‘Adventure center’ planned

The center will employ between 30 and 50 individuals, including people involved in sales, management, concessions and guest service positions. Some positions will be year-round and some will be seasonable.

The center plans to open this summer, although an exact date has not been set.

“All my best memories have been outside,” owner and President Alan Tavel said. “That’s why I’ve built an overnight outdoor center to make it easy for you to unplug from life and explore a sense of adventure with your family and friends.”

Tavel purchased the country club property for $575,000, according to county property records.

According to a press release, SOAC will provide a “unique combination of outdoor adventure activities and camping.”

About 90 acres have been dedicated to obstacle course runs and high-adventure activities similar to the popular Ninja Warrior Course, the release said.

The courses, which will be phased in over the next few months, will be available for weekend events and team-building opportunities.

About 25 acres of the property will be dedicated to overnight camping, including a “glamour” site featuring a yurt (round tent) that offers specially catered meals.

Central to it all, an area called the “Hub” will be a gathering space for both participants and spectators. Patrons will be able to gather with friends and family. There will be a food truck court, lawn games and other entertainment, including music.

Initially, the center will operate from Wednesday through Sunday with plans to eventually operate seven days a week, according to SOAC Business Manager Alicia Yancey.

According to the company’s website, the project will include four courses based on skill levels, including the most advanced ninja course, a wipeout course, a mud run course and a kid’s course.

The project will include hiking opportunities as well as a nine-hole disc golf course coming in the fall of 2017. A greenhouse will also be constructed by the spring of 2018, the website states.

The project will also have 20 RV sites which will include 30-50 amp power, water, fire pits, picnic tables, outdoor grills and parking.

Cabins accommodating groups as large as six will include climate -controlled units, fire pits, picnic tables, outdoor grill and parking. Tent sites will also be available.

The project is designed to draw individuals from across the entire Southeast.

“It is a great location,” Yancey said. “We knew it would be a destination area and can draw people from Charleston to Columbia.”

Yancey said individuals can now go online and sign up for the newsletter and will eventually be able to book for races and camping slots.

“We are excited to be coming to Bowman,” Yancey said. “We think it will be great.”

Tavel and his wife, Beth, owned Growing Places Garden Center in Mount Pleasant for about 15 years. The couple closed the store and is now developing a 30-home neighborhood on the site.

They also own a contracting company in the Charleston area.

Southeast Outdoor Adventure Center is being developed on the heels of an outdoor concert venue, Yonder Field, which is locating in the Bowman area on Log Cabin Road off of Homestead Road.

Yonder Field is planning its inaugural concert event on May 27 on the 228-acre site with a music festival named Bowman Bound. The developers plan to hold 10 to 15 concerts a year at the site, with crowds expected to number from 20,000 to 30,000 for each event.

For more information on Southeast Outdoor Adventure Center, visit www.mysoac.com. Also, contact info@mysoac.com or 803-829-6529