Gander: Discover Airport History and Trails

Gander combines a unique airport history with insights into life in the town and a variety of ways to spend time outdoors. The Gander Airport International Lounge, the Heritage Trails, and opportunities to get active offer different ways to shape your stay around your interests.

Airport History and Memories

The Gander Airport International Lounge is a notable part of the town’s history. Its large interior was built in 1958 and officially opened in 1959. In 2026, the lounge was designated a Registered Heritage Structure for its historic, aesthetic, and cultural value. It is considered one of Canada’s most complete and authentic public spaces in the mid-century modern style. For travelers interested in architecture and aviation heritage, it offers a specific reason to get to know Gander from this perspective as well.

The Come-From-Away interpretation panels offer another historical perspective. They share details and eyewitness accounts of the events that took place in Gander on September 11, 2001. Alongside the architecture, personal accounts and the history of that day are also in focus. If you’d like to combine your stay with culture and history, you can explore the panels and the lounge as distinct themes on your own journey of discovery.

Experience History Outdoors

The Gander Heritage Trails pass through Gander’s original settlement, which dates from the 1930s to the 1950s and is located in former airport sectors. Information panels tell the story of the wartime community, when more than 3,000 people kept the airport running. The trails combine time outdoors with insights into the settlement’s development and the people whose work was connected to the airport. If you enjoy walking, this is a way to combine a historical theme with physical activity.

The Newfoundland T’Railway is also part of the island’s history: the former railway line that once ran across Newfoundland passes through the Town of Gander. Nearby, Cobb’s Corridor offers opportunities for hiking and cycling, as well as cross-country skiing and off-road vehicle use, including snowmobiling. These activities are quite different from one another; which ones you’d like to prioritize on your trip can help shape your plans.

For golf enthusiasts, the Gander Golf Club is located on the Trans-Canada Highway in Gander. The club has an 18-hole golf course, a clubhouse, and equipment rentals. It’s another distinct way to plan your stay: you can make golf part of your time in Gander rather than focusing exclusively on history or trails.

Summer Events and Getting Here

During the summer months, the Town of Gander hosts a free Concert in the Park every week at Cobb’s Pond Rotary Park. The Festival of Flight is also a summer event and has been running for more than 30 years. Gander Day falls on the first Monday in August. These dates and events offer different seasonal reasons to consider when choosing your travel dates.

Gander is located on the Trans-Canada Highway. On the island of Newfoundland, the highway runs from Port aux Basques through Gander to St. John’s. Gander International Airport is also relevant for getting here: it offers scheduled and charter passenger and cargo flights to major airports and is connected to transcontinental and international routes. DRL Coachlines operates passenger and freight services along Newfoundland’s Trans-Canada Highway; one stop is at Gander International Airport.

When choosing a vacation rental in Gander, you can start by considering which aspect of the destination you’d like to shape your stay: airport history and places of remembrance, getting active on the trails and in Cobb’s Corridor, golf, or a summer event. These facts offer a range of themes, without requiring you to limit your trip to just one.

Other places in the same broader selection include Badger, Benton and Botwood.

View the broader travel guide: Division No. 6.