This Major U.S. Airport Just Opened a Plane-spotting Area Complete with a Playground and Food Trucks — Airline Ticket Not Required

There’s a new way to spot planes without having to go through security in North Carolina thanks to a 600,000-square-foot overlook area that just opened. 

The lookout deck, which opened less than two miles from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), is free and open to the public, offering views over the airfield, skyline, and terminal, according to the airport. And it features some really cool aircraft-themed amenities to excite the whole family.

“The Airport knows how important the Overlook is to the local community and we worked diligently to create a place that people of all ages will enjoy,” CLT Chief Infrastructure Officer Jack Christine said in a statement. “This space showcases many displays and features that will educate, inspire and create lasting memories.”

In addition to plane spotting, the deck features an airport-themed playground complete with a mini air traffic control tower with a slide and a plane-shaped climbing structure, along with a displayed retired U.S. military fighter jet and “informative exhibits” detailing aviation history in the Carolinas, including the types of planes that use the airport, the science behind a Boeing 747 aircraft, and how runways are built and named. And if plane spotters get hungry, there’s a food truck area and covered picnic tables.

On a more somber note, the site features a memorial to USAir Flight 1016, which crashed into a private home while trying to land at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 1994, resulting in the deaths of 37 passengers, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

This permanent lookout replaces a temporary one that was put in place after the last overlook closed in 2022 due to airport construction.

The new overlook also features accessible parking, bicycle racks, restrooms with baby changing stations, and pet relief areas so the whole family can enjoy.

This isn’t the only new thing coming to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport this year: the airport will also get its first Delta Sky Club lounge by the end of 2024.