The airport was built by Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited in the 1950s to support the growing mining operations around Uranium City. Transport Canada assumed ownership in the 1970s.
After the loss of the community's mining industry, Uranium City began a sharp depopulation. The Saskatchewan provincial government assumed ownership of the airport in early 1997 from Transport Canada. The facility was downgraded two years later as its runway was shortened from 5,000 ft (1,500 m) to 3,930 ft (1,200 m), while the runway's width was halved to 100 ft (30 m).[2]