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Besides visiting by air, there are three primary ways to reach the Garner Gliderport, home of Tidewater Soaring Society, by road: (These directions are the simplest; there are other routes from all directions.)
From the east (Va Bch, Norfolk, P-mouth, Chesapeake):
- I-64 or I-264 to 58 West past Suffolk to Rte 460, bear Right (west, toward Petersburg) after exit there are gas stations with shoppes on both sides. (Good place to stock up.)
- Pass Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (playing fields and school buildings) on left. At 3rd stoplight, Right turn on Lake Prince Drive 604. Through trees and over the lake on new causeway. Ignore 606 Exeter Rd on the left and small residential streets.
- After approx 3 miles, next “big” intersection is 605 Milners Rd, (new national cemetery on right) street signs on right - turn Left. Follow through deforested area to intersection with 603. Straight after stop sign (605 name changes to Murphy Mill), cross another small lake and into open farm country.
- 605 tee’s into Orbit Rd. 609. Turn right and a short distance later are several houses and a closed country store (usually with semi-truck parked there). Turn left on 605 Iron Mine Springs Rd.. Short distance to county dumpsters; half-round, shiny silver and red –roofed hangars beyond.
- Park on south sides of hangars. (If orange cones are up, park inside the cones close to the hangar.) If flight operations are being conducted from the south end of the runway, drive slowly along the left side of the runway to the south end and park. Drive cautiously when gliders or towplanes are moving near you. Clubhouse phone is (757) 357-3948; answered only on weekends and then only sometimes.
From the north (Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg):
- Cross the James River Bridge (south on 32/17/258)
- Bear Right when 32/258 splits to Smithfield and Benns Church
- Road tees at stoplight (Yummy warning: ice cream shop across the intersection.) Turn Left – south – on 32/10.
- Approx 4 miles; church on right and houses, 600 Oliver Drive pops up on right. Turn on it.
- 600 tees (stop sign) and seems to end at 602 and a farm. Turn Right, go 100 yards and 600 continues on left.
- 600 merges with 653 (head left at stop sign). Stay on 600 Woodland Drive as 654 goes left.
- Past open fields and into forests, pass church and over water, to stop sign (Woodland Methodist church on right), go Left on 637 Orbit Rd. Barn and closed country store (usually with semi-truck parked there). Turn right on 605 Iron Mine Springs Rd. Short distance to county dumpsters; half-round, shiny silver and red –roofed hangars beyond.
- Park on south sides of hangars. (If orange cones are up, park inside the cones close to the hangar.) If flight operations are being conducted from the south end of the runway, drive slowly along the left side of the runway to the south end and park. Drive cautiously when gliders or towplanes are moving near you. Clubhouse phone is (757) 357-3948; answered only on weekends and then only sometimes.
From the west (Richmond, Petersburg):
- I-95 South through Petersburg to Exit 46.
- I-295 North. I-295's Exit 3 onto U.S. 460 East toward Norfolk.
- Rte 460 southeast thru Zuni (WARNING: Do not speed on U.S. 460, and really don't speed in Waverly) and into Windsor. Stoplight and DQ on right
- Turn left on 258N Courthouse Highway (signs to Isle of Wight Court House)
- Approx 2 miles turn right on 606 Five Forks Rd (no stop sign or light)
- (If you miss 606, 605 Iron Mine Springs Rd is on right 2 miles, or so, later. This unpaved road goes straight to Garner.)
- Follow 606 to K-shaped intersection with 603 and 637 (farm on right) “Hard” left onto 637 Orbit Road (signs to Holly Grove church.)
- Cross swamp and thru small residential area (please slow down; they’re our neighbors), pass three long chicken barns on left. Airfield and windsock visible on left. At group of houses and closed country store (usually with semi-truck parked there). Turn left on 605 Iron Mine Springs Rd. Short distance to county dumpsters; half-round, shiny silver and red –roofed hangars beyond.
- Park on south sides of hangars. (If orange cones are up, park inside the cones close to the hangar.) If flight operations are being conducted from the south end of the runway, drive slowly along the left side of the runway to the south end and park. Drive cautiously when gliders or towplanes are moving near you. Clubhouse phone is (757) 357-3948; answered only on weekends and then only sometimes.
From the air:
- 7641.0’W 3651.6’N
- VORs: FKN 110.6 070/18 ORF 116.9 268/24
- Approx midway between Smithfield and Windsor
- Close to Drive intersection (L-27 LoAlt chart). Under approach corridor to KPHF—heads up!
- Upper Vee of reservoir a landmark as are three long silver chicken barns. Red-roofed and silver-dome hangars at north end. Windsocks on hangar and midfield.
- 2600 feet of turf. Caution: south 1/3 can get soggy from rain. Runways called north and south; actually 02 and 20.
- Power-planes fly downwind leg to west for noise abatement.
- Call “Garner Ground” for advisories on 123.3. CTAF also 123.3
- Gliders have right of way.
- Unless told otherwise, park close to tree line east and south of yellow and red painted gas shack.
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