Evergreen Park History - 1970-1994
Spring of 1978 brought the first Grande Prairie Stompede, promoting growth in the chuckwagon industry and attracting a whole new market.
“The new 150 acre fair site, located about two miles south of the city limits, has an estimated price tag of $4.5 million on completion of phase one of the project. Phase one will include a new five-eigth of a mile race track, a grandstand with a 250 seating capacity, three and one half acres of midway, and agri-plex building for exhibiting animals and a 30 capacity horse barn. The track is designed with a new concept of transitional curves. Throughout the planning and development of the fair ground an effort has also been made to follow the natural contour of the land. We also left in as many trees as possible.”
An auction was held in 1982 to raise money so utility bills could be paid. It had rained that year during the fair and construction of the new fair grounds put the Ag Society in a tight spot. The auction was a resounding success. Bert Delaney summed it up: “What came out of this auction that is as important as the money raised is that we built a real community spirit. The total county pitched in!”
The move to the new grounds spawned a number of new organizations that became part of the Evergreen Park family:
- The Whispering Pines Rodeo commenced in 1981.
- The Loggers Association and Game Country Archers were both established in 1982.
- In 1982, a rest cabin was built by the Grande Prairie and District Old Timers Association from the proceeds of their book entitled “Pioneers of the Peace.”
- The first Peace Country Classic Agri-Show which featured an agricultural trade show, a seed show, a purebred livestock show and auction was held in 1986.
- 1987 brought the first Biannual Northern Alberta Forestry Show, including equipment displays, trade booths, lumberjack competitions and seminars.
- The last county fair was held in 1994.