LORAIN, Ohio — In Lorain, a former landfill that closed in the 1960s is being reborn.

What You Need To Know

  • The Lorain Ohio KartPlex will open in June 

  • It's a motorsports entertainment complex with two outdoor tracks, an indoor track, a restaurant and microbrew, and more

  • The 37-acre facility is being built at the site of an idle landfill

The 37 acres of land will turn into the Lorain Ohio KartPlex. 

“I really believe that this can be the catalyst," owner Kris McCrone said. "You’re going to be making Lorain a destination city for many people.” 

McCrone came up with the idea for the facility five years ago. 

“Building a motorsports entertainment complex in the area to really help the kids in the area, and grow a sport that gave so much to me.” 

McCrone grew up around motor racing. He is a former racer himself, and both his father and older brother were involved in the sport.

“Unlike many other sports, it really provides the opportunity to be involved with the parent," said McCrone. 

He expresses that the opportunity to connect children and parents through a love of racing is a major inspiration for the Lorain Ohio KartPlex. 

“You’re here as a family and you’re here for a long period of time," McCrone said. "So, you learn a lot of great skills like I did as a kid. We now can have an influence on a young boy or girl’s life just around a sport, something exciting right?” 

The complex will have two outdoor tracks. One for professionals and the other for recreational use. It will also have an indoor track, a SIM Center, a restaurant and microbrew, a race shop, garages, and more. Brand Marketing Manager Chris Haynes says all the options are what makes it unique. 

“There’s nowhere around here that’s going to encompass everything that we’re building," Haynes said. "There’s a lot of different ways whether you’re an amateur or professional the facility can cater to you and your family.” 

Another goal of the $12.5 million racing facility is to boost the economy and provide jobs in the City of Lorain. 

“The restaurant, people coming in, hotel stays, dollars being spent here at the facility," McCrone said. "The whole tax base comes back to the city of Lorain which provides us an opportunity to employ people.” 

The kart racing complex will open in June with its first competition event set for July 19. The end goal for McCrone and the complex is for it to become an international attraction. 

“Lorain is the international city," McCrone said. "We want to have international events on this property, right? These are the drivers that ultimately become your F1, IndyCar, and Nascar drivers. The goal is to build a facility that is so world class they don’t just want to come to an event here, but they all want to come spend time here.”