County hears public-private fairgrounds concept; education foundation asks to stay at Tavares site one more year

A private developer presented a conceptual plan Oct. 14 for a new Lake County fairgrounds and 150,000-square-foot event center on an approx. 68-acre site on County Road 448. The county voted to let the developer continue due diligence and cost analysis and encouraged the developer to explore a near-term partnership with the Lake County Education Foundation, which asked the board for a one-year lease extension to keep the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Fair at its current Tavares location while the foundation and county evaluate longer-term options.

County staff told commissioners the site has infrastructure-sales-tax funding and a $2 million state appropriation already allocated; staff also said master planning work funded earlier can be paused while the privately led concept and cost model are analyzed. Emily Colon, speaking for the private group American Event Management (AE Management), described a conceptual layout that includes an indoor event center, outdoor event lawns, rides and parking; she said the developer would advance site-level cost work and return with detailed estimates later this year.

Education Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth (surname not specified) told commissioners the fair is the foundation’s largest fundraiser and reported a recent economic impact estimate of about $4.8 million. She asked for a one-year extension to avoid moving vendors and performers on short notice; foundation staff said moving the fair to a more remote site risked a 20–30% attendance decline and a corresponding loss to school-district funding.

Commissioners voted to allow the private developer to continue its analysis and to encourage the developer and the Education Foundation to explore whether the fall 2026 Renaissance Fair could take place at the proposed site or whether alternate arrangements (including use of the existing county fairgrounds or other county properties) would better preserve attendance and fundraising. No binding county financial commitment was made; commissioners asked staff to return with the developer’s cost analysis and any formal financing or partnership requests before a vote on construction or lease terms.