Located on the grounds of the Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg sits a piece of the past that refuses to fade away. Widely considered the last remaining full phone booth in Montgomery County, the glass-and-metal enclosure stands as a rare time capsule from an era before smartphones made pay phones nearly obsolete. A video of the booth can be seen below.
Unlike the stripped-down pedestal-style pay phones that still linger in a few scattered spots across the county, the Airpark booth is the classic full enclosure (only missing the folding bifold door). According to Cafe Sophie co-owner Sandy Poe, whose family has deep roots at the Airpark, the phone is still operational today. “So my curiosity got the best of me and I called one of my employees at the airport and ask them to check it,” Poe said. “They actually called me in my car on the line so yes it does work. It’s $.50 for four minutes or a local call my employee told me.”
For decades, the phone has remained more than just a relic. It has continued to function, long after most others across the county were removed or left unusable. Poe added that the booth has quietly remained part of daily life at the Airpark for decades, even serving as a regular stop for one familiar face. “We used to have a mailman that would use it every day around noon. We always wondered who he was talking to,”she said.
The Airpark itself dates back to the 1960s, when it was built by Poe’s father and grandfather. While the exact installation date of the phone booth is unclear, it has stood through generations of aviation changes, from analog communication to the modern digital age.
Historically, booths like this were essential tools for pilots. Before cell phones, they were used to file flight plans, check weather updates, or arrange transportation after landing. Today, the booth serves a different purpose, drawing visitors who stop by just to see and photograph what may be the last of its kind in the county.
As surrounding infrastructure has modernized and nearly all other enclosed booths have disappeared, the Airpark’s version has become something of a local curiosity. While a few pedestal pay phones still exist, their functionality is often inconsistent and they lack the iconic design of the Airpark booth.
So, the next time you stop by Cafe Sophie for a meal, you can make a stop at Montgomery County’s last remaining phone booth. And unlike most relics, this one still has a dial tone. For anyone feeling nostalgic, the number still connects.
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