What's coming, what's going? Okaloosa County begins to shape a plan for the fairgrounds

Collin Bestor, Northwest Florida Daily News
·3 min read

FORT WALTON BEACH — New life is coming to a Fort Walton Beach mainstay.

On Monday, Okaloosa County Commissioner Trey Goodwin gave media members a tour of the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds property recently bought for $4 million.

The goal of this stroll was to give a behind-the-scenes look at the current state of the property and to tout the efforts of the county to keep the fairgrounds operational.

Here's what we know.

How did we get here?

Earlier this year, the Fort Walton Beach City Council voted to sell the 20.3-acre property to the county in a 20-year agreement.

During the agreement, the county is to maintain the property for public use and prohibit a sale without approval from the Fort Walton Beach City Council.

"I can't thank the city enough to partner with the county and keep it for public use," Goodwin said while on the tour. He said the Fort Walton Beach Council could have sold the fairgrounds to a private entity, which could have seen the end of the historic property.

As part of the agreement, the county must also allow existing events and uses to continue while working toward enhancements and potential upgrades for future events.

Fairgrounds Council

In September, county commissioners approved a seven-person Fairgrounds Advisory Committee to spearhead the planned initiatives for the site.

Each commissioner nominated one person from their district to serve on the committee. The other three members selected were:

  • Ted Corcoran from the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

  • Fort Walton Beach City Manager Jeff Peters as a non-voting member.

  • The Northwest Florida Fair Association appointed Charles Rigdon. Rigdon is the son of C.H. "Bull" Rigdon, one of the founding members of the fair when it first began on Okaloosa Island in 1966.

The committee will act in an advisory role to the County Commission.

Tour Highlights

An overview of the Northwest Florida Fairground property. Most of the buildings you see will be refurbished. For the buildings on the lower left, there future is uncertain due to falling in a state of disrepair.
An overview of the Northwest Florida Fairground property. Most of the buildings you see will be refurbished. For the buildings on the lower left, there future is uncertain due to falling in a state of disrepair.

As Goodwin walked through the property, he said most buildings have "good bones" about them.

Most of the indoor event space is structurally sound and needs to be remodeled to give the rooms a more modern look. Goodwin said that it could be akin to a heavy-duty pole barn. The fairgrounds property received little to no damage from the area's hurricanes in recent years.

Listed as Building B on the property, it is the largest indoor event space of the Fairgrounds, listed at 12,000 square feet.
Listed as Building B on the property, it is the largest indoor event space of the Fairgrounds, listed at 12,000 square feet.

The extra space is much needed, according to Jennifer Adams, director of the tourist development department, who joined the tour. She said the space parallels the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center on Okaloosa Island.

"We've outgrown the convention center," Adams said.

Adams said she hopes the fairgrounds can eventually host major events outside the annual fair, such as cheer competitions and major gatherings.

Using potential tax dollars from the half-cent sales tax, most upgrades can be implemented quickly. Among them: upgrades to the front fascia of the foyer, replacing chain link and barbed wire fencing with something more visually pleasing, and modernizing the onsite kitchen facility.

In the past, if you wanted to enter the fairgrounds property, you would have to buy a ticket here. Commissioner Trey Goodwin said after a solid coat of paint, it could breathe new life into Fort Walton Beach.
In the past, if you wanted to enter the fairgrounds property, you would have to buy a ticket here. Commissioner Trey Goodwin said after a solid coat of paint, it could breathe new life into Fort Walton Beach.

However, some areas of the property have probably outlived their lifespan or will be removed for other reasons.

The Dolly Parton Stage might make a curtain call as residential areas are built in a lot adjacent to the property. That might bring an end to live music at the Fairgrounds.

Other spaces like the back offices and storage areas have seen signs of age, with major holes in the ceiling and corroding sheet metal in some outdoor storage areas.

Timeline of restoration

The fairgrounds committee is preparing for its second meeting to hear ideas on the facility's future.

Goodwin expects the planning for future renovations to be finished by this time next year. The upgrades will occur as contracts are handed out and funding sources have been found, which is expected to last the next several years.

Any upgrades will be done in stages and officials don't expect the revitalization project will interfere with events that will be held during that time.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Okaloosa County going all in on refurbishment efforts to fairgrounds