An indoor riding arena could be coming soon to a property already known for hosting horse events south of Powell, and there’s clear support for it. 

County commissioners approved a request by property owner Julie Thompson on July 15 to amend her special use permit, initially approved in 2022, to add a 21,000-square-foot indoor riding arena to the property and move the main parking to the south side of Lane 11 ½. Parking had been on the north side of the road across from the facility. That space will now be overflow parking. 

“I have gone by during a function or two there and the road signage was going well,” Chair Dossie Overfield said. “So keep doing that.” 

The property is surrounded by agricultural fields, with large residential areas nearby. 

In 2022, Thompson requested and received approval of an SUP for a major recreation facility to host equine arena events such as barrel racing, gymkhanas, cattle sorting and cuttings, clinics and livestock shows in an existing 37,500 square-foot outdoor riding arena.

The county received 17 public comments, all in approval of the new arena on the site, and the county staff also recommended approval with conditions. 

Thompson asked about what the process would be to use the facility for an additional use in the future, such as a concert or a sporting event besides equine. That would require yet another amendment to the SUP.