Lots of airports are named after people, though the effort to honor the individual typically doesn’t extend beyond a statue in the terminal.
It’s different at the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport; its devotion to its namesake is apparent the moment you arrive. On the curb, just where you might be dropped with your bags, are statues of Charlie Brown and Linus van Pelt leaning on the low brick wall where the two characters from Schulz’s revered “Peanuts” comic strip had some of their deepest discussions. From then on, it’s clear you’re at both an airport and a tribute to Schulz, who lived in Sonoma County for more than 40 years until his death in 2000. Inside are Charlie Brown’s hated “kite-eating trees,” framed “Peanuts” strips and character mosaics to denote the gender of the restrooms (Linus points to a men’s room, Sally Brown to a women’s room). It’s fun, charming and even a bit cheeky.
For airport manager Jon Stout, the “Peanuts” theme is all part of the job; even the yellow lanyard for his airport ID has a black zigzag design from the shirts Charlie Brown usually wore. He proudly pointed to the Schulz-related sights as we walked through the terminal but said it’s the airport’s manageable size that really sets it apart…