CUMMING — The Forsyth County commission intends to buy Lanierland and turn the former country music venue into a community park.

Commissioners voted 5-0 on Thursday to acquire the 109-acre property on Jot Em Down Road in North Forsyth for $4.75 million.

Lanierland began with a series of concerts in a large tent in 1970. Forsyth County residents M.L. "Shorty" Hamby and C.E. Samples started the concert venue. Leon and Brenda Jones and Robert and Louise Jones joined them the next year.

About three years later, civic leader Tommy Bagwell became a partner in the venue.

The performance venue closed in November 2006 after boasting such acts as Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Patty Loveless and Trace Adkins over nearly four decades. Perennial favorites The Oak Ridge Boys performed at Lanierland many times from the early days of the venue, most recently in 2005.

Joe Bonsall, who sang high harmonies and lead vocals on hits such as "Elvira," said in 2005 that one previous performance at Lanierland stood out in his mind.

"It was back sometime in the ’70s," Bonsall said. "We sang for three shows back to back and there was a crowd for each show. It was hard but we had fun. The last show we played until midnight."

Specific plans are unclear for the Lanierland site, though projects proposed under the county’s list of parks and recreation bond-funded items include a North Community Park with sports facilities and fields.

The county will buy the property from Samples Family Farms. Funding for the park comes from the $100 million parks and recreation bond voters approved last year.

The county has spent money from that bond on Fowler Park and the Big Creek Green Way, as well as to acquire green space.

For Lanierland, the county will put down $15,000 in earnest money until the end of the 60-day due diligence period.

The commission may choose to hold public hearings regarding the property during that period of time.