Right outside of Denver is one of Colorado’s coolest spots, Red Rocks Ampitheatre, or just Red Rocks for short. This naturally formed amphitheater is world famous for being a beautiful place to see concerts. A few of the famous acts to grace the stage include U2, The Beatles and The Grateful Dead! This area has a lot of history and is a must see when visiting Colorado.

Formation of Red Rocks

Red Rocks was naturally formed when earth movement slowly raised the sandstone to form the walls on the amphitheater. Around 160 million years ago during the Jurassic Period, dinosaurs roamed this area. Fossil fragments can still be found nearby! If you’re into geology, this is a great area to check out during the day, as well and take a tour. On both sides of the amphitheater are two large walls. The South wall is named Ship Rock while the North wall is named Creation Rock. These massive monoliths were once listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Red Rocks as a Venue

Red Rocks first opened in June of 1941.  Sitting at an elevation of 6,450 feet, the area was originally known as Garden of Angels. In the early 1900’s a man named John Brisben Walker realized the area’s potential and helped produce many concerts between 1906 and 1910. Fast forward and the manager of the Denver Parks, George Crammer, helped convince the City of Denver to buy the property. A Denver architect named Burnham Hoyt designed the amphitheater and was able to preserve it’s natural beauty while creating an amazing venue. The plans were completed in 1936 and the theater was dedicated in 1941.

National Historic Landmark

Just a couple years ago, in 2015, Red Rocks received status as a National Historic Landmark on the amphitheater’s 75th anniversary. This award in given by the National Park Service recognizes areas that have great value to the United States!

 

Now that you know a little more about Red Rocks Ampitheatre, be sure to go check it out for yourself. When you find yourself in CO also be sure to give us a call at Colorado Zip Line to book your next adventure!