Osage Creek Performing Arts Center approved by planning commission
Courtesy imageThe new Osage Creek Performing Arts Center cleared its final legislative hurdle this week when the Benton County Planning Commission approved their long-term use plan at a meeting on Wednesday night.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the Osage Creek Arts Center Long Term Use and Large Scale Development Plan without modifications or restrictions, said Bert Piraino, VP of Operations for Osage Creek.
“We are so happy to be moving forward with this,” said Piraino. “Northwest Arkansas has no idea what we’ve got in store for them.”
The new amphitheater and festival facility will be located on an 856-acre patch of land along Logan Cave Road between Tontitown and Siloam Springs. The site is 22.5 miles from Dickson St., and just 12 miles from XNA Regional Airport.
We talked to Piraino and others back in December, and apparently, the project is still on track.
According to Piraino, the bidding process for a general contractor is ongoing, but he hopes that construction of the new amphitheater will begin as early as late February.
He also said that Osage Creek expects to begin announcing artists on or around Feb. 3, 2010, and though the full project won’t be completed until the Spring of 2011, there will be a few shows at the new site before the full facility is constructed, the first of which expected on July 23, 24, and 25 of this year.
Piraino said that he is waiting for a particular artist to finalize their summer touring plans before he can make any announcement.
Speculation, and demand for Phish are rampant on their Facebook page, but nothing is official according to Piraino.
All indications, though, are that Northwest Arkansas will indeed be getting the large concert venue of its dreams. Now, who do you want to see play at it?
Artist rendering of the Osage Creek Performing Arts Center.
Comments
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Mark_Landry
January 22, 2010
Has anyone done an environmental impact survey to see what kind of impact a bunch of jam-y guitar noodling will have on the endangered Ozark Cave Crayfish in Logan Cave?
I’m just asking, because I know what effect it has on me, and it’s not good.
At least I’m not endangered.
That I know of.
heyitsme
January 22, 2010
@Mark_Landry – there is only one of you, I’d say you’re more endangered than the Ozark Cave Crayfish in Logan Cave.
Zapp Brannigan
January 22, 2010
A Shpongle Live show would be amazing at this venue! They need to make it happen, I don’t care what it takes.
Osage Creek Performing Arts Center
January 22, 2010
@Mark_Landry – Yes, we did. The rules for the cave during events are: extra security surrounding the cave to keep “jam-y guitar noodlers” from causing harm to the endangered critters AND no spotlights in the direction of the cave (or in the direction of Osage Creek). These rules will be strictly enforced.
We’re working very hard in the planning process to make all events as low impact on the environment as possible.
mpetty
January 23, 2010
+1 for Sphongle and the rest of the Twisted Crew.
I’d love to see this turn into a Midwest competitor for Camp Bisco.
Brandon Kittler
January 24, 2010
Id work ridiculous hours gor free as a fundraiser if it would bring a live Shpobgle show in. Don’t be shy sbout asking, either.
…better get on that now tho – Twisted is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and had already lost a lot of artists.
I wonder what they’d charge? I asked the booking agent a while back and was not taken seriously.
Zapp Brannigan
January 24, 2010
Q: If Shpongles, Sphongles, and Shpobgles be three, which would perform the true artistry?
A: Shpongle
Kidding aside, a Live Shpongle act would draw people from all over the country. If the Osage peeps are still reading, I would also donate my free time to make it happen. Hopefully they’re the kind of act you’re looking for.
Brandon Kittler
January 24, 2010
I swear that looked normal when I posted it. I’m going to blame the iPhone for not being on top of the spelling situation.
Osage Creek Performing Arts Center
January 24, 2010
We’re always reading, and we appreciate the feedback.
Dgold
January 24, 2010
Looking forward to shows at this place. Thanks for keeping us informed, Fayetteville Flyer. I will be reporting the news of Osage Creek Performing Arts Center progress on KXUA Honest Tunes radio & can’t wait to hear official show dates to begin spreading the word. DG
cris martin
January 24, 2010
HOW ARE YOU GOING FLOW TRAFFIC DOWN NARROW DIRT ROADS
Osage Creek Performing Arts Center
January 24, 2010
@CRISMARTIN – Think these would work? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsgIzU51Mr0&feature=youtube_gdata
cris martin
January 24, 2010
Seriously, lets be real how are you going to move 10 to 20 thousand people from old 68 highway to the site and what about the people that live along the valley
Osage creek premorming arts center
January 24, 2010
This comment has been removed by Flyer Staff at the request of the commenter.
shponnng
January 25, 2010
raja ram wont come to america to play, so the odds of them getting a live shpongle performance is lower than that of them getting phish to actually come play
Brandon Kittler
January 25, 2010
He might come considering their financial situation. Regardless, and I don’t mean any disrespect to the guy, but for all he does they could just make his flute parts loops.
Add a live Younger Brother, Hallucinogen, or Prometheus set in there and nobody will care anyway.
