Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Camp Keys Fairgrounds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fair board seeks roughly 100 acres at Camp Keys to relocate fairgrounds; county asks for policy discussion
Summary
The Collier County Agricultural & Fair Exposition asked to buy about 100 acres of county-owned Camp Keys property to relocate the Collier County Fair; the commission paused the item for additional policy consideration and related land‑swap activity with Baron Collier Companies.
The Collier County Board of County Commissioners received a letter of interest from the Collier County Agricultural & Fair Exposition Inc. asking to purchase roughly 100 developable acres of the county’s Camp Keys property for relocation of the county fair and associated community events. Commissioners paused the matter for further policy discussion rather than taking immediate action.
Trinity Scott, the county transportation management services department head, told the board the county acquired the Camp Keys property in March 2021 and that the parcel comprises just over 1,000 acres. Scott said the fair board’s supplemental May 2025 letter asked for “100 plus or minus acres of developable acres, with access to Oil Well Road,” and that the fair board seeks ownership to become eligible for broader capital funding, such as grants.
Why it matters: Relocating the fairgrounds would change land use, require infrastructure (utilities extension was noted as being welcomed by Abe Maria Utilities) and affect long-term County property planning. The county is also negotiating a potential 439-acre swap with Baron Collier Companies; staff said appraisals completed in January 2025 put the market value of Camp Keys at $20,250 per acre while the county paid about $13,000 per acre when acquiring the property.
Commissioner James McDaniel urged the board not to rush on policy and suggested continuing substantive policy discussion so the county can properly evaluate equitable return of taxpayer funds and clear terms. The commission ultimately did not direct a sale at the meeting and deferred further policy-level discussion.
What was said: Scott explained the fair board’s rationale: ownership would expand access to capital and allow the fair to host concerts, arts-and-crafts shows and passive recreational uses similar to its current operations; the fair’s lease on its existing site runs through 02/1937, Scott said (as stated in the presentation). Commissioners noted the county has interest in capturing fair-board proceeds to regain acquisition costs including financing interest if property is sold below current market value.
Next steps: County staff said they are working on the previously discussed Baron Collier property exchange and will return with recommended terms and any purchase-and-sale agreement for a portion of Camp Keys if the board elects to proceed. The board requested that policy issues be discussed in a future meeting rather than acted on at the May 27 session.
