Various fairs held throughout the county at locations including Big Springs, Haskell Stadium, Mt. Hope Nursery, and Vinland.
Passage of two-year tax on personal property and real estate to acquire land to build county fairgrounds and 4-H facilities; 36-acres of former farmland purchased.
First county fair held
1953
Original buildings constructed, including:
Six livestock sheds
Two steel buildings for home economics and displays
Concession stand
Lounge and restroom building converted from the old farmhouse
Show arena with steel bleachers
Lake built on farmland
Prior to 1976
Popularity of fairgrounds prompts discussions of expanding home economics and displays building.
Mill levy increase to build a public facility for use by the Douglas County Extension Office.
1976-1978
12 additional acres purchased, bringing total amount of land at site to approximately 50 acres
Douglas County Extension building built
1986
Douglas County Fairgrounds Study makes recommendations including:
Expansion of hours for reservations
Allowance of private and non-profit access to facilities and revision of fee schedule
Phase-out of baseball activities in anticipation of development of Clinton Parkway Sports Complex
Build small neighborhood park in northwest corner
Broaden user groups of fairgrounds and attract all county residents to fair
Construct an enclosed arena
Maintenance of 21 of the 24 existing buildings
1998
Establishment of Fairgrounds Improvement Committee. Stakeholders representing the major user groups of the fairgrounds toured regional fairgrounds to design facility improvements.
After 1998
Multipurpose building constructed for horse shows, demonstrations, and other events.
Prior to 2007
County record storage building and County maintenance shop constructed.
2007
Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds Capital Improvement Plan Committee makes recommendations including:
Renovate kitchen in Building 21
Build open pavilion to replace original wooden livestock buildings
Build campground with restrooms and showers
Build 5,000SF meeting hall
Replace original livestock buildings with outdoor amphitheater
Renovate outdoor event arena
Build indoor event center
Improve lighting, signage, drainage, traffic pattern, farmland site development, historic building, picnic shelters, ball diamonds, and DCABA building
Revisit alcoholic beverage policy to consider allowing alcoholic beverages
After 2007
Dreher Building built
2008-2015
Master Plan Study recommends building an open pavilion, exhibitor parking and facilities, outdoor meeting area, meeting hall, and outdoor event arena.
Fairgrounds Capital Improvement Plan Committee affirms the findings in its 2007 report.
Completion of fairgrounds Master Plan by architect.
Architect meetings with livestock subject matter experts.
County Commission approves funding for renovation from County CIP Fund.
2016, January
Buildings 1 and 2 taken down.
Construction Photo courtesy of Mar Lan Construction.