Business & Tech
Lake Saint Louis' National Equestrian Center: 'Best Showplace in Midwest'
National Equestrian Center Lake Saint Louis receives March Business Spotlight Award from the St. Charles County Economic Development Roundtable.
The St. Charles County Economic Development Roundtable presented its Business Spotlight Award to a Lake Saint Louis-based business for “being a popular tourism destination annually attracting an estimated 100,000 visitors to regional and national equestrian and canine competitions and other special events,” the organization said in a press release.
“The National Equestrian Center Lake Saint Louis is one of the best kept tourism secrets in St. Charles County,” said Eric Sterman, assistant city administrator for the
The , located at 6880 Lake Saint Louis Blvd., received the award for the month of March. NEC has been in business in Lake Saint Louis for 13 years. Its facility features an outdoor arena, as well as two indoor arenas. The facility also has trailer and RV areas.
There’s a reason NEC is called the best showplace in the Midwest, and it doesn’t have much trouble staying booked, according to Sterman, who said it’s got quite a waiting list for events.
“The facility is already booked three years in advance for a wide variety of equestrian and canine championships and special events,” he said. “The City of Lake Saint Louis is proud to be home to this popular and highly successful local landmark.”
NEC hosts several major events, some of which include the following.
- North Amerian Gaited Pleasure Championships
- St. Louis National Charity Saddlebred
- Irish Fox Stables Hunter/Jumper Show
- Central States Showdown (Team Roping)
- Cowboy Mounted Shooting
- Gateway Dog Agility
The Business Spotlight Award is presented to a different St. Charles County-based company every month by the Economic Development Roundtable. Winners are selected based on criteria such as investment, economic impact, job growth, civic involvement and entrepreneurial success.
“Successful entrepreneurs are those who ‘dream during the day with their eyes wide open,” the EDC says on its website. “They take risks, work long hours, make important sacrifices for their goals, and turn obstacles into opportunities.”
Other recent winners have included Baue Funeral Homes, Crematory and Cemetery; Respond Right EMS Academy; LMI Aerospace, Inc.; Synergetics USA, Inc. and Development Dynamics, LLC