Miss Bea Havin’ on the field is the real draw here
At Colorado Plains Regional (AKO) in the Main terminal area, Hayes Aviation runs a 24/7 FBO that doubles as a low‑key pilots lounge, but most pilots plan their stop around the on‑field Miss Bea Havin café mentioned in the AirNav listing. Think fuel, restroom, coffee, and a hot meal in one stop, not a big‑city terminal club. If you route via KAKO on a cross‑country, this is the sort of place you use as a quick reset rather than an all‑day base.
Access runs entirely through the Hayes Aviation FBO, with 24/7 operations noted in the AOPA directory even though the tower only runs 07:00–17:00 Monday through Friday. That means you can drop in for fuel at 02:00 local and still expect basic facilities, even if staffing is thinner than during weekday business hours. The pilots lounge side is essentially the FBO lobby plus a quiet room setup, not a separate branded space with gate access or TSA to worry about.
Food strategy here centers on Miss Bea Havin, called out explicitly in the AirNav review as the on‑field option that turns this into a “highly recommended stop” for a fuel and food turn. Regulars time arrivals to land when the café is serving, then use the lounge area just long enough to file, eat, and hit the restroom. Outside the café’s opening hours, you’re mostly looking at coffee and whatever packaged snacks Hayes keeps behind the desk, so plan real meals around the restaurant schedule, not the 24/7 FBO hours.
Comfort is basic small‑airport FBO: chairs, tables, Wi‑Fi and restrooms attached to the Hayes Aviation space, as implied by the single user rating on the AOPA business page but not broken out as a premium lounge product. Don’t expect showers, nap rooms, or branded liquor—this is more “clean couch while the line crew fuels the 172” than “multi-hour layover hangout.” On the plus side, comments highlight “super friendly staff,” which usually translates into quick help with a crew car, weather printouts, or a fresh pot of coffee when you roll in off a long leg.
Tip: File your next leg and check weather in‑cockpit before taxi, then use Hayes for a focused 30–45 minute turn: fuel on arrival, hit Miss Bea Havin, quick restroom stop, pay at the FBO desk, and you’re back in the air without dragging the stop past an hour.
How to get in
- 01 FBO