Red Rocks
What: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Where: Denver
When: Visitor Center: Summer hours (May-Sept): 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
daily
Winter hours (October-April): 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM daily
The
Beatles. Lyle Lovett. Sting. Al Jarreau. Allman Brothers Band.
Earth, Wind & Fire. Rage Against the Machine. Itzhak Perlman.
Grateful Dead. Paul Simon. U2. Smothers Brothers. Igor Stravinsky.
Joe Cocker. Peter, Paul and Mary. Emmy Lou Harris. Al Hirt. Santana.
Indigo Girls. Sheryl Crow. Phish. Willie Nelson. Roseanne. Count
Basie. Victor Borge. Widespread Panic.
From Opera to Rock, Jazz to Reggae, Folk to Swing,
Classical to Country; all types of musical performances have
occurred at this spectacular natural amphitheatre since the early
1900s. In 1911, a famous opera star of the time traveled up to Red
Rocks by burro to try out the acoustics and declared, “never in any
opera house the world over have I found more perfect acoustic
properties.”
How old is this amphitheater? Look at the
300-foot-high red sandstone cliffs on either side of the seating
area. Ship Rock and Creation Rock have probably been standing here
for over 250,000 years. The seats, stage, and other man-made
additions were built from 1936 through 1947, designed with an
emphasis on preserving the natural beauty of the area.
During
the day, or late into the evening when no concert is scheduled, you
can come explore this beautiful concert venue. Stand in front of the
stage and speak to friends watching from high above in the last row
of seats. Imagine thousands of fans anticipating the start of a
concert. From the seating area, enjoy the panoramic views of Denver
in the distance.
When you’re done exploring the amphitheatre, don’t
miss the captivating Visitor Center, which opened in 2003. The
Visitor Center is tucked under the seating, so it made a minimal impact
on the appearance of the area. Watch a 10-minute film that describes
the history – both natural and musical – of the park. Reminisce as
you view concert posters from the past 40 years, see instruments
belonging to favorite musicians, or use the interactive computer
terminals to find out who performed here or to remember a special
concert. Enjoy a relaxing meal at the Ship Rock Grille, a
full-service restaurant located in the Visitor Center building.
Do you still have some energy left? Explore the
paths around the amphitheatre, or hike the rugged 1.4 mile Trading
Post loop trail, which will take you through marvelous rock
formations, meadows, and valleys. Remember that rock climbing in
this park is strictly prohibited, and failure to comply with this
rule carries a large fine. The trail closes ˝ hour before sunset.
This is a Denver-area classic, not to be missed!
For more information, contact:
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
16352 County Road #93
Morrison, CO 80465
(303) 295-4444 or (303) 640-2637
www.redrocksonline.com
Additional directions:
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is located near Morrison, 15 miles west of
downtown Denver. From I-70 take the Morrison exit (259). At the
bottom of the exit ramp turn south (left, if you were driving
Westbound on I-70) onto CO 93 and continue about 1.5 miles to the
signed entrance on your right. Note: turn left at this intersection
to visit Dinosaur Ridge.
