The King County Fair has fallen on tough times. Record hot weather kept the crowds down this year. And when the fair closes up and leaves town, this place turns into a ghost town.

But if you stop and listen, you can hear the approaching hooves of a brand new attraction. Enumclaw is home to thousands of horses and horse owners who may soon be heading to a remodeled fairground.

Plans are in the works to make it a first-class equestrian center with a huge indoor arena along with restaurants and shops.

"I think it's a really good deal," said horse owner Tom Stumpf. "There are a lot of horses around here and it would be really nice to have some place to go."

The first step was taken Tuesday when King County Executive Ron Sims announced a plan to hand over the fairgrounds to the city of Enumclaw free and clear.

"You know they can do it," Sims said. "At first, there was a reluctance to hand over the fairgrounds since we've had it forever. But they brought such enthusiasm and such commitment to make the equestrian center happen. The entire community got behind it.”

Enumclaw Mayor John Wise added, "So we have all of this acreage for the future of Enumclaw to develop something that really works for us which we think is an equestrian facility."

Wise says it would operate year-round and draw horse events from all over the country.

"We're horse people out here in Enumclaw," said Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Rigg. "It's definitely an equestrian area. And also it would bring a lot of great economic development to the area and bring more tourists into town."

The chamber says Enumclaw needs an economic boost and the gift of the fairgrounds is just what they need to turn the area into a major equine tourist attraction.

The handover of ownership still needs county council approval. If plans go as expected, the equestrian center could be ready in about three years. The county fair would still be held there.