A Hidden History: Riverside’s Forgotten Fairgrounds

If you travel north out of downtown Riverside on Market Street, go past the entrance of Fairmount Park,  and you will see the old Union Pacific steam engine #6051. Then turn right on Fairmount Blvd, go under the 60 Freeway, and immediately turn left on the first street. As you turn, look at the name of this street – Fairgrounds Street.  What is the history and story behind this short street hidden along the freeway in an industrial area?

You need to go back 110 years to 1914 to discover the meaning behind this street name. In January 1914, the Riverside County Fair Association decided to purchase 41 ½ acres of land on the north side of Riverside from the Evans family for a new fairground. The site was along Crestmore Ave., just a short distance north of Fairmount Park. The purchase price was $12,750, or about $300 an acre. The Cresent City Railroad ran alongside the new site and provided great transportation for people to reach the fair. 

On April 10 of that year, a groundbreaking ceremony was held with much fanfare. A parade formed on Main Street in front of the Riverside County Courthouse, and at 3 p.m., a procession began to the site for the groundbreaking.  The Daily Press reported: “Headed by the Riverside Military Band aboard a Moreland truck, and President J. F. Backstrand, of the County Fair Association, driving his prancing steed, Riverside’s merchants, even to ‘the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker’ turned out in an automobile parade full of 100 machines strong this afternoon to help celebrate the momentous occasion of the first breaking of ground on the new county fairgrounds.”

Work commenced the following Monday, and crews worked furiously to complete the grading for the track and the construction of buildings in time for the fair in October of that year. Work was finished, and the fair opened on Tuesday, October 13, on the new site. The association bragged that the fair would be the largest county fair in the state. 

A half-mile track, one of the best in the state, was laid out and fenced, with a grandstand seating 800 people. Stables for the livestock and other buildings were also present. Nine large tents were erected for automobile displays, agriculture displays and contests, and a restaurant tent.

Opening day was Children’s Day, with athletic events for the children under the supervision of Bob Glover of the local YMCA. In the afternoon, the first races on the new track were held, with horse trotting (also known as harness racing). The Foley & Burke Carnival Company provided amusement and carnival rides and attractions. On the second day, the livestock judging occurred in front of the grandstand in the morning, with more trotting events in the afternoon. Thursday was Sherman Institute Day, and Friday was County Day, with more trotting events each afternoon. Saturday was the final day of the first fair at the new facilities.

The first year at the new fairground was a tremendous success. In 1918, the annual event became the Southern California Fair and continued through 1930. The Great Depression and competition from the newly established Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona brought about its demise. Many extraordinary occurrences at the fairgrounds over the years make stories in themselves. From Warren Roman’s flying escapades to Will Rogers, who starred in the film David Harum, the fairground was a busy place with many more stories to be told.

The racetrack was used for auto races after the fair was no longer held there. In the 1950s, it became De Anza Park Track and was used for motorcycle races. When the 60 Freeway was built, the freeway cut through part of the fairgrounds. In 1960, the city traded what was left of the fairground property to the owner of the Mission Inn, Ben Swig, for the golf course property.

Now, the only reminder of the once sprawling and popular fairgrounds is the street named Fairgrounds St. But 110 years ago, on October 13, the site was filled with activity and was the pride of Riverside.