MAD playscape to be completed in early summer
In 2017, the Murphy Arts District made history with its debut of Phase I of the $100 million revitalization.
Phase I of MAD, which had its grand opening on Sept. 27, cost $54 million and focused on the 1928 Griffin Auto Company Building. The venue features a farm-to-table restaurant, cabaret lounge and 2,000-seat music hall.
The grand opening, MusicFest XXX, beginning Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, featured a five-day lineup including Brad Paisley, Train, X-Ambassadors, Smokey Robinson, ZZ Top plus many others.
MusicFest XXX brought in around 21,000 people, according to ticket sales and most hotels in El Dorado were booked for the weekend.
The first phase included the Griffin Restaurant, Griffin Music Hall, MAD Amphitheater and the playscape (which is underway.)
Austin Barrow, president and Chief Operating Officer, spoke about the playscape at the Economic Outlook Luncheon in February. Barrow said they are working to get the playscape opened in mid-May.
The 1.5 acre playscape was approved to include a 9-foot tall razorback water slide, Arkansas related flora and fauna, a natural area including caves and about a 150 foot-long zip line.
“There are actually destination plays capes where they have such an attraction and they are themed such that families will actually travel to them,” said Terry Stewart, chairman of the board and CEO, in February. “(MAD) is the biggest one we know of in the four or five state region.”
There will be only one entrance and the landscape will be mostly evenly pitched so that parents won’t feel like they need to worry about hovering over their children.
Barrow said the farmer’s market should open around the same time as the playscape.
The Griffin Building overlooks a 8,000-capacity amphitheater for hosting large performances and allows MAD to put on multiple shows at one time.
Phase II, which is still in the funding phase, will include the MAD Art Gallery and remodeling of the Rialto. Stewart said the district has raised about $70 million, but still needs to raise another $30 million to finish “what we are going to show you.”
The Rialto will have floor seating for 850 in addition to a full balcony, according to the website. Traveling shows from Broadway, film festivals and performances from the South Arkansas Symphony will be performed at the Rialto.
The MAD Art Gallery, located adjacent to the Rialto and across from the Griffin Restaurant, is a 10,000 square foot space with a surrounding balcony. The gallery will present exhibitions of photography, painting and sculpture from “leading museums around the country.”
MAD is set to host the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism in 2019. The event is estimated to bring more than 600 people to El Dorado.
Barrow said this is the second time in 30 years that the conference has been south of Hot Springs. Four years ago the conference was held in Texarkana.
On Feb. 7-8, the annual Arkansas Festivals and Events Association Conference and Trade Show was hosted at the Griffin Restaurant and Music Hall. At the conference, MAD was named Event of the Year.
In partnership with Main Street, MusicFest XXX received gold Outstanding New Idea.
“I promise you (MusicFest) is going to come back just as big and bodacious as it was when we did opening weekend,” Barrow said.
The district will host the fourth Southern Food & Wine Festival on May 4-5. The event will take place throughout the arts district. The last day of the festival will coincide with both the Jason Isbell concert at the Griffin Music Hall and El Dorado’s annual Mayhaw Festival, according to a news release.
Some memorable performances include The Molly Ringwalds, Shopkins Live!, the Anhui Acrobatic Troupe of China, “A Christmas Tour” with Kellie Pickler and Phil Vassar, and many others.
In addition to special events, live music is available every Thursday at the Griffin Restaurant on the cabaret stage. Music begins at 8 p.m., is free to all attendees and no reservations are required.