Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado is an absolute must-see for music lovers visiting Colorado. Home to year-round performances – sunrise yoga to Colorado Symphony concerts and beyond – Red Rocks’ iconic amphitheater is the only naturally acoustically perfect amphitheater on earth, making it one of the must-visit sites. Visitors can explore its park, see an event or just visit its museum to gain more insight into your favorite artists who have graced its stage.
Red Rocks, a National Historic Landmark, is truly breathtaking. Over millions of years, erosion sculpted two major monoliths – Ship and Creation – forming an exquisite sculpture which both amazes and humbles visitors. The final product is both majestic and mesmerizing.
Red Rocks was used by native tribes of the area for millennia as a gathering space called Garden of Angels by Ute Indians. Later on in its history, editor John Brisben Walker purchased its property and started organizing musical performances at what he named Garden of the Titans, soon becoming so popular with visitors that he gave up his day job to focus on promoting Red Rocks exclusively.
After America was hit hard by the stock market crash of 1929, plans for Red Rocks redevelopment were put on pause for over a decade – until construction started thanks to civil relief programs such as Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration under Franklin D Roosevelt’s recovery plan. Denver architect Burnham Hoyt created a design which combined natural acoustics of Red Rocks with formal theater elements.
The site’s sandstone seats were handcrafted using materials sourced from Lyons while its stage was assembled using local rocks such as red rocks from Red Rocks Quarry and boulders from Dinosaur Ridge. Furthermore, this project included construction of two massive stone pillars known as Grand Mesa Arches which can be seen from within the amphitheater during daylight hours and some concert tours.
After opening in 1941, Red Rocks quickly established itself as one of the premier outdoor performance venues in America. Musicians and performers from around the globe quickly came to love performing here and thus contributing to its legend.
Red Rocks is an iconic music destination. When you find yourself sitting in its audience for a performance at Red Rocks, you quickly understand why its immense power of music and spectacular setting are sure to captivate. No matter if you come for listening, dancing or singing along; Red Rocks never ceases to transform audiences and their experiences are rarely forgotten after leaving Red Rocks’ gates.