oregon. Their size made them notable examples of wartime construction. Hangar B stands approximately 175 feet tall, stretches 1,072 feet in length and measures nearly 300 feet across. Its interior is large enough to accommodate six football fields. The original site had two such buildings, Hangar A and Hangar B. However, Hangar A was destroyed by fire in 1992, leaving Hangar B as the surviving structure. The Tillamook Air Museum opened inside Hangar B in the early 1990s, several decades after the building was constructed. Since then, the historic hangar has served as a space for displaying aircraft and preserving aviation history. What will change when the museum reopens? The new owners have said that reopening the museum is only the first stage of a longer restoration project. Their immediate priority is to bring back the aircraft, exhibits and collections that visitors could see before the December storm. In an announcement published by Tillamook County Pioneer on October 9, the museum said preparations were progressing to welcome visitors again. It also confirmed that work was continuing on plans to patch the damaged roof. Beyond the initial reopening, O'Brien intends to restore other parts of the building and improve the museum. Plans include adding more aircraft, introducing new exhibits and interactive displays, installing flight simulators and organising additional events. "Our goal is to not only preserve this remarkable piece of aviation history but also enhance the overall visitor experience," O'Brien said, "giving visitors new reasons to return time and time again." The Tillamook Air Museum will officially reopen on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 10 am. For the reopening celebration, it will remain open until 7 pm.