KNOXVILLE, TN (Story courtesy of WVLT) – Officials with the Tennessee Valley Fair have questions about their future in Chilhowee Park.
This comes after the city announced Muse Knoxville would move into the Jacob Building in a couple of years.
The Tennessee Valley Fair utilizes the Jacob Building for some of its events and shopping areas. Fair officials got word of this change at the Jacob Building Monday.
“We learned this news when the public did,” Tennessee Valley Fair marketing director Abby Villas said.
The Tennessee Valley Fair has been at its current site for more than a century to host the fair. After the city’s announcement, they have some questions about their future in the East Knoxville location.
“We just want to know what our place is here. We want to know what we’re going to be able to use building and property wise and what we’re not going to be able to use,” Villas said.
She adds it can be tough to make a quick change to the fair as they plan the yearly 10-day event well in advance.
“It takes us 12-18 months to plan next year’s fair. We are already planning 2026’s fair, so that hurts us when we don’t know exactly what’s going on,” Villas said.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon addressed this at the Muse Knoxville announcement Monday.
“After the ’26 fair season, Muse, if all goes as planned, would be occupying the Jacob Building or probably be under construction so the fair could still very well be here at Chilhowee Park, just not using that space,” Kincannon said.
This change not only impacts the Tennessee Valley Fair, but other events at the Jacob Building. Remote Area Medical hosts its free health care clinic in Knoxville there.
Chief Operating Officer for RAM, Chris Hall, said, “We also know that the community around there are needing our help, are needing our services. The dentists, the optometrists, the medical doctors so we’ll be looking for other locations where we can host that event.”
Hall said he’s happy the space will be used for Muse Knoxville as they look for a new location in the future. He mentioned potentially moving to a couple places which include the Knoxville Expo Center, Knoxville Convention Center or a local high school, which is what they do in other parts of the country.
Villas said she’d like to see the fair stay in Chilhowee Park.
“It’s our home. We would love to be here. Without knowing the plans that’s taking place here, we’re not exactly sure what we can say about our future here,” Villas said.
A city spokesperson told WVLT News conversation are expected to continue between the city and fair officials about the future of the Tennessee Valley Fair and potentially keeping it in Chilhowee Park.
MUSE KNOXVILLE TO EXPAND INTO JABOB BUILDING AT CHILHOWEE PARK
KNOXVILLE, TN (Story courtesy of WVLT) – Muse Knoxville announced plans on Monday to expand into the historic Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park.
Officials said the expansion would increase the space available for the children’s science museum from 10,000 square feet to nearly 57,000 square feet.
It’s something that is set to become a reality thanks to donor support and a possible new lease agreement with the City of Knoxville.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a world-class, all-ages science museum right here in Knoxville – one that is hands-on, play-based, and designed with our community’s voice at the center,” said Allison Comer, Muse Knoxville’s president and CEO. “We are deeply grateful to the City, to our supporters, and to every single community member who has made this vision possible. This is truly Knoxville’s museum, and we can’t wait to build it together.”
The expanded museum will feature immersive exhibit zones, including robotics, energy, transportation and engineering.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said the Jacob Building is a natural fit for the museum’s vision.
“The Jacob Building sits next door to Muse Knoxville’s current location in Chilhowee Park and is a natural fit for their vision,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon. “This is a win-win for the city, and we are excited to know that the often under-utilized Jacob Building will now host thousands of families each year at a top-notch science museum.”
The new lease agreement must be approved by Knoxville City Council before it goes into effect this fall. Officials added that all current commitments and scheduled events at the Jacob Building through the fall of 2026 will be fulfilled.
The museum hopes to open inside the Jacob Building by the summer of 2028.