Aloha Supermarket
January 26, 2010
This is located on a chicken farm, surrounded by
other chicken farms. I’d say there will be tons of opposition
by the chicken farmers! All this stinks to me!
And Benton County, are you kidding?
These people drive around on Dickson street hanging out of rented limos screaming “This is the
way we roll… Go Osage Creek!” Sounds like a bunch of professionals…
Milky
January 26, 2010
Gosh Aloha Supermarket, what’s with all the douchebaggery?
chancevb
January 26, 2010
Good morning Aloha Supermarket.
Fantasia
January 26, 2010
Sounds like summers there will be smelling SWEET!
Is it against the law or something for a city to spend
OUR tax dollars to pave someone else’s roads, if not
they can come pave mine! Especially in todays economy?
You can count me in to oppose that funding.
concerned
January 26, 2010
How is sewage going to be handled at this site? Will there be periodic checks done on the health of the cave?
osage creek Performing Arts Center
January 26, 2010
@alohasupermarket: you obviously have some sort of hidden agenda. Neither I or any of my staff have a limo, owned or rented, let alone screaming things on Dickson Street, you really should scale back on your medications.
@Fantasia, there are 2 small poultry operations near the site, one of them is owned by Greg Smith (who owns the land on which OCPAC sits)and is slated to be phased out. They are far enough away that the impact is negligable. As far as the roads are concerned, road improvements have been in the county plan for some time, these were not implemented by OCPAC. In addition, the tax money generated will be SIGNIFICANT, or maybe you think that a few million dollars a year is no big deal.
@concerned, we are planning a complete enviornmental impact statement to address the sewage issue. We are planning to use composting toilets to reduce if not eliminate the amount of black water effluent, as well as grey water recycling to reuse the water in an enviornmentally friendly manner. We too are very concerned with any impact to the Osage Creek estuary. This is why we have reserved almost 350 acres into the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program, as well as created a boundry along the Osage Creek which will be off limits to our patrons.
We welcome any and all comments of inteligence, and are willing to openly discuss our plans as well as accept suggestions.Osage Creek Performing Arts Center is an inclusive organization that has a primary mission of service to NW Arkansas.
Ingsoc
January 27, 2010
Right now the picture makes it look like a big field with a stage in it. Is there permanent seating? Any covered seating?
They should model it after the Starlight Amphitheater in Kansas City, that’s the best outdoor venue in the vicinity.
Osage Creek Performing Arts Center
January 27, 2010
@Ingsoc: Thanks for the comment. The conceptual you have seen is just that, a conceptual. We are considering a loge area in front of the stage. Starlight is a beautiful venue.
Mark_Landry
January 27, 2010
@Osage, Why did you remove the comment talking about the county paving all your roads and building you a 15ft tall bridge to the site?
I mean, I can understand leaving the hoverboard link, but I am a bit fuzzy on why the other disappeared.
Osage Creek Performing Arts Center
January 27, 2010
@Mark Landry: The comment was removed by the administrator. It was not posted by me. I have not seen it, only heard the gist of what it said. I will say that the road improvements that are being done are part of a larger development plan that was initiated by the State at the request of the County highway department. As always there will be a percentage of folks who are against something. We aim to address any reasonable concerns within the community. Feel free to email me with any ideas you think would be constructive we are always open to suggestions. bert@osagecreeklive.com
Mark_Landry
January 27, 2010
I guess I should have caught the the signature spelled “premorming” rather than preforming.
That answers my question.
osage creek Performing Arts Center
January 27, 2010
It’s actually PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, not premorming or preforming. Thanks for understanding…bp
Martyparty
January 30, 2010
More jam bands, brah! Real spacey ****! Less do this!
NotSoSure
February 6, 2010
I suspect that there won’t be an act at this site at all this year. If there is, it won’t be anything other than a mediocre artist. All hype, no real info. and absolutely no credibility in the PR department. Check their website http://www.osagecreeklive.com, it links to a FB page! Seriously, a $20 Million facility that uses a FB page? I think someone is in over their head.
Jeremy Bradsher
February 21, 2010
Are vendor applications ready yet? :)
Daniel Maner
February 22, 2010
The Osage Creek Performing Arts Center creation is exciting news for NWA and would help the area become an arts destination for this region of the country. There are still many unanswered questions about the project though.
1. Where is the $20 million coming from? The investors must have done studies about the feasiblity of the project. The presence of many other large, all-weather venues in the region that are closer to larger population centers indicate that it isn’t needed unless there there is a major festival or other regular event scheduled for it.
2. In the NWA Times article about this one of the persons associated with it said that it would provide a venue that would provide a space that the WAC in Fayetteville couldn’t provide. What acts that might consider appearing at the WAC would rather choose to come to this venue?
3. Has all the environmental studies been completed for this project? These type studies usually take years to complete- this seems to happening very quickly for as large a project as it is.
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