A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Jackson County Fairgrounds/Sportsplex on Friday, September 19th, 2025.
The first step toward realizing the project involves some significant earthwork. Bids were advertised for earthwork on the project, and a bid opening was held on Friday, September 5th, 2025. Three companies bid for the project, and after much discussion, the advisory committee agreed to recommend Praxel as the winning bidder. Praxel had the low bid of $825,000. The Fiscal voted to award Praxel the earthwork project for the new Fairgrounds during their regular meeting on September 11, 2025. Little time was wasted before a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 2:00 PM. It is estimated that the earthwork will be completed in 2-3 months. Representative Truett, Senator Stivers, members of the advisory committee, available Fiscal Court Members, elected officials, Praxel representatives, and interested citizens were all in attendance.
Advisory Committee Chairman Brian Murray introduced the ceremony and the speakers. Murray began with some historical context for the fairgrounds. Isaacs Bowles, in his manuscript, “The History of Jackson County,” states that the Jackson County Fair originated from a school fair held in 1915. It was so successful that it expanded the next year and by 1917, land was purchased in the Annville area, buildings were erected, and a permanent County Fair was organized. In 1929, the Jackson County Sun reported, “It is generally understood that this Fair is one of the best in Kentucky. It is here where thousands of mountain people meet annually for a HOME COMING and a good time.” The 1929 Fair featured a “high wire act” and “the best band in Kentucky”. However, at some point after that, the fair at Annville was moved to the County seat of McKee.
Over the last ten years, the Fair has grown exponentially with support from Judge Gabbard and the Fiscal Court, the Jackson County Fair Board, dozens of businesses, and the citizens of Jackson County. The annual Fair has seen historical numbers attend and has outgrown the area available in downtown McKee. Because of the Fair’s ongoing success, combined with an opportunity to create a multipurpose area to stimulate the local economy and provide regional sporting opportunities closer to home, State Representative Tim Truett and State Senator Robert Stivers successfully secured funding for the first Jackson County Fairgrounds/Sportsplex in nearly 100 years.
The multipurpose area is proposed to have several ball fields, an amphitheater, a walking track, disc golf, trail riding areas, RV camping, walking trails, ATV/side by side trails, and much more. (All of these details have not been finalized. The advisory committee will make recommendations to the fiscal court and the magistrates will have the final vote of approval).
During the June 26, 2025 regular meeting of the Jackson County Fiscal Court, a committee was created (and members appointed) that would meet and subsequently provide recommendations to the fiscal court regarding details of a proposed Jackson County Park / Fairgrounds project in Jackson County. An effort was made to have the members represent a wide range of interests in the county. The 11 members appointed included Chairman Brian Murray (JC Fair Board), Kathy Spurlock (JC Off-Roaders), Erik Hubbard (Backroads of Appalachia), Shane Gabbard (JC Fiscal Court), Greg Lakes (JC Tourism), Ashley Wagers (JC Public Library), Keith Gabbard (Kiwanis), Rodney Chrisman (JCDA), Secretary Devonna Hisel (JC Saddle Club), Judy Schmitt (JC Grant Writers), and Tim Truett (State Representative).
This group meets regularly and discusses pertinent details of the proposed Park/Fairgrounds before making recommendations to the magistrates that comprise the Jackson County Fiscal Court. The public is also invited to attend planned informational meetings, as well as fiscal court meetings, to offer suggestions and recommendations. A fiscal court vote by the magistrates will always make the final decisions.
County Judge Executive Shane Gabbard spoke to those assembled and noted that this was a monumental, history-making project. Judge Gabbard recognized that September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and dedicated the project to all the children that, due to illness, will never get a chance to play on these fields or enjoy the fair.
Praxel President Dylan Carpenter spoke saying, “Today we break ground on history. This project means more than money to me. Our grandkids will be playing on these fields.”
The project has been in development for some time. State Representative Tim Truett spoke of a vision that he, Judge Gabbard, and other leaders and citizens within Jackson County have for this key community project within the City limits of McKee. The leadership in Jackson County has repeatedly identified the need for a multipurpose complex in a central location to allow outdoor recreational activities. Representative Truett emphasized that, although the project requires substantial funding, it will cost Jackson County and the fiscal court “zero” dollars.
The project began to take shape as reality when State Representative Timmy Truett shared some wonderful news with the community at the start of 2024. After a lot of work and discussions with his colleagues in Frankfort, Representative Truett and Senator Stivers successfully secured $4 million to help develop this recreational complex near the city of McKee. Representative Truett commented, “I’m super excited about the fact that we were able to secure the funding for our JC Sportsplex project. I couldn’t wait to see this project started and how it will impact our county in the years to come. A huge thank you to Senate President Robert Stivers for helping with this, his being our senator is a huge deal. Without Senator Stivers’ support this project would not have happened. Dirt should be moved in 2-3 months and then construction of 4 softball/baseball fields, amphitheater, and a multipurpose fairground pavilion should be started and finished before next spring/summer.”
Senator Stivers spoke to the group and applauded the community initiative. “If you always do what you have always done, then you always get what you have always got.” “This project will not only impact Jackson County but the entire region. This project will improve the quality of life and bring people to our region to stay.”
One of the necessary steps was to hold community meetings to solicit input from county citizens and stakeholders in the project. State Representative Tim Truett facilitated the first of these community meetings at the Jackson County Extension Office Conference Center at the beginning of February 2024. A second community meeting was held on September 28, 2024 at the Jackson County Public Library. The purpose of these meetings was to maintain transparency and keep the public informed of the status of the project as well as continuing to solicit input from the public stakeholders regarding project priorities.
Another purpose of the meeting was to gauge community support for various draft aspects of this future vision for Jackson County as well as continue to glean ideas and generate a wish list of facilities and opportunities that residents would like to see brought to the community. A survey was completed during the 2024 Jackson County Fair asking residents (96) and non-residents (16) what features they would consider important for recreational areas, trails, Fair Grounds/Event Areas, as well as any others. Over half of those surveyed were between the ages of 10-39 with the majority in that age group being 10-19.
A very rough, preliminary strawman map was prepared and used by the group(s) to show where the property is located and to brainstorm ideas. Representative Truett clarified that, of course, nothing is set in stone, and this type of project (or any of the proposed attendant features) is in any way guaranteed.
The land to build it on was the first thing needed. Approximately 100 acres of land within the City of McKee just off McCammon Ridge Road with relatively flat topography that could be developed was identified. The $4 million dollars secured by Representative Truett and Senator Stivers allowed the land to be purchased. The land has also been successfully surveyed. Approximately $328,000 (of the $4 million) has been spent on land purchasing and surveying. The contract for the earthwork was for $825,000. The remainder of the funding is earmarked for the project and can’t be spent on anything else. The next steps include the development of necessary infrastructure, such as adequate access roads, electricity, water, parking, etc.
The hope is to create a project that is self-sustainable and one that can also be expanded upon with additional grants and funding as they become available and as new opportunities and identification of needs arise.
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