C. R. Zehtbaur, vice-president of the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, announced in 1946 that his business entered a long-term lease for a one-mile strip along the Columbia River. The park graded a 3,000 by 300 foot runway and built hangars, a ramp, a salesroom and a clubhouse. The cost of the seaport was estimated at US$500,000 (US$6,067,406 adjusted for inflation). Gary Safley, who was a retired United States Naval Aviator, joined the seaport staff as the clubhouse flight instructor. The runway complied with the Civil Aeronautics Authority's class two guidelines. Western Skyways began offering flight instruction at the seaplane base in 1947.