Local news- Press Release
St Charles County Missouri - County Purchases National Equestrian Center in Lake Saint Louis 03 January 2024 ( news )
St Charles County , state Missouri ( By Press Release office)
Jan 03,2024
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One of the few remaining places for big horse shows in the St . Louis region will soon become part of the St . Charles County Parks system .
The National Equestrian Center ( NEC ) , a 54 - acre site at 6880 Lake Saint Louis Blvd . , is being sold to St . Charles County for $5 . 9 million , following a unanimous vote by the County Council in October .
St . Charles County Parks Director Ryan Graham says there’s nothing like the NEC for hundreds of miles around .
“Without the NEC , your big horse shows that need room to stable hundreds of horses , they just couldn’t fit anywhere else around here , ” Graham says . “They’d have to go to either Sedalia , Mo . or Springfield , Ill . ”
In the past , Queeny Park in St . Louis County hosted equestrian competitions , but now it hosts only one a year on a much smaller scale focused on cross country trials . Boone County had also operated an equestrian facility at one time , but no more .
“It’s a tourism destination that attracts people from around the country , and we look forward to carrying on the tradition of hosting high quality equestrian events , and expanding the operations and offerings of the center , ” Graham says .
Graham says the site could be used for horse - related events and other things—everything from rodeos to music festivals , barbecue competitions , car shows , cornhole tournaments , antique shows , flea markets , dog shows and more . It also provides the opportunity to introduce kids and families to the art of riding , handling , and training horses and the recreational , emotional , and therapeutic benefits of doing so .
The site features three arenas , six barns , 585 horse stalls , 63 camping spaces and almost four acres under roof . The main show area features more than 5 , 000 square feet of upper - level banquet space that can seat up to 250 people overlooking the arena . This space is available to rent for birthday parties , wedding receptions and special occasions .
Purchased in the 1990s by Carmelo Natoli ( of Natoli Engineering fame ) , the center has been managed by Dale Natoli , whose vision made the NEC a nationally known venue for horse shows and competitions . With developers seeking to convert the site to new homes , Dale Natoli approached the County about sale of the property to preserve equestrian use and greenspace around the facility . Graham acknowledged that this acquisition wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity and willingness of the Natoli family to sell the property at below the appraised value , which amounts to a donation of the difference to St . Charles County .
Plans call for keeping the center fully operational with its existing show schedule , while the County Parks Department takes over day - to - day administration . The new park will complement two other County parks where horseback riding trails are provided: Broemmelsiek Park and Indian Camp Creek Park .
County Executive Steve Ehlmann has attended horse shows at the facility and has been impressed with the operation and pledges to maintain the same high standards .
In recognition of Carmelo Natoli and Dale Natoli’s vision for the NEC , the large arena will be renamed “the Natoli Arena . ”
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