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Festival scouts for possible home in Hernando
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando County's tourism future might lie about 500 years in the past. Officials from the Bay Area Renaissance Festival, a six-week spring celebration of all things 16th century, toured eastern Hernando Wednesday in search of a possible new home. The event must move because the city of Largo, where the festivities have taken place for 23 years, has evicted the event to make room for a new library. Organizer Jim Peterson liked what he saw after visiting potential sites, including 375-acre Lake Townsend Regional Park. "What could be more beautiful than Hernando County?" Peterson said Thursday. He stressed that no decision had been made for new festival grounds and that his company was searching throughout the Bay area for the best location. Peterson praised county officials for actively pursuing the event, saying he otherwise might not have looked at Hernando County. Commissioner Betty Whitehouse initiated the contact. She learned a few weeks ago that the organization was looking at spots in Pasco County and immediately told staffers to see if Hernando might get in on the action. "I just thought, this is something that would add to Hernando County and certainly become a special event for people," Whitehouse explained. "If we didn't call and say, "Come look and see what we have to offer,' then nobody (would) know what we have to offer. My feeling was, if Pasco County can try to get it, then why can't we?" A renaissance festival, with its full-armored jousting tournaments and sword-swallowing shows, would fit perfectly in the county's landscape, she said. "I had been to the one in Shakopee, Minn., and also the one in Kansas City," Whitehouse said. "I really found them to be wholesome family activities." Parks director Pat Fagan said the festival was looking for a long-term lease on at least 150 acres, preferably near major roads so people don't get lost looking for it. He said the staff had looked at several properties and had created a list that Peterson could consider. Some of the sites, such as the Sand Hill Boy Scout camp, will not work, Peterson said, but others hold some promise. The best locations will have ample parking close to the festival activities area, he added. "We're going to move as soon as I find a compelling situation," Peterson said. Whitehouse said she had no expectations and just hoped for the best. "We were very pleased that he seemed interested," she said. "We thought it was a very positive meeting." The Bay Area Renaissance Festival has been in Largo Central Park for more than two decades. Peterson estimated that it draws about 80,000 people each year and has an economic impact of close to $9-million. -- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.
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From today's Hernando Times Letters |
