Red Rocks Park in Morrison, Colorado, one of the big three beautiful expressions of the red sandstone Fountain Formation in Colorado, along with the Flatirons in Boulder, and the mighty Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

John Brisben Walker championed park space in the foothills of Colorado, and his purchase of this land and vision of a natural ampitheatre ultimately lead to the incredible architectural masterpiece of Red Rocks Ampitheatre, CO.

Denver choose Burnham Hoyt, Denver’s most prominent International-style architect, to design the ampitheatre. His understated design was masterfully integrated into the natural rock formations.

Built by Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, construction started in 1936 and completed in 1941. Over the years, there have been many attempts to ruin Hoyt’s design by adding booths or other items, but historical preservation has prevailed to this day.

Burnam Hoyt’s Sullivan House from 1940, completed a year before Red Rocks. Note Hoyt’s mix of rounded and rectangular volumes, consistent elements in his International-style designs.

Creation Rock at Red Rocks. Believe it or not, at one time, it even was suggested to project corporate logos onto the sandstone rock features during concerts.

The bench seats, the planters and trees, and the stairs running along
both Creation Rock and Ship Rock are some of the most important
design elements of Red Rocks Ampitheatre. These can be overlooked
due to the understated nature of the design. To most residents, they
simply have always been there.

The ampitheatre is just one part of this Denver-owned park. Hiking on the Trading Post Loop path will give you close up views of many remarkable sandstone formations.

Many of Burnham Hoyt’s more prominent commision’s are now lost, such as the Albany Hotel, the Boettcher School and the Denver Children’s Hospital. Lake Middle School is a prominent commision that survives to this day.

This is the International-style Hoyt House and studio, built 1947, located near the Bonnie Brae neighborhood.

Red Rocks Ampitheatre has some of the finest acoustics of any concert venue in the United States!

Hoyt’s final commision was for 1955’s Denver Public Library, now incorporated into Michael Grave’s larger design.

Creation Rock and Ship Rock at Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Morrison CO.