El Paso Brothers Revive Abandoned Boeing 727 as Community Hub
Two El Paso brothers, John and Ismael Lara, purchased a 1961 Boeing 727 for $2,000 after it was auctioned online. The plane had been abandoned for over 20 years at the El Paso International Airport.
The brothers, both former educators, have been working on transforming the plane into a community gathering space and are considering turning it into a short-term rental, event space, or restaurant.
They've incurred significant costs, with estimates suggesting around $500,000 spent on transport, refurbishing, and assembly. Additionally, they anticipate licensing costs of between $100,000 to $150,000.
The brothers hope that their project will serve as a learning opportunity for the community, particularly children, teaching them about STEM concepts such as engineering design and planning.