Tryon Equestrian plans roundabout at Pea Ridge Road

Published 7:26 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2015

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met briefly Tuesday morning, April 7 to approve a resolution endorsing the relocation and TIEC’s request for state funding.

TIEC Managing Partner Mark Bellisimo sent a request to N.C. Senator Ralph Hise and Rep. Chris Whitmire requesting any available funding through the state to assist with the road relocation.

“We have invested approximately $50,000,000 to date on the site and anticipate this total to exceed $100,000,000,” Bellisimo said in his letter to Hise and Whitmire. “Additionally, we will create more than 500 direct jobs for our project and thousands more indirectly to support the project. Because of this substantial investment, we are requesting any available funding to assist with the road relocations.”

Commissioners made it clear during Tuesday’s meeting there will be no county funding towards the road relocation. TIEC is seeking any available assistance from state discretionary funds with TIEC funding the rest of the project.

Bellisimo said TIEC has been able to consolidate additional property on the other side of John Sheehan Road and Pea Ridge Road to provide the area needed to construct a hotel and retail area to support the facility.

Road relocation plans include changing the entrance of John Sheehan Road, where TIEC’s current equestrian park’s entrance is, from Pea Ridge Road to the on ramp of U.S. 74. The plans also include a roundabout and relocating a portion of Pea Ridge Road. The project is estimated at $1.1 million.

“We anticipate generating over 200,000 additional room nights in the immediate vicinity and the hotel will allow some of this demand to be met on site,” Bellisimo said. “However, in order to accomplish this, we need to relocate (a) portion of John Sheehan Road and Pea Ridge Road. We have worked closely with the NCDOT District Office to develop a plan that is consistent with their design requirements and that meets our needs. The estimated cost of the road improvement is $1,100,000.”

TIEC is a 1,400-acre multi-purpose equestrian center and resort located off Pea Ridge Road directly off U.S. 74 in the Green Creek Township of Polk County. Polk County’s resolution states that TIEC will likely become the largest facility of its type in the southeastern United States pending adequate infrastructure to reach its potential.

TIEC currently features five competition equestrian rings and a stadium arena that can seat more than 6,000 spectators. TIEC is planning to host 32 weeks of horse show competition from April-October.

Resolution endorsing the relocation of a portion of John Sheehan and Pea Ridge Roads  

Editor’s note: the following is a resolution approved by the Polk County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 7 endorsing Tryon International Equestrian Center’s requesting available state funding in order to relocate portions of John Sheehan and Pea Ridge Roads off U.S. 74. The plans include a roundabout at the on and off ramp of the Pea Ridge Road exit of U.S. 74.

WHEREAS, Polk County is duly organized and operating under the laws of the state of North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) is a 1,400 acre multi-purpose equestrian center and resort facility on the border of Polk and Rutherford Counties and likely to become the largest facility of its type in the Southeastern United States pending adequate infrastructure for it to reach its potential; and

WHEREAS, TIEC expects to create more than 500 direct jobs for their project which currently features five competition rings and a stadium arena that can seat over 6,000 spectators, will host 32 weeks of horse show competition from April through October, and anticipates generating over 200,000 additional hotel room nights in the immediate area; and

WHEREAS, TIEC has invested approximately $50 million to date on the equestrian center site and anticipates the total to ultimately exceed $100 million; and

WHEREAS, TIEC has purchased property on the other side of John Sheehan Road and Pea Ridge Road to provide for sufficient area to construct a hotel and retail area to support the facility, and is willing to donate the necessary right of way for the needed improvements; and

WHEREAS, TIEC has worked closely with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to develop a plan that is consistent with NCDOT’s design requirements and meets TIEC’s needs; and

WHEREAS, TIEC requests any available state funding to assist with the road relocation.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Polk County Board of Commissioners supports TIEC’s request for state funding.

Adopted this 7h day of April, 2015.