C. R. Zehtbaur, vice-president of the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, announced in 1946 that his business had entered a long-term lease for a one-mile strip along the Columbia River. The park graded a 3,000 by 300 foot runway and built hangars, a ramp, a salesroom and a clubhouse. The cost of the seaport was estimated at US$500,000 (US$7,812,287 adjusted for inflation). Gary Safley, who was a retired United States Naval Aviator, joined the seaport staff as the clubhouse flight instructor. The runway complied with the Civil Aeronautics Authority's class two guidelines.[1] Western Skyways began offering flight instruction at the seaplane base in 1947.[2]