The Early Years
Long before Red Rocks became part of the Mountain Park system, its extraordinary rock formations attracted local and regional attention. In the 1880s and 90s, the park was known as the Garden of the Angels. Local entrepreneurs offered burro rides into its isolated picnic sites and hawked refreshments from vending stands. Stairs and ladders made the steep rocks and caves accessible, even to fashionable ladies in the long skirts of the day. Hiking among the park’s outcrops was a favorite outing.
Walker's Dreams
Early in the 20th century, Red Rocks Park attracted the attention of Denver businessman John Brisben Walker, who purchased it in 1906 and renamed it the Garden of the Titans. Walker enhanced this tourist destination with a funicular railway to the top of Mt. Morrison and built or improved carriage roads and trails among the rock outcrops. From 1906 to the early 1920s, he worked tirelessly to promote the foothills in the Morrison area as a destination for tourists and a haven where weary city dwellers could refresh themselves. Walker was particularly intrigued by the acoustic qualities of the natural amphitheatre between the Park’s two tallest monoliths, and promoted a plan to develop a more formal amphitheatre capable of seating 10,000 people.
Walker also promoted foothills tourism generally, and was instrumental in encouraging Denver to create its Mountain Park system as early as 1910. The growing popularity of the automobile and Denver’s road improvements into the foothills spelled trouble for Walker’s funicular on Mt. Morrison, and the threat of war affected his hopes for a boom in foothills recreation. By the early 1920s he turned to other pursuits and tried to interest Denver in acquiring Red Rocks as one of its new Mountain Parks.
After Denver bought the Park of the Red Rocks in 1928, the City immediately began building miles of scenic roads and contemplating a huge amphitheatre. The scenic roads capitalized on the park’s natural features, providing spectacular views. In 1931, Denver built the Indian Concession House, designed by W.R. Rosche in the Pueblo Revival style and now known as the Trading Post.
New Deal Days and the Amphitheatre
Amid the Great Depression of the 1930s, Denver was handed an opportunity. George Cranmer, Manager of Parks and Improvements, was quick to take advantage of a new program, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), designed to relieve the hard times. In 1935, three camps were established in the Mountain Parks, and one was established in Morrison Park, specifically to work on the long-sought Amphitheatre. Planning began in earnest, and by 1936, construction on the Amphitheatre designed by Burnham Hoyt was underway. Men stationed at the Mt. Morrison and Genesee camps worked on the Amphitheatre until it was completed and turned over to the City in 1941. See
Red Rocks timeline for a few details of the construction years.
The new amphitheatre was officially dedicated Sunday, June 15, 1941, with 10,000 Rotarians in attendance. A week earlier, during an informal event seen by 3,000 people, Mayor Benjamin Stapleton paid tribute to the 150 men of CCC Veterans' Company 1860, who had worked on building the Amphitheatre since 1937. George Cranmer was Master of Ceremonies for the event, and the Denver Junior Symphony Orchestra performed.
Mayor Stapleton told his audience that the "great theater belongs to the people of Denver, and we hope you will all come to enjoy its beauty and the musical programs which will be presented frequently."
World War II intervened, and the new amphitheatre had limited use for several years. On April 6, 1947, the first Easter Sunrise Service was held in the Amphitheatre. More than 15,000 people reportedly crowded into the site built for 9,000, and another 35,000 were estimated to be in the automobiles that lined the roads into the park. This service has continued to be a popular annual event opening each concert season.