The original airport was at Mission Hill, about 1.0 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) southwest of the city centre.

Trim arrived in Vernon by train to spearhead the formation of a local branch of the Aerial League of Canada (returned airmen).

In 1931, the two runways and infrastructure were completed, a temporary airport licence was issued, and a road through the site was diverted.

[2][13] In 1939, civil aviation ceased at Vernon for the duration of World War II, when the DND leased the airport from the city for $247.50 annually, which was the interest payable on the bonds.

[14] During 1940, the city examined other potential airport sites and decided on an area near Okanagan Landing.

[14] The property had been considered during the 1936 air route survey but was unsuitable because of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) right-of-way.

[16] In 1946, the city purchased the identified 21 hectares (52 acres) for $12,000[13] and spent $6,000 on development[17] to create a 594-metre (1,950 ft) runway.

Richard Hamilton (Dick) Laidman, who wished to start a flying school at the airport, personally negotiated for months with the adjacent First Nations band.

[18] Since then, many private and corporate clients have been based at the facility,[19] totalling almost 80 aircraft during the 1970s, when the Regional District of North Okanagan administered the airport.

[24] In 1988, the airport received a $621,000 federal grant for improved lighting and a non-directional radio beacon.

[31] The infrastructure includes the public terminal building, hangars, fuel storage, and firefighting equipment.