Red Rocks Amphitheatre opened on June 15, 1941, in Morrison, Colorado, about ten miles southwest of downtown Denver. Designed by architect Burnham Hoyt, the open-air venue was built directly into a natural bowl formed by two massive sandstone monoliths, Ship Rock and Creation Rock, giving every seat a dramatic backdrop of ancient red stone and the Denver skyline beyond.
Owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, the amphitheatre seats around 9,525 people and sits at an elevation of roughly 6,450 feet, making it one of the few concert venues in the world built from naturally occurring rock rather than poured concrete. Its acoustics and setting have made it a bucket-list stop for touring musicians for more than eight decades.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Morrison, Colorado (near Denver)
- Type: Open-air, natural-rock concert amphitheater
- Opened: June 15, 1941
- Capacity: About 9,525
- Architect: Burnham Hoyt
- Elevation: About 6,450 feet
- Notable Fact: Carved between natural sandstone formations Ship Rock and Creation Rock
A Stage Built From Stone
Unlike most arenas, Red Rocks wasn’t built up from the ground; it was carved into an existing geological formation left over from an ancient seabed. The two towering rock walls that flank the stage act as natural sound reflectors, giving performances a reverberant, larger-than-life quality that artists and fans consistently describe as unmatched by any built structure.
Decades of Legendary Shows
The venue’s reputation grew through unforgettable moments, including the Beatles’ August 1964 concert, the only stop on that tour that didn’t sell out, and U2’s storm-soaked 1983 performance that became the concert film and live album ‘Under a Blood Red Sky.’ Those shows helped cement Red Rocks as one of the most sought-after stages in live music.
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Red Rocks Amphitheatre FAQs
Where is Red Rocks Amphitheatre located?
It’s in Morrison, Colorado, roughly ten miles southwest of downtown Denver, within Red Rocks Park.
How many people can Red Rocks Amphitheatre hold?
The venue has a capacity of about 9,525 guests.
When did Red Rocks Amphitheatre open?
It was formally dedicated on June 15, 1941, after construction that began in the mid-1930s.
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Photo: Unknown / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.