MCKINNEY, Texas — A fire broke out Tuesday morning at the former Third Monday Trade Days business, according to the McKinney Fire Department.
Smoke could be seen from a distance as the fire spread through the Trade Days location on University Drive in McKinney, fire officials said.
This is located just south of the Soil Conservation Service Site 4 Reservoir and east of McKinney's Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital. Drivers can also see this location from Highway 380.
McKinney Fire officials said the fire was in a vendor building on the north side. As of Tuesday morning, fire investigators are on the scene determining the cause.
Photos from the scene showed a destroyed structure that was badly burned.
The location just west of Central Expressway has a storied past. It was land once claimed by the Kiowa Indians and a former base and training ground for the Mexican-American war. It was one of the last and oldest trade markets in all North Texas.
Darrell Lewis, a long-time history teacher, took an interest when he and his family purchased the 30-acre property in 1995.
In December 2021, Lewis decided to close up the market for good. Dec. 17-19 were the last trade days in McKinney. A similar trade days format started in January at a new location, the Southfork Ranch in Parker, home of the iconic "Dallas" television show.
"The only thing permanent in the world is change," Lewis said.
In January, the Third Monday Trades Day opened in a new location in Collin County.
