Appraisal value drops $4.2 million for Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka
TOPEKA (KSNT) - Local officials have reevaluated the old Heartland Motorsports Park just south of Topeka, leading to significant appraisal value changes to the former event space.
Heartland Motorsports Park changed hands last year following an online auction. The new owner, Topeka 77 LLC, purchased all parcels associated with the park for an undisclosed amount of money, receiving the title to the land in September 2024.
27 News checked with the Shawnee County Appraiser's Office this week to see if the appraisal values for the old Heartland Motorsports Park area had changed from 2024 to 2025. Fourteen out of the nearly 30 parcels of land that make up the park dropped in their appraisal values, with steep decreases in those which consist of the drag strip, 2.5-mile road course, north and lower pit areas and spectator parking. Overall, the appraisal value of the former Heartland Motorsports Park dropped by more than $4.2 million from 2024 to 2025.
"Generally, the dynamics of this property have changed significantly over the last year," Shawnee County Appraiser Steven Bauman said over email. "For example, several of the buildings within the complex were heavily vandalized and the property was stripped of electrical systems. This and the removal of the grandstands further altered the property’s functional utility and highest and best use."
Bauman said some of the property is now being used for agricultural purposes, requiring reappraisal based on use rather than market value. He also said a shift in the allocation process contributed to the changes made in the value of some large parcels of land.
"As a requirement to appraise all property annually, we valued the property considering all available documentation and new information presented," Bauman said.
Many of the parcels purchased by Topeka 77 LLC contain land near the park that is undeveloped or that contains places to park vehicles and RVs. Only a handful of parcels contain the former park itself. You can view the changes in appraisal values for each parcel, some of which bear the same or similar addresses, associated with Heartland Motorsports Park in the list below.
Heartland Motorsports Park
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $356,260.
- 2022: $356,260.
- 2023: $1,024,380.
- 2024: $1,024,380.
- 2025: $34,940.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$989,440.
- Square feet: 32,769.
- 7530 Southwest Topeka Boulevard/Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $3,260,940.
- 2022: $3,260,940.
- 2023: $3,715,100.
- 2024: $3,715,100.
- 2025: $2,030,910.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$1,684,190.
- Square feet: 4,013,618.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $2,580.
- 2022: $2,580.
- 2023: $4,510.
- 2024: $4,510.
- 2025: $3,450.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$1,060.
- Square feet: 20,098.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $2,550.
- 2022: $2,550.
- 2023: $16,990.
- 2024: $16,990.
- 2025: $4,990.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$12,000.
- Square feet: 19,936.
- Southeast 77th Street.
- 2021: $266,500.
- 2022: $266,500.
- 2023: $930,270.
- 2024: $930,270.
- 2025: $99,190.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$831,080.
- Square feet: 112,681.
- 8231 Southeast Adams.
- 2021: $792,970.
- 2022: $792,970.
- 2023: $1,055,180.
- 2024: $1,055,180.
- 2025: $329,560.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$725,620.
- Square feet: 1,351,780.
Undeveloped land/parking areas around Heartland Motorsports Park
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $126,090.
- 2022: $126,090.
- 2023: $98,510.
- 2024: $98,510.
- 2025: $79,810.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$18,700
- Square feet: 532,085.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $73,030.
- 2022: $73,030.
- 2023: $57,060.
- 2024: $57,060.
- 2025: $45,560.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$11,500.
- Square feet: 303,764.
- 135 Southeast Finish Line Drive/7530 Southwest Topeka Boulevard.
- 2021: $405,100.
- 2022: $405,100.
- 2023: $640,520.
- 2024: $640,520.
- 2025: $338,540.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$301,980.
- Square feet: 2,076,747.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $49,850.
- 2022: $49,850.
- 2023: $38,940.
- 2024: $38,940.
- 2025: $59,130.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$20,190.
- Square feet: 394,218.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $40,660.
- 2022: $40,660.
- 2023: $31,770.
- 2024: $31,770.
- 2025: $47,740.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$15,970.
- Square feet: 318,273.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $62,300.
- 2022: $62,300.
- 2023: $48,670.
- 2024: $48,670.
- 2025: $72,880.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$24,210.
