Concert venues are typically defined by their list of past artists and their ability to attract current chart-topping artists. However, in some cases, the area around the stage may be in the spotlight, such as at an outdoor concert venue where stunning views and idyllic natural surroundings are an important part of the experience. Some of these forest, seaside, and mountaintop venues are bucket-list destinations for performers and fans alike, while others are still relatively unknown to all but the most dedicated music fans. There is also.
Here are 10 outdoor concert venues in the United States that are surrounded by stunning nature.
Jones Beach Theater (New York)
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First opened in 1952 as the Jones Beach Marine Theater, this Long Island amphitheater is owned by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Sponsored by Northwell Health since 2017, his 15,000-seat venue is known as Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater.
The original structure had a stage on the water, and performers had to travel there by boat. Jones His Beach has played an important role in the career of America’s most famous artist. In the summer, shows are held by popular pop and rock artists.
But music isn’t the only reason to travel. The seating area offers a panoramic view of his 10.5 miles of beach on adjacent Zack’s Bay, the state park, and Jones Beach Island. The island is connected to Long Island by several marine parkways.
Red Rocks Amphitheater (Colorado)
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The sandstone slabs that give this venue its name create ideal acoustics for concerts. Located in Morrison, not far from Denver, Red Rocks hosted its first performance in 1906 and has hosted various performances over the years. Performances in the early 20th century were held on a temporary stage, and the amphitheater itself opened in 1941. Despite its notoriety, this is a relatively small venue, seating just 9,500 people.
The highlight of Red Rocks is its cinematic setting, easily visible from 6,500 feet above sea level, but there’s much more to the property than just the amphitheater. Red Rocks Park is 738 acres, and in 2015, Red Rocks Park, including the amphitheater, was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Gorge Amphitheater (Washington)
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Gorge Amphitheater opened in 1986 in George, Washington. This venue is conveniently located approximately 250 miles from Seattle and a similar distance from Spokane. The theater overlooks the Columbia River, the Cascade foothills, and the Columbia River Gorge from which the venue is named.
Because of its location, the Gorge Amphitheater is often used for multi-day festivals. Fans can stay overnight at a campground adjacent to the venue. With a seating capacity of over 20,000, the valley attracts top performers.
Hollywood Bowl (California)
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While it may be a little less scenic than some of the other places on this list, the definitely famous Hollywood Bowl is located in the Hollywood Hills. The easily recognizable Hollywood sign is located behind the iconic bandshell. The “bowl” in the title refers to the natural depression in which the venue was built in the 1920s. It has a capacity of about 18,000 people, but in its early days, much smaller audiences sat on makeshift benches and performances took place on a makeshift stage.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic performs its summer season here, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association oversees the venue’s operations. Mainstream music artists are on the calendar, and legends such as the Rolling Stones, Louis Armstrong, Elton John, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Doors are also part of the bowl’s history. The on-site museum provides insight into past performers.
Lavinia Park Pavilion (Illinois)
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Ravinia Park is home to America’s oldest outdoor music festival. The Ravinia Festival, held during the summer months (June to September), was first held in 1905. Located in Highland Park in north Chicagoland, this park is named for the coastal valley that extends to nearby Lake Michigan. A variety of tents are set up throughout the summer on 36 acres of parkland, but the main stage is his 3,400-seat pavilion, an outdoor theater with both traditional and lawn seating.
The lawns, gardens, and tree-filled landscape make this look more like a park than a music venue. In fact, participants often choose to sit on the grass and have a picnic while listening to music. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a regular on the festival circuit, but the calendar includes a wide range of genres including folk, jazz, blues, pop and rock. Ravinia hosts approximately 120 events annually.
Mountain Winery (California)
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Mountain Winery was founded in California’s Santa Clara Valley in the early 1900s by renowned winemaker Paul Masson. After the damage caused by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent Prohibition, production ceased and the winery went dormant. In the 1950s, the new owner built his Concert Bowl and began a music series using the surrounding farmland and classical architecture as a backdrop for performances. Famous artists such as Ray Charles, Diana Ross, and Willie Nelson performed on this stage over the years.
The Bowl is an intimate space with seating for just 2,500 people. The theater is surrounded by original winery buildings, which were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The location’s high elevation allows attendees to not only see the stage, but also enjoy a panorama of the Santa Clara Valley.
Wolf Trap National Park (Virginia)
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National parks and concerts aren’t usually associated, but concerts are the main event at Wolf Trap National Performing Arts Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. Philanthropist Catherine Filene Schauss donated the land to the National Park Service in the 1960s, hoping to protect it from suburban sprawl. Originally called Wolf Trap Farm Park (name changed in 2002). This facility was the first and remains the only national park for the performing arts.
Wolf Trap’s main stage is the Filene Center, a partially covered space that seats approximately 7,000 people. Half of the participants can sit in the covered pavilion, and the other half can sit on the lawn at the back of this area. Performances include opera, folk music festivals, ballet, jazz, and symphonies (including performances by the National Symphony Orchestra). In addition to the Filene Center, Wolf Trap has a children’s theater.
Mishawaka Amphitheater (Colorado)
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Located in the mountains about 30 minutes from Fort Collins, Colorado, the Mishawaka Amphitheater (“Mish”) has been hosting concerts since 1916. The venue is located on the banks of the Cache la Poudre River. The show takes place on a small log cabin-like stage where up to 1,000 people can enjoy the river and mountains clearly visible in the background.
The Mish also has a restaurant open year-round. Despite its rural location, this venue attracts top talent. Joan Baez, George Clinton, Johnny Lang, and other folk, rock, and blues artists have taken the stage here. The venue also books local and regional artists from Fort Collins and other local music scenes in Colorado.
Tanglewood (Massachusetts)
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Located in the Berkshire Hills of central-western Massachusetts, Tanglewood has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since the 1930s. Because of its history and musical training programs, this mansion is often associated with classical music. However, there are also pop, jazz and folk performances.
Tanglewood has venues with indoor and covered seating, as well as additional lawn seating. The old Koussevitzky Music Shed (1938) and the new Seiji Ozawa Hall (1994) offer lawn seating during the summer. Concerts are also held in smaller venues such as chamber music halls, and sometimes music academy students perform directly on the lawn.
Empire Polo Grounds (California)
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As the name suggests, Empire Polo Ground is a facility where polo matches are held. Located in Riverside County, about 45 minutes from Palm Springs and two hours from Los Angeles, Empire has leased its grounds since the 1990s to the concert company that manages the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and its country music equivalent, the Stagecoach Festival. Coachella, one of the most famous and profitable festivals in the world, has been held here since 1999. One-off festivals are also held on the premises.
The Coachella Valley is a desert surrounded by the San Bernardino, Santa Rosa, and San Jacinto Mountains. This means you have views in all directions, but there’s very little on the valley floor to obstruct that panorama other than the stage and tent.
