By VERNON ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
Welcome to Moapa Valley! This is the week that our little town puts on its best for the outside world. The 9,000 some-odd residents of our rural communities are excited to invite the many residents of urban southern Nevada, and the rest of the surrounding region, to drive out to the country for a visit. We welcome all to come, get away from the break-neck city pace, and enjoy small-town country living for a day or two.
The Clark County Fair had its beginnings 50 years ago. But back then it was just the Moapa Valley Fair. The local fair got its start way back in 1965. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t local precursors of the fair before that. But that is the earliest anyone can remember it happening as a formal event.
Of course, back then there were no fairgrounds to hold the event. Rather the fair was held at the Overton Community Center. In those days, that small parking lot and building provided ample space for a small community agricultural festival.
There was also no world-class rodeo, no carnival midway, no junior livestock show back in those early days.
But there was plenty of the small-town charm that is still a hallmark of the Fair. There was artwork from local artists on display. There were numerous handicrafts and quilting exhibits to be seen. There were plenty of homemade pies, cakes, jams, jellies, bottled goods, canned goods and other edible entries provided by local kitchens. There was plenty of home-grown garden produce: vegetables and flowers grown right here in the the community. Though small, this first local fair was a major event for a rural community. And nearly everyone in town was active and involved in some way.
From those humble beginnings, this good ol’ country fair gradually picked up momentum and grew. As the Fair has expanded over the years, it has sought larger venues to accommodate bigger crowds and exhibits. Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, the fair took place at various locations in the community such as the local park, churches and schools.
In the early 1980s, the community decided to pursue a more permanent location for its fair. The Fair Committee at that time was able to obtain 190 acres of ground in Logandale from the BLM. With a grant from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the State Legislature, construction on the new fairgrounds began. Along the way, many local residents contributed funds generously to help in the development of the new fairgrounds.
In 1986 the Moapa Valley Fair officially changed its name to the “Clark County Fair.” And in April 1988, the first Clark County Fair was held at the brand new Logandale Fairgrounds facility.
Since that time, all kinds of bells and whistles have been added to this annual event. And all of the southern Nevada region is invited to Logandale to come and enjoy our hometown party each April. Nowadays the event can bring more than 80,000 people to town for the Fair. It has truly become a world-class event.
But despite its coming of age, the Fair is still, at heart, a down-home local festival. It is still very much dependent on local volunteer efforts. In fact, during Fair Week each year, most Moapa Valley residents put their normal routines aside and pitch-in to help run the Fair. It is a community effort as only a small town can deliver.
That small-town flavor of the Moapa Valley community is what makes this experience so unique. So we would urge fair-going visitors not to just come and leave town without exploring what makes this little community so special and unique. Take a few minutes outside of the fairgrounds to explore and get a little taste of hometown Southern Nevada. There is much to see and do in Moapa Valley in addition to the Fair.
We recommend a visit to the charming and historic Overton downtown district. Eat at any one of the excellent restaurants in the area. Sugar’s restaurant in downtown Overton offers homestyle cooking second to none. The Inside Scoop provides an excellent deli-style experience fused with an old fashioned ice-creamery. There is also Carley’s Pizza that offers friendly service and a fantastic family value. All of these eateries fall within a couple of blocks of each other in downtown Overton along the main highway.
Even closer to the fairgrounds, in Logandale, one can find excellent Chinese cuisine at the VIP Restaurant or pick up a great sub sandwich at Tiffany’s Pie and Subs.
And nearer to the I-15, on the way into the community, the Muddy River Grill in Moapa offers a varied menu including fantastic breakfast and lunch specials, and finger-lickin’ St. Louis-style barbecue rib dinners over the weekend.
Visitors should also take a few moments to scout the Moapa Valley as a destination for future day-trips.
It doesn’t take long to discover why the community has taken on the motto of being Southern Nevada’s Outdoor Playground. This area is truly rich in exciting outdoor adventures. To challenge the avid ATV rider, there is the renown Logandale Trails area. For hikers, there are the dramatic red sandstone formations of the Valley of Fire State Park. We are still the gateway to the north end of Lake Mead and there is still no more beautiful place to launch a boat and enjoy a day on the Lake than Echo Bay resort. Furthermore, with the water levels so low, the historic Moapa Valley ghost town of St. Thomas, submerged back in the 1930s when Hoover Dam was built, is now high and dry. A short hike can take you there to see the enchanting ruins of this remarkable pioneer southern Nevada community.
So we hope all of our visitors will enjoy the Fair this week! It is truly a small-town experience like no other. But also keep in mind that the Moapa Valley can offer much more. While the Fair only lasts one week a year, we can offer all of the quaint charm of the small town experience for only an hour’s drive out of the city. And we offer it every day all year long.
Welcome everyone to Moapa Valley! We hope you enjoy your stay.
