Virginia City tourism goal: $250,000 events venue

Virginia City will invest more than $250,000 in an arena and fairgrounds to handle nearly 5,000 people at events, the Storey County community’s tourism director said Monday.

“With limited expansion options available,” said Deny Dotson, tourism director for the Virginia City Tourism Commission, “Storey County Tourism officials identified several privately owned (property) parcels and are working on a long-term agreement to develop a new facility to accommodate a handful of our current events, but also pave the way for our future.”

He said Virginia City relies heavily on bringing in visitors, “and this is going to make a difference.”

The arena and fairgrounds location is three blocks southeast of the main road of C Street where there is a flat 15-acre parcel on F Street, according to a release, which said “to bring the venue up to speed” over three years would cost more than $250,000. That includes rental costs, ground work and purchase of an arena and seating, according to the Dotson release.