King County to hand over fairgrounds to Enumclaw in deal that benefits both

In a bid to boost the struggling King County Fair and the rural city that hosts it, Enumclaw is expected to take over the county fairgrounds in January.

The city is hoping to build an equestrian center on a portion of the fairgrounds as part of a new plan to attract more tourists. County Executive Ron Sims and Enumclaw Mayor John Wise announced the tentative agreement Tuesday at the fairgrounds.

Sims described the agreement as a cost-saving measure for the county that also would help Enumclaw develop its economy. Still, he said, there's sadness in letting land like this go; the fair moved to the Enumclaw site after World War II.

"I wasn't always excited about this," Sims said. "But sometimes one is overwhelmed by the logic and passion of a vision."

The county will continue to operate the fair on the same parcel of land. But under the agreement, which requires approval from the county and city councils, the county will transfer ownership of the fairgrounds and four nearby parcels of land to the city. It also will give Enumclaw $2 million to help transform the properties into a tourist attraction.

"This opportunity, for us, is huge," Wise said.

The fairgrounds host a variety of events throughout the year, from the Pacific Northwest Highland Games to dog shows. The biggest draw by far is the King County Fair every summer, billed as the oldest county fair west of the Mississippi.

But as fair attendance has dropped, the county has felt the financial strain of operating its fairgrounds. Last year, county officials said they lost about $540,000 on the venture. The year before, the figure was closer to $900,000. It costs about $1.25 million to operate the fairgrounds, officials said.

Concerned the fairgrounds might shut down, Wise approached the county a couple of years ago with the idea of a land transfer. He was convinced the city could do a better job of running the fairgrounds, and at a lesser cost.

He also made the case for a new equestrian center on that land — the kind of facility that would fit in neatly with the city's new tourism plan, to make Enumclaw the horse capital of the Northwest. That center, if approved, could open within the next five years, he said, with funding from a public-private partnership.

"There is really not a high-quality facility in the Northwest that can house these equestrian shows," said Cathy Rigg, executive director of the Enumclaw Area Chamber of Commerce. "The economic impact would be wonderful."

After so much speculation about the fate of the fair, Brad Gaolach, president of the King County Fairgrounds Board, said he was glad to see the matter settled.

The farmers and 4-H clubs have suffered in recent years, he said, as rumors have circulated about the fair closing. Community support has waned. Vendors have become wary. The facilities, he said, are no longer in stellar condition.

As county director for Washington State University's extension program, Gaolach said he plans to work closely with the city as it moves forward with the land transfer and the possible equestrian center.

The hope, he said, is that the fair will see renewed interest, now that its future is assured.

Cara Solomon: 206-464-2024 or csolomon@seattletimes.com