- Square feet: 485,889.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $70,740.
- 2022: $70,740.
- 2023: $154,410.
- 2024: $154,410.
- 2025: $53,380.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$101,030.
- Square feet: 355,866.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $55,240.
- 2022: $55,240.
- 2023: $43,150.
- 2024: $43,150.
- 2025: $64,120.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$20,970.
- Square feet: 427,463.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $98,130.
- 2022: $98,130.
- 2023: $79,160.
- 2024: $79,160.
- 2025: $114,460.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$35,300.
- Square feet: 763,044.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $60,540.
- 2022: $60,540.
- 2023: $70,290.
- 2024: $70,290.
- 2025: $61,630.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$8,660.
- Square feet: 361,949.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $58,560.
- 2022: $58,560.
- 2023: $45,750.
- 2024: $45,750.
- 2025: $69,220.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$23,470.
- Square feet: 457,501.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $35,460.
- 2022: $35,460.
- 2023: $27,700.
- 2024: $27,700.
- 2025: $41,520.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$13,820.
- Square feet: 276,811.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $14,160.
- 2022: $14,160.
- 2023: $11,060.
- 2024: $11,060.
- 2025: $16,110.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$5,050.
- Square feet: 107,395.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $10,120.
- 2022: $10,120.
- 2023: $7,910.
- 2024: $7,910.
- 2025: $12,450.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$4,540.
- Square feet: 82,977.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $31,840.
- 2022: $31,840.
- 2023: $24,880.
- 2024: $24,880.
- 2025: $36,100.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$11,220.
- Square feet: 240,670.
- 7103 Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $86,440.
- 2022: $86,440.
- 2023: $67,530.
- 2024: $67,530.
- 2025: $104,430.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$36,900.
- Square feet: 696,212.
- 7520 Southeast Adams Street.
- 2021: $274,540.
- 2022: $274,540.
- 2023: $212,120.
- 2024: $212,120.
- 2025: $636,350.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$424,230.
- Square feet: 4,242,308.
- Southeast 77th Street.
- 2021: $151,110.
- 2022: $151,110.
- 2023: $112,780.
- 2024: $112,780.
- 2025: $338,530.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$225,750.
- Square feet: 2,256,845.
- Southeast Adams Street.
- 2021: $14,420.
- 2022: $14,420.
- 2023: $11,260.
- 2024: $11,260.
- 2025: $17,600.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$6,340.
- Square feet: 117,357.
- Southeast Gary Ormsby Drive.
- 2021: $52,080.
- 2022: $52,080.
- 2023: $35,670.
- 2024: $35,670.
- 2025: $48,770.
- Value change from 2024-2025: +$13,100.
- Square feet: 263,664.
- Southeast Adams Street.
- 2021: $234,940.
- 2022: $234,940.
- 2023: $279,090.
- 2024: $279,090.
- 2025: $88,680.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$190,410.
- Square feet: 458,251.
- Southeast Adams Street.
- 2021: $262,840.
- 2022: $262,840.
- 2023: $205,340.
- 2024: $205,340.
- 2025: $4,490.
- Value change from 2024-2025: -$200,850.
- Square feet: NA.
Chris Payne with Shelby Development, LLC used to own the park but made the decision to auction it and its contents away to cover a growing tax debt to Shawnee County. Former Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah told 27 News after the auction concluded that Payne's tax debt and penalties of $3,402,313.05 were paid in full as of Oct. 1, 2024.
Legal battles over the park's appraisal value date back to 2019 when Payne sued the Shawnee County Appraiser's Office for the high appraisal value it assigned to the park. While this lawsuit was later dismissed in 2022, Payne continued to criticize local officials as the tax burden grew due to nonpayment, leading to the threat of foreclosure on the park.
Much of the park's equipment, signage, vehicles and more were sold through a separate auction. Items ranging from snow blowers, generators, picnic tables, TVs, chairs, bleachers, coolers, Country Stampede memorabilia, barriers, street sweepers and more were sold off. Heartland Motorsports Park used to host major events in the Topeka area such as the Country Stampede and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) events.
27 News reached out to Payne this week for comment on the reappraisal of the park. However, he has yet to respond.
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