Jacksons' Gap's New Arena Fills Its Calendar When the Lake Goes Quiet

Where does a Saturday in Jacksons' Gap go between Thanksgiving and spring, after the boats are out of the water and the marinas are on winter hours? Starting this weekend, part of the answer sits right on Highway 280, under a roof at 303 Main Street.

The Tallapoosa County Ag Center opened its first phase in late April 2026. Its arena calendar now runs from a pig show this Saturday, November 21, through a stretch of team ropings, a barrel race and horse shows that lasts into spring. That timing is deliberate. The county built the arena to be busy when the lake isn't.

A Livestock Barn That Grew Into a Multi-Million-Dollar Plan

The project began small. Before the arena opened, District 3 Commissioner John McKelvey described how it started to the Alexander City Outlook:

"It started in a little room with a conversation between a couple of guys and parents that were looking for a place to show livestock and were looking for just a small building to be able to do it in. And next thing you know, we started putting stuff together, and it has turned into a multi-million-dollar project."

In the same interview, McKelvey said where the arena fits in the Lake Martin year. Before opening, he expected events to pull in 1,000 to 1,200 people a weekend. He also pointed out that "a lot of the rodeos and events that are going on out there are going to be when the lake is off-season," which would give lake rentals a chance to fill in months that are usually quiet. The calendar now bears out his point about timing.

The county kept the finances simple. At the ribbon cutting, WSFA reported that commissioners emphasized the project was funded without borrowing. Commissioner George Carlton Jr. said, "we're debt-free on it." State Rep. Ed Oliver of Dadeville called it "an off-lake tourist attraction" in the same report.

The First Season Proved the Crowd Shows Up

The arena's first event was a 4-H pig show on April 30, 2026, according to Explore Lake Martin. WSFA reported that commissioners already had more than 25 events booked between opening and November.

The biggest test came a month in. The 6th Annual Lake Martin Rodeo, presented by the Benjamin Russell FFA Alumni and Supporters, moved into the new arena on May 29 and 30. Gates opened at 5 p.m. with live music until 6:30, and the rodeo started at 7. Presale tickets were $15 at Tractor Supply in Alexander City, $20 at the gate, and kids 5 and under got in free. The Outlook ran a photo collection from that weekend.

Then came the late-summer ropings. Allen's End of Summer Classic Team Roping on August 29 opened entries at 8 a.m., started the first roping at 9, and welcomed spectators. The same organizer holds most of the winter dates below.

The Winter Calendar, Date by Date

The arena's published schedule shows arena reservations only, not full event details. The center sends visitors to each event's organizer for specifics. Here is the off-season stretch as it stands this week:

Count the summer side for comparison. Once the lake fills back up, the calendar thins to a team roping on June 26 and 27, a date marked "To Be Announced" in July, and the East Alabama Horseman's Association Horse Show on August 7. Eight reservations fall between November and mid-April, and four dates are booked for June through August. The arena's schedule runs opposite to the lake's.

December has no reservations. That leaves the month to the holiday dates nearby. The Explore Lake Martin holiday guide lists Dadeville's tree lighting on the Square for November 29 and the Dadeville Christmas Parade for December 6. The Alexander City Chamber Christmas Parade follows on Monday, December 7, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The May events fit the same pattern. They come just before boating season gets busy. The Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook Off is booked for May 15, and the BRHS FFA Alumni Rodeo is set for May 28 and 29, 2027.

A Roof Is What Makes January Work

A winter schedule only works if spectators can sit through a January afternoon. The center's amenities page describes covered grandstand seating: aluminum bleachers "under a full roof," with handrails and wide aisles. The concessions stand has a commercial kitchen with a window that opens onto the arena concourse. The restrooms have stainless steel fixtures, and separate showers serve exhibitors at multi-day events.

Before opening, the Outlook reported plans for a 300-by-200-foot covered arena with seating for 2,800. McKelvey said then that the space could also host small concerts and garden shows, and that the concession stand could serve as a fundraising spot for local schools and nonprofits during events. The April 10 Extension Home and Garden booking is the first garden event on the calendar.

The animal areas show who the building was designed for. It has professional-grade gating and holding pens for horses and cattle, a covered alleyway for moving animals, and a separate small-animal area for goats, sheep and poultry, which the center describes as built for 4-H and FFA shows.

Saturday Opens the Stretch

The Horseshoe Bend FFA Pig Show on November 21 is the next event at the arena and the first of the off-season run. It is booked from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The center's listing doesn't include spectator details, so the FFA chapter is the place to ask about timing and admission.

Getting there is simple. The center's directions say to turn off Highway 280 at the Ag Center sign and follow the drive to the main arena entrance. Ample trailer parking is available.

The director is Robert Reams, a Horseshoe Bend High School graduate who has been president of the East Alabama Horseman's Association since 2024. He is also on the board of the Alex City Horse Riding Club and announces for the Alabama Open Horseman's Association. The About page notes that he isn't always on site and gives his email for questions and bookings. The arena is also open for rental to anyone planning an agricultural event, show, expo or community gathering.

What the Off-Season Crowd Could Bring to Highway 280

The building that exists now is Phase 1. WSFA reported that later phases are planned to add barns and stables, better parking and more show space for larger rodeos and year-round programs.

The town has already noticed the crowds. "It's going to affect us greatly because we're going to have businesses there," Jacksons' Gap Mayor Frank Lucas told WSFA, adding that people had asked about convenience stores and fast food "when they see these crowds out here." Before opening, McKelvey told the Outlook the county was working with developers on the rest of the property, and that a gas station, a motel or other lodging had come up in talks.

The current plan is the eight winter dates in the table. The first one is Saturday morning at 6, a short drive off 280.

At Lake Area Realty, we track the things that change how a Lake Martin year feels, from summer water levels to a January team roping just up the highway. If you own a rental and want to talk through how arena weekends might fit into your off-season, or you'd just like a local's take on what's new around Jacksons' Gap, schedule a free consultation with our broker-led team.