Downtown Lexington’s ever-buzzing crown jewel has been making a joyful noise since its opening in 2017.

The Icehouse Amphitheater has drawn crowds from across Lexington County and surrounding areas for its popular events. From concerts and Saturday markets to fundraisers and community gatherings, the 900-seat outdoor venue has become a valuable addition to life in Lexington County.

Once, there was no Icehouse Amphitheater bringing life to downtown. The amphitheater’s history begins with the land it occupies.

The plot at Church Street and West Main Street has deep historical roots in early Lexington. According to the venue’s website, the land was originally part of a land grant.

“Before the Civil War, a shoe shop occupied the site,” the website states. “The land later housed a cotton warehouse, fertilizer, and coal sales company.”

After years of commercial use, Lexington’s first ice plant opened on the site of today’s Icehouse Amphitheater. The icehouse, built in 1928, produced large, 300-pound blocks of ice.

Large chunks of ice arrived at the Lexington icehouse by train from the New Brookland Ice Company, in what is now West Columbia. The ice was packed in sawdust and wood shavings to prevent melting.

Once offloaded, the large ice blocks were cut down to 300-pound sizes and then divided into 50-pound blocks to fit Lexington residents’ iceboxes, keeping food and perishables cool. Like mail delivery, an iceman would make regular rounds with ice orders.

“An iceman would sell and deliver ice from a wagon or cart, making daily rounds to businesses and homes for iceboxes,” according to Emergencyice.com. “As he arrived, he needed to know how much ice each customer wanted that day. Regular customers would keep a sign in the window, called their ‘Ice Cards.’ The ice blocks would be placed in a box intended for the ice delivery.”

According to the Icehouse Amphitheater website, the ice plant was eventually purchased by Frank Havird in 1970 and converted to a propane distributorship, later known as Palmetto Propane and Ice.

Paul and Eddie Havird operated Palmetto Propane at the former icehouse until 2012, when the Town of Lexington purchased the property to create an amphitheater, revitalizing downtown and enhancing quality of life for residents. The Icehouse Amphitheater is not only a community gathering space but also preserves the property’s rich history.

“The Icehouse Amphitheater is a huge asset to Lexington,” said Lexington native and former Lexington Middle School principal Laura MacMahan. “I am delighted that the Town of Lexington chose to honor the property’s historical roots with its name.”

With the amphitheater adjoining the newly renovated Virginia Hylton Park and the thriving popularity of Main Street, it has become a heartbeat of life in Lexington.

“It truly is a place that brings the community together through concerts and events,” MacMahan told The Chronicle. “Everyone who comes to the Icehouse Amphitheater feels at home.”