Building a pavilion on the nearly 60 acres of the Highfields Event Center would be the first step for owner Rick Cram in making the grounds a non-equestrian use facility.
"I want to try and make it (Highfields) a little bit more available; have an amenity that's appealing to non-equestrian activity," Cram said. "I've gotten a lot of requests over the years saying how pretty this place is; they want a wedding out here or any kind of small-business gathering, reception, convention - but we need a facility to do that and house that many people."
Highfields holds more than 30 events every year, which includes the annual Aiken Spring Classic, and just last year, the first Aiken Music Fest.
Once constructed, the open-air pavilion, which would be within city limits, could hold about 250 people and include two jury booths and men's and women's bathrooms.
Cram told the Aiken Planning Commission in a meeting earlier this month the pavilion would be constructed in two phases - the first phase being the construction of the nearly 5,000-square-foot pavilion and the second phase being the addition of the second story that will house event officials and the bathroom facilities on the ground level.
"The bathroom facilities, especially, would be a really nice amenity ... used by all patrons who come to Highfields," Cram said. "In the past, also, I've rented a tent for our Spring Classic, and I can't afford a tent the rest of the year because it's out of the budget. So, with this structure in place permanently, I actually may be able to shave off the rental fee and offer that amenity to everybody who comes to all of these events; it's a win-win."
Cram plans to hold fundraisers for the $180,000 pavilion by auctioning off the jumps during the Highfields Spring Classic on April 15. By the end of the Spring Classic in May, Cram wants to begin construction.
"This is really an opportunity for me to honor my mother's legacy, Mary Ann Parmelee; I'm building this in memory of her," Cram said.
For more information about Highfields, www.psjshows.com/highfields.php.
For more information about the Aiken Music Fest, visit www.psjshows.com/aiken musicfest.html.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.