Historic Orange County Fairgrounds Keeps Going in Face of Uncertain Future

Home to one of the oldest fairs in New York and one of the oldest continuously operating dirt tracks in the world, Orange County Fairgrounds has managed to keep core traditions alive while adapting to the changing world over the past century. However, the rising operational costs, the ever-diminishing fan base, and the risks of weather uncertainties have rendered the family business unsustainable for its third-generation majority owner and operator, Mike Gurda IV. “We were fortunate enough—a lot of racetracks didn’t survive COVID,” Mr. Gurda told The Epoch Times in his office. “My goal is to keep it going as long as I can … when the time does come for the property to go, I’d like for it to be proper for the community.”...