What are those white poles near Eagle Road and I-84? Here’s what you need to know
The tall, white poles lining Interstate 84 at Eagle Road in Meridian are difficult to miss.
If you’re a golf fan, you might have already recognized the poles as part of Meridian’s first Topgolf center.
Its construction has been in the works since 2019, when Ball Ventures Ahlquist Development proposed a “Topgolf-like entertainment center” in the former site of The Farmstead.
The sports center was confirmed to be a TopGolf building over two years later. Topgolf is a “sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game,” according to its website. Golfers enjoy climate-controlled hitting bays, music and an expansive food and beverage menu.
The poles will support a net around the golf course, where golfers can hit from a two-level driving range.
The Topgolf building will be the first in Idaho, with locations either planned or open across 31 U.S. states. The complex will also serve as a “main attraction” for Eagle View Landing, a mixed-use development located at the southeast corner of I-84 and Eagle Road.
“It’s one of the busiest parts of I-84 in the whole state,” Thomas Ahlquist, son of former emergency-room doctor and developer Tommy Ahlquist, told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Thomas Ahlquist is the director of marketing and community relations for Ball Ventures Ahlquist.
“There’s over 200,000 cars that drive by there every day. So it’s a great location, great spot,” he said.
According to Ahlquist, Topgolf’s grand opening is anticipated for the end of 2022.
About 300,000 square feet of Class A office space have been added to the 73-acre development, with another 300,000 under construction through 2024, according to Ahlquist.
Other buildings open or coming to Eagle View Landing include two Hyatt Place hotels, premium retail suites, and about 400 multifamily housing units. Tenants occupying office buildings include Idaho Central Credit Union, Kiln and Power Engineers.
“It all connects in this idea of infill development and kind of a live-work-play site,” Ahlquist said.
Ball Ventures Ahlquist estimates that Topgolf will bring upward of 2,000 people to Eagle View Landing per day. Topgolf will offer corporate memberships to employees working for neighboring businesses, according to Ahlquist.
“What that does is it creates this great little ecosystem,” Ahlquist said. “… For retail tenants and people that are interested in the area, having that type of foot traffic is a really big deal.”
One of the development company’s other upcoming projects is North Ranch Business Park off Chinden Boulevard and I-84 in Caldwell. The 115-acre campus will feature D&B’s largest retail store at around 100,000 square feet, as well as retail buildings and flex office spaces.
