LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) – A historic landmark at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds is destroyed after a suspicious fire early this morning.

The charred framework of the grandstand is all that’s left, built nearly 110 years ago.

“My first response this morning was ‘Oh no!’ It’s just so disappointing,” says Lancaster resident Diana West.

She says she remembers sitting in the grandstand when she was in high school

“It was an important part of Fairfield County history and it’s gone just like that,” says West.

Fairgrounds Superintendent Joel Spires says four old trees will have to be removed that were scorched from the flames. The grass and even trees across the street were burnt from the massive flames.

“Once they arrived on the scene it was already fully involved,” says Spires. “There was no chance of saving it.”

He says a few years ago, the community rallied together and raised $100,000 to save and restore the grandstand.

“It’ll be hard to look over here and it won’t be here,” says Spires.

Spires says the fairgrounds and the iconic grandstand were featured in a movie called “Green Grass of Wyoming”. He says people used to set up on the grounds and paint the structure with the mountains in the background.

The Fairfield County Fair begins October 9th-15th. Spires says they call it the “last of the best” fairs in Ohio. He says they’ll have the area cleaned up in time for the event.

So far, no word on if they’ll be able to build a new one.