At a cost of $1 million, Pickens County Airport is sporting a new terminal building that will be dressed up for its public grand opening June 27.

A day earlier on June 26, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the 4,000-square-foot wood and stone structure for the benefit of the Pickens County Council members, economic development officials and other stakeholders, Airport Manager Skeets Cooper said Tuesday.

The unveiling of the new terminal building is a milestone for the general aviation airport that opened in 1969 and has progressed at a slower rate than the Oconee County Airport and other general aviation airports in the state, according to Cooper.

One thing Pickens County Airport has is a 5,000-foot runway, which Oconee is in the process of trying to achieve.

Having a 5,000-foot runway would allow for jets to land at the airport. Also, federal regulators require a 5,000-foot runway to land during inclement weather.

With space at its airport for about 40 tenants, Cooper is hopeful the new terminal building will attract more tenants.

“It’ll be a boost to aviation in the Upstate,” Cooper said of the capital improvement.

Although he expects business to improve because of the new addition, Cooper said he did not expect the airport building will take business away from Oconee’s airport.

Oconee County Airport Director Kevin Short passed out flyers of the Pickens airport terminal grand opening during Monday night’s Oconee Aeronautic Commission meeting. Short made commissioners aware of Pickens’ improvements at its airport.

The grand opening from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. will allow the public to view airplanes, hotrods and motorcycles. Food and drinks will be available.

Pickens Airport, 240 Airport Road in Liberty, is located on SC Highway 178 between Pickens and Liberty. For more information about the airport or the terminal building’s grand opening, call (864) 843-5803.