America's Abandoned Airports Are Being Revamped Into Cool Places You Can Visit

Built by world-renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the TWA Flight Center opened in 1962 at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City. However, the TWA Flight Center was unable to support the size of modern aircrafts and closed in 2001. It has remained unused for 16 years. Now, the space will be turned into a large hotel and restored to its 1960s vibe. With 505 rooms, eight restaurants, and six bars, the TWA Hotel will showcase mid-century design. MCR and Morse Development — the folks behind the High Line Hotel in Manhattan — are creating the hotel. The TWA Flight Center is currently on the list of the National Register of Historic Places.

The Stapleton International Airport in Denver, CO, has long been demolished, but the air traffic control tower has stood vacant for over 20 years. Now, the air traffic control tower has been reimagined into an eater-tainment concept called Punch Bowl Social. The historic preservation and adaptive reuse project has been a significant, multi-year undertaking by OZ Architecture. The renovation combines diner-style food with a design aesthetic that harks back to the golden age of jet-setting. Opening in November, Punch Bowl Social will feature six bowling lanes, donzini, darts, a photo booth, shuffle board, and a custom-built 360-degree bar. There's also a pool lined in astroturf and a beer garden outside for the Summer months.

Sock and apparel company SmartWool now resides in the former Steamboat Springs Airport Terminal Building in Steamboat Springs, CO. The site of SmartWool's company headquarters focuses on products for outdoor sports that are warm, comfortable, and chic.