MACON, Ga. — The wait is almost over for Macon music lovers.
The Macon Amphitheater is set to open early next year, according to Macon-Bibb County spokesman Chris Floore. It's hard to miss the 12,000 seat venue when passing by on Eisenhower Parkway. It's also hard to miss the construction equipment.
"I've seen a lot of the development happening in the area," Macon newcomer Letrey Langston said.
All that development is part of a bigger one to revitalize the Eisenhower Parkway corridor. An indoor pickleball facility, government offices and even courtrooms now fill vacant space inside the Macon Mall. The amphitheater stands tall next door.
"It has plenty of parking. I think it will enable us to get better and bigger acts that might be passing through Atlanta that we can get to come down here and provide some revenue for Bibb County," Dianne Brannen said.
Brannen says it's good to see so much progress at the construction site after years of empty parking lots.
"I think that space is not being used for anything productive," Brannen said.
For others like Langston, the progress represents a future date night spot.
"The fact that they're already booking shows, my lady's been talking about it. We're looking forward to seeing some shows together," he said.
He says it just makes him more eager about Macon's future.
"It's a really exciting venture," Langston said.
Floore says there's no set finish date for construction, but that it will be finished before the first show. Right now, the first show on the calendar is March 24 at 8 p.m. when Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top come to town.