Robert Stone of Sturgeon says that he, along with Tony Stuart of Sturgeon, Curt Hardin, Dave Babel and Carl Edwards, Sr. of Columbia, have purchased outright, or signed contracts for, 440 acres of property that comprise the northeast corner of the intersection of Highways 22 and 63 commonly known as Collier’s Junction.

The location was chosen by the following criteria, said Stone: Existing highway infrastructure, access to major thoroughfares, low residential impact and the ability to put together a large enough tract of ground. “This is one of the locations that fits all the business plan objectives that are required of a project of this nature.”

The purchase was made under the auspices of the Nighthawk Development Corporation, of which Stone serves as general operations director.

Their plans for the area include, said Stone: a full service national brand travel center; a fine dining establishment and entertainment lodge; a 240,000 square foot, 7,500 seat multipurpose coliseum and outdoor arena, a national chain hotel, a recreational vehicle park, a business park and a motor sports complex.

Plans for the motor sports aspect of the complex include a small circle dirt track, a paved course, a paved drag strip and a motocross course.

The coliseum will be floored with “engineered dirt,” said Stone, which should produce very little dust. Stuart said that surface will enable the complex to host indoor motocross and go kart races during the winter months, traditionally a down time for those Midwestern enthusiasts who don’t want to travel to warmer climates to compete.

“We were amazed at all the people that were at these little bitty race tracks,” said Stuart recounting how he and Stone would take their children to go kart races in Illinois.

“It was a very family-oriented atmosphere. We stayed at a hotel, and ate at restaurants,” said Stone. “Some of these events lasted three days. You used to be able to do this around here. We’re hoping to bring this market back to Mid-Missouri.”

Regarding the motor sports aspect of the complex, Edwards said his son, Carl Edwards, Jr., a nationally-known NASCAR driver, had sent a “letter of interest” regarding participating and promoting the project.

Stuart said the coliseum would offer 80,000 square feet of office space. He said the plans also include facilities that could be used to host weddings and banquets. “The building is almost a six acre building,” said Edwards. “We plan to do predominantly horse shows there, but it will lend itself to exhibitions, trade shows and concerts and indoor motor sports.”

Additionally, the project would include a fire station for the Southeast Randolph County Fire Protection district. “We are looking to establish a new fire station on that property,” said Stone. It will also have its own water tower and wastewater treatment facility.

One request of the Randolph County Commission was to make the facility “as green as possible,” said Stone. He said planned green aspects would include recycling, green space and lakes.

He noted the group had commissioned a Phase 2 Environmental study, and initial cleanup of the site of the old filling station would cost in the neighborhood of $100,000.

Stone said he has encountered very little concern about environmental impact, except perhaps noise from the motor sports. Babel pointed out that there is a buffer-zone of trees along the north and east sides of the complex.

“At $45 million it is not a small project,” said Stone. He said the project is designed to serve the US 63 corridor and attract visitors and business from across the Midwest to a recreation and entertainment center featuring a variety of venues.

“You’re not just recycling local dollars with this project,” said Stone. “It will bring in outside dollars.”

The group had commissioned an economic impact study of the area. The first year of business, said Stone, the project should draw approximately $27 million in commerce to within a 30-mile area of the intersection. By the second year that number should increase to $49 million, he said. Stone said the complex should employ approximately 125 people.

Stone predicted the development would benefit the school district by attracting new residents and residential development to the area.

“We saw there was a need for this medium market facility, there are large facilities that will seat 15,000-plus,” said Stone, a Hallsville R-IV graduate and former U.S. Marine. “But there are no facilities that will seat this type of crowd. Having an engineered dirt-floor arena enables us to do many of the projects we’ve talked about; the motor sports, the horse events, the concerts. You could have your concert on Wednesday night and Thursday, Friday and Saturday have a national horse event.”

Edwards said the equestrian events would be large enough to merit national television coverage.

Stone said once the area is approved as a TIF Redevelopment District construction will start immediately with the travel center, approximately June 2008. Stone said ideally construction on coliseum would begin that fall.

Stone and his partners have approached the Randolph County Commission for a TIF redevelopment project there. Stone announced the project to the world at large when he spoke to the Sturgeon R-V School Board, of which he is a member, about them appointing two members to the TIF commission. The board appointed Stan Ingraham, R-V superintendent, and Doug Bowne, school board member. The nine-member commission will be made up of representatives of each of the tax accessing entities with domain over the area.