Cowboys have lived in/around Meeker since before the founding of the town, so it's no surprise rodeo, horseback riding, etc... have always been big around Meeker. With this comes needed space to practice and have competitions so fairgrounds have become a big part of the town life. Even today the fairgrounds are used almost every weekend, weather it be from the summer weekly Thursday night rodeo, skijorn in January, or just practice from locals, the fairground are heavily used and enjoyed by the residents of Meeker.
First Fairground Space:
The first fairground space was actually in the middle of town and took up the space that now houses the sheriff's office and courthouse. The whole area was fenced in and spectators would sit/stand just outside of the fence to watch the action. You can see this in the photo below. The photo is taken from Park St and is viewing the fairgrounds as well as the stores on Main St. You can even see some watchers viewing the action from on top of the general store, now the modern day library!
Rodeo Space from Park St in the 1910's.
|
July 4th rodeo in the middle of town in 1913.
|
Current Fairgrounds
The current fairgrounds for Meeker are the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are located at 835 Sulphur Creek Road and are used by the whole county of Rio Blanco, including Rangely. The fairgrounds include a horse racing trach, grand stands, and the 4H building that is used for many events throughout the year.
Overview of the RBC Fairgrounds from the Meeker High School
|
The RBC Fairgrounds and grand stands
|
