Play Faire Park future uncertain amid legal battle between park owners, landlord

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The future of Play Fair Park is uncertain amid a legal battle between the park owners and the landlord.

Owners Chris and Melanie England have filed a lawsuit against landlord Charlie Wolfe (Abilene Majestic LLC), seeking $250,000 to $1,000,000 worth of monetary relief due to what they are calling fraud. 

The Englands allege Wolfe fraudulently convinced them to enter a contract with him in 2024, the terms of which included signing Play Fair Park over to Wolfe so they could lease it back for $400 a month paid from May through October of each year, with the option to buy the property back in 2027 at a price that would give Wolfe $150,000 profit.

Their lawsuit admits that the Englands failed to make a payment by September 1, 2025 because Chris Enlgand was sick, despite the fact the contract explicitly states, “failure to make payment on the 1st of each month when rent is due during those 6 months of the year is an event of default and automatically terminates the remainder of the lease.” They did attempt to make the payment September 4th.

In response, the Englands say Wolfe has breached the contract as well because he has, “failed to perform any duties of a commercial landlord, allowing the fencing, parking lot and plumbing to remain in states of disrepair.” 

This 2024 contract between Wolfe and the Englands is a compromise to settle an ongoing dispute regarding money Wolfe allegedly loaned the Englands in 2006 and again in 2007. 

Wolfe attempted to sue the Englands in 2023 for the balance remaining on that alleged debt, which he claims came to maturity in 2011, however that lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning both parties could still sue each other at a later date. 

Now, Wolfe is also attempting to evict Play Fair Park from their location at N 2nd Street. He served the Englands with and Eviction Notice September 13, and the Englands responded September 26, claiming the court does not currently have jurisdiction to rule on the eviction due to their ongoing lawsuit against Wolfe, which is centered around a contract that conveys ownership. They argue this suit must be settled before an eviction could happen.

The eviction case was dismissed October 1, and the lawsuit the Englands have filed against Wolfe is still open in Taylor County. 

It’s unknown how the ongoing litigation will affect the future of Play Fair Park at this time. 

KTAB and KRBC have reached out to Play Fair Park and Charlie Wolfe for additional comment. No statements were received as of the publishing of this article. 

BigCountryHomepage.com will update this article if more information is released.