ROANOKE RAPIDS — There’s a new addition to the Valley’s entertainment galaxy — Atlantic One Entertainment LLC and it is taking over the highly successful Carolina Crossroads Amphitheater.

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Yesterday, Atlantic One announced an agreement with Roanoke Rapids Entertainment LLC, the owners of Carolina Crossroads Amphitheater, to manage the facility under an agreement that could lead to ownership of the venue.

Atlantic One comes to the table armed with plans to transform the cottonfield, which has hosted a variety of top entertainers including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson, Charlie Daniels, Boston and Styx, into a permanent amphitheater.

Michael Dunlow, the developer of Carolina Crossroads, said he was pleased with the agreement. He noted his business is real estate and the company was looking for someone with the expertise and desire to take over the entertainment part of Carolina Crossroads.

The site will be renamed Atlantic One Amphitheater. To launch the events it has planned, Atlantic One will create and hire to fill 150 new jobs immediately with hopes to create 100 more jobs, full-time and part-time positions. Atlantic One is planning a job fair on April 11 at 9 a.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn in Roanoke Rapids.

 “We saw an opportunity to breathe new life into that amphitheater and wanted to match the diversity of performers with the diversity of residents and commuters that live around and travel the I-95 corridor,” said Charles Elliott, a principal with Atlantic One. “Our studies and surveys identified the unlimited potential at this location. Our research indicated the area could accommodate world-class acts from every genre of music.”

Elliott said Atlantic One Entertainment is looking to expand the repertoire of acts that have traditionally played the former Carolina Crossroads to include regional, national and international R&B, Pop, Rock, Blues, Hip Hop and Gospel performers. It has already confirmed Maze featuring Frankie Beverly to be the season opening act on May 30.

On May 16, Atlantic One plans to introduce itself to the community by hosting a $1 concert and festival called “The Stimulus Concert.” The all-day celebration will include performances by national and local performers in a festival setting, the press release said. The company plans to produce a series of annual arts, wine and other cultural festivals at the venue.

Plans call for the construction of permanent restrooms and cabañas, all of which, according to a press release will be built under green-certified standards.

Roanoke Rapids Mayor Drewery Beale, who attended the press conference yesterday, said he was thrilled to welcome the principal owners as they displayed drawings and photographs of the amphitheater plans.