Our Facility
What began as a patch of dirt and grass with a concrete helicopter pad and a wooden shack for selling tickets has grown into quite an enterprise at the end of Victoria Avenue in Niagara Falls. Ruedi Hafen, a Swiss immigrant accumulating flying hours for Pan Air Helicopters in Niagara Falls saw potential in this plot of land and true to his entrepreneurial spirit, he developed it.
It wasn’t long after he purchased the property until his thumbprint was evident. A new, paved parking lot was put in to facilitate busses carrying passengers from all over the world. Soon, the landscapers arrived, splashing flowers and greenery from one corner of the property to the other. Under Ruedi’s watchful eye, an underground sprinkler system was installed to keep the grass green, while an underground heating system was installed as a safety feature to keep ice off of the landing pad and walkways his customers would use. With an eye on the future, a second fuel tank and filling station was completed to help combat the fluctuations of the oil market.
In the summer of 1994, one of the last vestiges of the old property disappeared when the hand-painted “HELICOPTER RIDES” sign was taken down and replaced by a state-of-the-art computerized picture sign.
Finally, in 2003, the gem of the property was completed, the Heli-Hafen Terminal Building, which Ruedi himself designed and supervised the construction. The 2500 square foot facility is home to a gourmet café, high end gift shop, ticket sales and information desk as well as a 3000 square foot patio area. In early 2008, an indoor lounge featuring Niagara wines, Canadian beer, a dozen flat panel televisions and wireless Internet was opened as the buildings’ crown jewel.
What began as a patch of dirt and grass with a concrete helicopter pad and a wooden shack for selling tickets has grown into quite an enterprise at the end of Victoria Avenue in Niagara Falls. Ruedi Hafen, a Swiss immigrant accumulating flying hours for Pan Air Helicopters in Niagara Falls saw potential in this plot of land and true to his entrepreneurial spirit, he developed it.
It wasn’t long after he purchased the property until his thumbprint was evident. A new, paved parking lot was put in to facilitate busses carrying passengers from all over the world. Soon, the landscapers arrived, splashing flowers and greenery from one corner of the property to the other. Under Ruedi’s watchful eye, an underground sprinkler system was installed to keep the grass green, while an underground heating system was installed as a safety feature to keep ice off of the landing pad and walkways his customers would use. With an eye on the future, a second fuel tank and filling station was completed to help combat the fluctuations of the oil market.
In the summer of 1994, one of the last vestiges of the old property disappeared when the hand-painted “HELICOPTER RIDES” sign was taken down and replaced by a state-of-the-art computerized picture sign.
Finally, in 2003, the gem of the property was completed, the Heli-Hafen Terminal Building, which Ruedi himself designed and supervised the construction. The 2500 square foot facility is home to a gourmet café, high end gift shop, ticket sales and information desk as well as a 3000 square foot patio area. In early 2008, an indoor lounge featuring Niagara wines, Canadian beer, a dozen flat panel televisions and wireless Internet was opened as the buildings’ crown jewel.
