Jun 30, 2021 - Things to Do

Scoop: Des Moines' Simon Estes Amphitheater closed until 2024

Jason Clayworth

Des Moines' Simon Estes Amphitheater. — DSM's Simon Estes Amphitheater earlier this week. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

The Simon Estes Amphitheater won't reopen for another three years despite crews this month completing a $727K flood repair project at the venue, Des Moines Parks director Ben Page told Axios Tuesday.

Construction projects adjacent to the site make it too loud and dusty, Page said.

Why it matters: Popular downtown events like Nitefall on the River are being delayed largely because the amphitheater is out of commission. It's a total bummer.

Details: The 1,200-capacity outdoor venue closed in the spring of 2019 for what was believed to be only a two-summer hiatus due to the Locust Street Bridge replacement project.

Then a round of floods, also in 2019, caused extensive damage.
Now a reconstruction of the adjacent Walnut Street Bridge in addition to other flood mitigation work has further delayed the 25-year-old amphitheater's comeback.

😎 The bright side: There's now a younger, beefier amphitheater in town.

Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park opened in 2019 and holds up to 25K people.
The next performance: Blues Traveler & JJ Grey and Mofro on July 9.

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Scoop: Des Moines' Simon Estes Amphitheater closed until 2024

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