Gallatin County Fairgrounds upgrades Anderson Arena with pavement that won’t buckle under pressure

Ranch-tough footing just in time for the 2026 rodeo season.

“We wanted to see what permeable paving could do to improve our public spaces. Anderson Arena is challenged by seasonal flooding and mud, so it was the perfect place to start. TrueGrid is a game-changer.”
- Caitlin Quisenberry, Gallatin County Fairgrounds Director

Challenge

Gallatin County Fairgrounds is the epitome of Western Montana culture. Home of the Big Sky Country State Fair and the consistently sold-out weekly Valley View Rodeo in the Summer, they have their work cut out for them to maintain this 78-acre venue for some of Montana’s biggest crowds.

One of the largest outdoor arenas in Montana, this fairgrounds hosts a huge line-up of rodeos and concerts, including performances in 2026 by Chase Rice, Morgan Wade, and Stone Temple Pilots. The Fairgrounds has to maintain an updated facility to handle crowds of 1,500 in the grand stand and up to 5,000 for concerts.

But Rocky Mountain weather doesn’t care about the Summer fun calendar. So when harsh storms arrive, every outdoor Montana venue takes a hit. Anderson Arena is no stranger to that. Crowds went wild for Valley View Rodeo’s 4th of July event in 2025, even though intense rainfall brought on a torrential downpour, soaking the arena ground and creating a muddy mess for patrons.

The Fairgrounds needed a solution for stable and durable pedestrian traffic in the rodeo event center. And sustainable construction is a top priority. That’s why they turned to Montana Hardscape Hub and TrueGrid permeable pavers for a long-lasting and practical paving solution.

The stability of the area between the grandstand and the arena was top priority, as it is both the “home” of the Valley View Rodeo VIP Pen and also a main pedestrian thoroughfare for the State Fair rodeo, concerts and other events. Excessive water pooling and mud don’t make for an ideal attendee experience.

AFTER:
Anderson Arena’s VIP Pen during the season opening Valley View Rodeo crowd June 2026

BEFORE:
Anderson Arena’s VIP Pen during a torrential downpour July 4th, 2025 with a sold-out Valley View Rodeo crowd

Solution

Gallatin County Fairgrounds opted to install TrueGrid permeable pavers to ensure durability to handle thousands of regular footfalls and stability for the tables and patrons of the VIP area.

Considerations for the project were:

Superior patron experience. Permeability to absorb and filter rainwater back into the ground and to prevent pooling and mud
Project do-ability. Use facilities staff to do the work with on-site equipment, saving additional cost to outsource equipment and labor
Minimal on-going maintenance. Reduce requirement to regrade and maintain gravel areas.
Sustainability. Use natural and recycled materials

The Fairgrounds’ top-notch maintenance and construction crew was able to squeeze the installation between other time-sensitive projects in time for the busy Summer rodeo season.

Here’s how they did it:

The crew excavated the 1,600 square foot area to a depth of 8 inches, compacted the ground, then framed out the area with pressure treated 2x8 lumber.
For the base prep, a sturdy non-woven fabric was laid and stapled to separate the organic material from the base, then 6 inches of ¾ inch crushed aggregate (45 cubic yards) was spread and compacted in 2 flights.
Next came laying the TrueGrid PRO PLUS permeable pavers, which snapped easily together in less than an hour. To top it off, ¾ inch crush (15 cubic yards) was added into the TrueGrid cells using a skid steer to dump and back drag over the empty cells and finish with rakes.

excavation, framing, fabric

compacted base layer

TrueGrid PRO PLUS laid

“Our crew got the whole project done in just a few days. We were amazed by how fast the TrueGrid went in. This is a major improvement to the rodeo experience.”

- Ben Hughes, Gallatin County Fairgrounds Facility Maintenance Supervisor

Result

Although it was the first time this crew had installed TrueGrid, the project was completed in 3 days with a 3-person team. The finished ground was night and day from where it started. Not only is the area stable for picnic tables and pedestrian traffic, it’s also tough enough to handle maintenance vehicles and heavy equipment that pass through in between events.

The Fairgrounds is ready to go for the Summer event series at Anderson Arena, kicking off June 4th with Valley View Rodeo. Check out all Summer has in store here.

TrueGrid is the world’s strongest permeable paver. Used in grass and gravel paving, it’s strong enough to park a crane on, stand up to Montana’s tough climate and snow plowing, and still last for decades.

Contact Montana Hardscape Hub here to learn if TrueGrid can solve you commercial , farm & ranch or residential paving problem.