MIDLAND, Texas — Since taking ownership of the Horseshoe, Midland County Commissioners and director Ken Olson had one key goal;
“Try to make it as easy and convenient and still beneficial for the renter, beneficial for the county. Keep everybody happy.”
What makes people happier than food? Enjoying a meal and a drink wasn’t always part of the Horseshoe experience, but that's changing.
"Vending machines came into play a while back, several months back now," Olson said. "It was six or eight originally installed. We've added a few more given the popularity and the large scale of some events in the pavilion so we did double up and now we have 11 total on site between snacks and beverages."
Olson mentioned that food trucks are also allowed as long as they follow the guidelines in place.
The next step would be adding in-house food and drink options to give renters even more choices. The in-house concessionaire would ideally handle catering, alcohol and concessions.
If that wasn't enough, the Horseshoe will continue it's approved vendor list.
"You could pick from select businesses that can handle those types of needs that are out in the community, not just the one internal concessionaire," Olson said.
Commissioners will decide on a potential fee for vendors, but once everything is in place, it's all about providing the best service possible.
Olson said, "It's the communities building we want it to be used. It is used, we're trying to make it as easy as possible, as efficient as possible. We want to make it a positive experience for them and we want to make it beneficial for us in the county as well."