Calistoga council approves resolution to pursue $2 million purchase of Napa County Fairgrounds

The Calistoga City Council voted to approve a resolution authorizing the city to move forward with purchasing roughly 70 acres of Napa County property known as the Fairgrounds for $2,000,000 and to begin the initial steps needed to restore the site for public use and emergency operations. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Council member Eisenberg — aye; Council member Cooper — aye; Vice Mayor Lopez Ortega — aye; Mayor Williams — aye. Council member Gift recused herself from the matter because of a property proximity conflict.

The resolution directs staff to conduct due diligence, authorize shifting of funds for initial work, and begin hiring a fairgrounds revitalization director. Mayor Williams said the proposal is intended to transfer custodianship of publicly owned land from the county to the city while maintaining the property’s use as fairgrounds and public open space.

Why it matters: Supporters said recovering the fairgrounds would restore community events, tourism revenue and a designated emergency haven for evacuations. Critics and several speakers during public comment urged caution, noting that the purchase price is only the first cost and that environmental, infrastructure and accessibility liabilities will require significant additional investment.

Mayor Williams framed the transaction as “less about a sale than about stewardship of public property,” describing the $2,000,000 payment as reimbursement to the county for prior investments and underscoring a covenant keeping the property in the public domain. Supervisor Anne Cottrell of the Napa County Board of Supervisors said the county board unanimously approved the county’s side of the agreement and noted the price represented a substantial downward shift from prior proposals: “When I took this seat a year ago, we were looking at a deal with a price tag of $16,000,000 ... to be able to value what the fairgrounds could be for the city community and the county community is powerful,” she said.

Public comment was largely favorable but mixed. Longtime resident and former councilor Jim Barnes praised the council’s work while warning the city would assume extensive liabilities, citing potential asbestos, lead and other environmental and access issues that will require testing and remediation. Others — including local business owners, motorsports enthusiasts and neighbors — urged the council to approve the purchase to revive the racetrack, golf course, campground and event calendar and to restore visitor-driven revenue.

The agreement includes limits the council and members discussed at the meeting: a 25-year cap on outside-vendor lease terms and a requirement that the property be used for historical fairground-type purposes unless negotiated otherwise with Napa County. Council members said they intend to seek flexibility where possible, including asking the county to consider exceptions for potential management agreements that require longer-term leases. Council member Eisenberg urged a comprehensive community survey after acquisition “so that our priorities for improvement reflect our community desires.”

Costs and next steps: Multiple speakers cited an $11 million estimate for full rehabilitation noted in local reporting, but council members and staff characterized such figures as preliminary and said a thorough phase‑2 due diligence effort — including environmental studies and detailed cost estimates — is necessary. The resolution authorizes conducting that due diligence and directs staff to prepare implementation steps, including the potential hiring of a revitalization director and exploring funding sources such as grants, sponsorships and fundraising alongside city funds.

The council recessed briefly after the vote. Staff indicated the county had already approved the agreement and that the city’s next steps will include the planned due diligence, meetings with Napa County officials and public engagement on priorities for renovation and programming.