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When the state fair announced it had purchased the Meadow Farm in Caroline County, early 2004 was set as the likely time for the public unveiling.
It's early 2004, and the veil is still on.
While the internal planning process has advanced since the July announcement, details of the fair's plan are still vague.
No site plan has been filed and no presentation has been made to Caroline's Board of Supervisors. But some preliminary work has been done.
A marketing study projects 305,885 visitors over 11 days. A traffic-impact analysis recommends widening State Route 30 to four lanes from Paramount's Kings Dominion to the entrance to the fair site.
It also recommends an additional turn lane onto Route 30 from Interstate 95's southbound ramp.
Those improvements would handle fair traffic, which is expected to average 17,000 cars on Saturdays and Sundays during the event.
At this point, it is not known how much those new roads would cost, who would pay for them or when they'd be built.
Other issues are outstanding. The fair would need water and sewer connections. Caroline doesn't have either service in the area.
Nearby Hanover County does have extra capacity at one of its treatment plants. But John Hodges, Hanover's deputy county administrator, said the fair is expected to address water and sewer issues on site.
The state fair hopes to relocate to Caroline by 2006, when its lease expires at its current site in Henrico.
Atlantic Rural Exposition Inc., the company that runs the fair, is in the midst of a leadership change. Otis Brown, ARE's president since 1989, steps down Feb. 26. Taking his place is Curry Roberts, former chief executive officer and president of PM Holdings.
"It's a little premature to talk about plans," said fair spokesman Jay Lugar. "We're kind of early in our process."
Caroline Economic Development Director Gary Wilson said he imagines the leadership switch has slowed development of the fair's master plan.
"When you're switching the top person in the organization, you simply run into delays," Wilson said. "That's where we're at, patiently waiting for them to bring the new team to the table."
Wilson said he has met briefly with Roberts and will meet soon with fair representatives to get a better sense of a timetable.
"The client coming in the community drives the deal," Wilson said. "It's what works for them, what makes them comfortable. As that work proceeds, we'll be ready to receive them. We're on their time schedule."
Neighbors of the 347-acre farm say they know little of the fair's plans.
"We assume it's all been decided, a done deal basically," said Neal Parsons, who lives a mile from Meadow Farm, once home to Triple Crown winner Secretariat. "There is a very high frustration, because we have been totally left out of the process."
Supervisor D.M. "Maxie" Rozell, who represents the area, said he expects public presentations will be made during the next six months.
Rozell said he has met twice with fair officials.
"Both times, it was no new information," he said. "It's all preliminary. The ball is really in their court."
Supervisors are also looking to the future on a request to the General Assembly to allow the county to levy an admissions tax. A bill was submitted this year, then withdrawn after it failed to garner the support of state Sen. Bill Bolling, R-Hanover.
"We hope to have the bill reintroduced again next year," County Administrator Percy Ashcraft said. "We want to pursue it aggressively, with or without Bolling's support."
To reach ROB DAVIS: 540/374-5418 rdavis@freelancestar.com