Yanks Air Museum coming to Greenfield, potentially creating hundreds of new jobs

Almost 30 years ago, a 400-plus acre plot of land just off Highway 101 in Greenfield was purchased by Charles Nichols, the owner of the historic Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.

Nichols had a vision of creating a new museum, but for years the project stalled in Greenfield, in part, because the city, county and state all had part jurisdiction.

“You have to have the right staff, and the right people at the right time to make it happen, and it’s happening,” Greenfield mayor Lance Walker said.

Last week, crews broke ground on the Yanks Air Museum, which the city says will add hundreds of full time jobs and make Greenfield a tourist destination.

“It’s going to bring people from around the world to see this class act and amazing museum,” Walker said.

The project will include not only an air museum, but hotel, restaurants and even a winery.

With 300 acres of permanent ag land, it still leaves over a hundred acres for everything else that Greenfield hopes will lead to money spent in the city.

“The construction staff have been on site every day this week and will continue that effort presumably through construction,” Greenfield community services director Paul Mugan said.

The new development will add 300 permanent positions, and 2,000 more jobs over the course of construction. In a city that isn’t known for being much of a destination this vision, with the back drop of the pinnacles, could become a must see on the central coast.

“It’s not only big for Greenfield, it’s big south county. It’s big for tourism,” Walker said.

You can expect the museum to open late 2020 or early 2021.