A nonprofit organization bought the 83‑year‑old Tillamook Blimp Hangar in Oregon for $1 after a December 2025 storm tore a 200‑foot hole in its roof. The storm, part of a record‑breaking winter, left the roof compromised, forcing the museum to close in January 2026.
The hangar, built during World War II to house a blimp, has long been the centerpiece of the Tillamook Air Museum. Its sudden loss of structural integrity made the 10‑month closure unavoidable.
The nonprofit, which saw an opportunity to preserve a national treasure, purchased the structure for a nominal $1, a symbolic gesture to keep the museum alive. The transaction included a commitment to restore the roof and reinstate the hangar’s historic features.
The museum is scheduled to reopen on Oct. 29, 2026, after a decade‑long hiatus. Visitors will experience a fully restored exhibit of WWII blimps, and the museum will celebrate its centennial legacy.