Thompson's Goinbroke Aero Ranch Airport – Citra's Distinctive Aviation Property
Thompson's Goinbroke Aero Ranch Airport in Citra carries one of the most memorable names in Florida's private aviation inventory, reflecting the dry humor and independent spirit of rural Marion County's aviation community. This private ranch airstrip serves the agricultural and recreational aviation needs of a property near Citra, an unincorporated community in the northeastern corner of Marion County known for its farms and the massive Ocala Stud horse operation that helped establish the area as thoroughbred country. The "going broke" name hints at the capital-intensive reality of maintaining an airstrip on a working rural property in Florida.
Citra's location along US-301 in the transition zone between Ocala's horse country and the phosphate mining and agricultural lands to the north creates an airstrip environment that is genuinely rural — no urban encroachment, minimal conflicting air traffic, and views of Orange Lake and the Cross Florida Greenway corridor from altitude. The private-use strip serves property owners and guests with prior landing arrangements.
Where is Thompson's Goinbroke Aero Ranch Airport located?
Thompson's Goinbroke Aero Ranch Airport is located near Citra in northeastern Marion County, Florida, along the US-301 corridor between Ocala and Gainesville.
Is Thompson's Goinbroke Aero Ranch Airport open to the public?
No. This is a private-use airstrip serving the ranch property. Pilots must obtain permission from the owner prior to any landing attempt.
What is the aviation environment like near Citra, Marion County?
The Citra area offers uncongested airspace and flat-to-gently-rolling terrain ideal for VFR flying. Ocala International Airport is the nearest full-service facility, approximately 15–20 miles southwest.
Thompsons Goinbroke Aero Ranch Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Citra, Florida.
Rural Marion County Aviation Culture Near Citra
The Citra area of Marion County represents the agricultural backbone of a county often celebrated for its horse farms and tourist amenities. Ranch airstrips in this corridor — including Thompson's Goinbroke — serve a community of property owners who use light aircraft for the same practical purposes as their farming and ranching counterparts throughout the rural South: efficiency across large properties, rapid access to distant markets, and the freedom that comes from not depending on a road system built for slower travel.
The name "Goinbroke" resonates with anyone who has operated a private airstrip, where fuel, maintenance, hangar costs, and annual inspection fees add up regardless of flight hours. But for working ranch pilots in Marion County, the economics favor aviation over the alternative of grinding cross-state drives on two-lane roads. FDOT's aviation inventory includes private-use strips throughout Marion County as part of the county's comprehensive aviation picture, alongside the public-use facilities at Ocala, Dunnellon, and the former Jumbolair complex.