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Let’s face it, before the William M. Thomas Air Terminal was built at Meadows Field, many of us have picked up friends, family (or worse, business associates) who had never laid eyes on Bakersfield and we quietly cringed when we realized their first impression of our town was the tiny, out-dated, hokey, old airport.
The embarrassment grew when we had to wait for their baggage outside in 104-degree heat on the cold war-era conveyor belt.
And if you were traveling and had to use the bathroom once inside the secured waiting area?
Too bad, you’d have to hold it.
There were no bathrooms there.
The terminal was 50 years old, when she was retired.
She showed her age. She was far past a mere facelift.
Luckily for all of Kern County our local leaders must have had similar feelings because they managed to gather $36 million for the new William Thomas Terminal, which opened February 27, 2006.
So here we are, seven months later.
Was it worth it?
Traveler Kim Coleman...
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