Warren County to sell fairgrounds to city of Lebanon

Formal agreement to be presented in the fall.
The Warren County Board of Commissioners and Lebanon City Council announced a plan Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, to sell the 94-acre fairgrounds to the city. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

The Warren County Board of Commissioners and Lebanon City Council announced a plan Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, to sell the 94-acre fairgrounds to the city. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Warren County will sell the 94-acre fairgrounds property to the city of Lebanon to boost the county seat.

With the fairground’s existing financial and operational model no longer viable, city ownership is expected to unlock new economic investment opportunities and opens doors to state and federal grants to energize North Broadway Street while preserving the county’s rich agricultural heritage, county commissioners announced in a statement released Friday afternoon.

“We’re excited to partner with the city of Lebanon to support its vision for a thriving downtown and expanded North Broadway corridor,” the statement read. “At the same time, we honor our agricultural past by preserving the fairgrounds, sustaining youth development and ensuring those traditions remain part of our future.”

The city and county have not yet disclosed the financial details of the planned sale. A formal agreement will be presented this fall to both the commission and city council for approval.

“This partnership between Warren County and the city of Lebanon is a clear example of how thoughtful collaboration can fuel economic vitality without compromising the character that makes Lebanon unique,” Mayor Mark Messer said. “This investment ensures the Warren County Fairgrounds will remain a place where our history is honored and reimagined; and where families, youth and local industry continue to thrive.”

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