Inspired by the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, in the United States, Frank and Karen Beyette bought a quarry across the road from their restaurant Franklin’s in Proctor, Minnesota.
Beyette has commissioned Enman Kesselring Consulting Engineers and Morton Buildings to build the 9m x 12m pavilion on a plot that protrudes into the quarry’s waters, with space in and around the pavilion to seat 775 people. By comparison, Red Rocks is a gigantic natural amphitheatre that could accommodate nearly 10,000 people.
According to the Rutland Herald, by next summer, Beyette aims to have ‘The Quarry’ event space, a new summer venue for Rutland County, built by the edge of the water with removable walls so the audience can see the marble face from their lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
“In the end, there will be the pavilion, bathrooms, sewer system and cook shack,” Beyette said. “We’ll have the whole nine yards,” he said.
“It’s picturesque as heck,” Beyette said. “I just wanted it for the backdrop.”
Beyette hopes to have his Act 250 permit approval in this year’s northern hemisphere autumn so he can build in spring of 2019 and start bookings the following July.
“We need something around for next summer,” he said. “If I can get them, I’d love to have the Vermont Symphony Orchestra first.”
The outdoor venue wouldn’t just be for live music. The space would be available to the public to rent for everything from corporate barbecues to weddings to big birthday parties, with beer, wine and catering available. Franklin’s popular chicken wings will also be on the menu at Beyette’s sister project, if it all goes to plan.
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