TrAIL delivers bright future for Taylor County Fairgrounds: new buildings, facilities
Charles Kinsey, president of the Taylor County Fair Association, explains how a 30-month lease with the builders of TrAIL provides a "unique opportunity to earn money and completely renovate the fairgrounds."
The Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL) project promises to breathe fresh life into the aging Taylor County Fairgrounds, where both buildings and infrastructure show signs of wear after 50 years of continuous service.
The Taylor County Fair Association has leased the 54-acre property near Grafton, W. Va. to Kenny Construction Company, which is managing construction of the new 500-kilovolt transmission line. Centrally located to the line route, the fairgrounds will serve as a material storage and staging yard for TrAIL for the next 30 months.
"The fairgrounds' buildings are deteriorating and this lease provides the association with a unique opportunity to earn money and completely renovate the fairgrounds," said Charles Kinsey, president of the Fair Association. "Once completed, Taylor County will have a new, modern fairgrounds facility that will serve the county and its residents for many years."
Crews are dismantling and demolishing all but two of 14 buildings, many of which are dilapidated and outdated. The next steps are to regrade the property to create a level storage area, and build new roads on the grounds.
If all progresses as scheduled, a brand new, 22,000-square-foot livestock barn and show arena will stand on the site of the old horse barn by July, providing indoor storage. The facility will anchor the revitalized fairgrounds when the lease expires and the fair resumes.
The project also includes construction of new food booths, restrooms, offices and a Shriners Building, as well as replacement of electrical and other infrastructure.
Although the fair will be on hiatus during the lease period, the association will work with the Taylor Junior Live Stock Association and FFA so youngsters can continue their annual livestock show and sale.
Demolition crews tackle the aging horse barn. A brand new livestock barn and show arena will stand on the spot by mid-summer. The barn will be the centerpiece of the rejuvenated fairgrounds, hosting youth livestock events for years to come.
