II. Site Evaluation

The site of the future Southeastern Kentucky Agricultural & Exposition Center is located approximately a half mile east of exit 25 on Interstate 75 in Corbin, Kentucky. It is approximately 85 miles north of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee and 90 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky.  The 58-acre property is bound on the west by Interstate 75 and to the north by Cumberland Falls Highway (US Route 25), the main thoroughfare through Corbin.

The new facility will most likely be sited atop the hill behind the new, city-owned technology center.  The useable area will be approximately 30 acres with 12 to 15 acres available at the base of the hill.

The following section presents ERA’s evaluation of the site from a market perspective. 

 Located just east of Interstate 75, the main north/south corridor between Lexington and Knoxville, the site offers good local and regional access.  In addition, the site benefits from excellent visibility from both directions of Interstate 75, as it is elevated above the Cumberland Falls Highway.

 Cumberland Falls State Park, one of Kentucky’s most visited tourist destinations, is located 15 miles from the center of Corbin. This attraction draws visitors from Kentucky and surrounding states.  The Corbin Tourist Bureau reports that they receive approximately 40 to 50 emails a day regarding tourist information for the state park. A new exposition center facility has the potential of drawing these tourists in, making Corbin a destination in its own right.

 The physical attributes of the site appear to be suitable for the purposes of developing a regional exposition center.  While the site must be cleared and graded prior to development, there are approximately 30 acres of land that will be available at the top of the hill and approximately 15 at the base.  

 The immediate surrounding area is considered an established regional center.  It is adjacent to the new technology center utilized by Eastern Kentucky University, as well as the Baptist Regional Medical Center located across the street, which includes a 200-bed hospital, new rehabilitation center, and a long-term care facility.

 Additional locational advantages include adequate visitor amenities, like hotels and restaurants, in the immediate vicinity. There are approximately 340 hotel rooms directly off of Exit 25 and an additional 450 rooms at Exit 29.  Since the city of Corbin enacted the 70/30 alcohol referendum, numerous restaurants and bars have opened in the area, providing entertainment options for potential visitors to extended-stay shows and exhibits.  

 The City of Corbin is considerably smaller than the communities of comparable facilities surveyed.  This could initially preclude the facility from easily booking events without attractive incentive packages for event sponsors.

 More broadly, the site may suffer from the misperception that the facility is for the city of Corbin as opposed to a regional amenity.  This perception may pose an initial challenge to attracting attendees and local events from the immediate Laurel and Knox counties. 

 Overall, ERA has concluded that the City of Corbin is well suited for the Southeastern Kentucky Agricultural & Exposition Center and that it provides excellent local and regional access for potential event attendees.