Over the years, the Merced County Fairgrounds’ buildings have housed everything from a fire station and a temporary college campus to a preschool program and a county library branch – and then there’s the annual fair and the building rentals for events.

When it came to the buildings’ names, it was confusing because many of the structures were named based on what they were used for years ago. For example, the building that displays junior arts and crafts exhibits during fairtime has been called the “Cafeteria” for a long time, but it hasn’t been used for that purpose in decades, said the Fair’s CEO Tom Musser.

And on top of that, some of the buildings have been given different names at fairtime. So to eliminate any confusion about which building is which, the fairgrounds buildings have been given new names that will remain the same year round. “This way we won’t have to keep renaming the buildings, it gives them identity,” Musser said, adding, “It’s also a safety issue, so that if there’s a 911 call from the fairgrounds because someone is having a heart attack, they can tell them exactly what building they’re in, they won’t have to guess.”

The new building names, approved by the Merced County Fair’s Board of Directors at their Jan. 11 meeting, are inspired by Merced County and nearby Yosemite National Park. The Directors’ Lounge (Rock House) is now El Capitan Lodge; the Home Arts Building is now Tioga Hall; Floriculture is now Bridal Veil Gardens; the Commerce Building is Yosemite Hall; the Cafeteria is now Sierra Hall; the Pavilion is the Merced Pavilion; the Ag Exhibit building is Half Dome Hall; the Junior Building is San Joaquin Hall; the Saloon/Dance Slab is The Junction and the Beer Garden is Bear Creek Plaza.

To see a fairgrounds map, go to the Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com and click on “facilities map.”

The theme of the 2010 Merced County Fair, June 15-20, is "Wetlands, Water and Wildlife.” For more information, including building rental information, call 722-1507, email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com, fax at 722-3773 or go to the fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com