Founders of The Gorge Amphitheatre plan new music venues

The Gorge Amphitheatre’s founders have announced they are building two new venues above the Columbia River.

The founders of Washington’s legendary Gorge Amphitheater—home to events like Above & Beyond Group Therapy, Bass Canyon, and Beyond Wonderland—have readied their next big move. Vince and Carol Bryan just revealed plans for two new venues nearby. Specifically, their nonprofit-driven project “The Hilltop” aims to fuse music, nature, and sustainability into one bold cultural campus.

The centerpiece will be The Grotto at The Hilltop, a 1,000- to 1,200-seat indoor theater. Portland-based ZGF Architects has undoubtedly designing the space to feel like an extension of the landscape itself. For instance, it will nestle into existing rock formations, echoing the cliffs and skies that define the gorge. Moreover, solar panels will line the roof, part of a push to make the venue among the country’s most sustainable.

Next door will sit The Terraces, a 2,000-seat outdoor venue. Its tiered seating overlooks the Columbia River, with a band shelter built to host full symphonies. Between them, an outdoor patio called The Perch will connect the areas. If construction starts in January 2028, The Terraces should be ready later that year and The Grotto by June 2029. As the Bryans pledge the land and help fund-raise, the philanthropic build is budgeted at $35–$40 million.

To jumpstart momentum, The Hilltop is hosting the inaugural Soar Festival on August 22 at Cave B Estate Winery. The lineup includes David Foster & Friends, Katharine McPhee, and the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, tickets will run $108.39. Although only a single-day affair, the long-term dream is to grow Soar into a 10- to 14-day event.

Forty years ago, the Bryans turned a winery overlook into one of America’s most scenic concert spots. Now, with 6.5 acres earmarked for The Hilltop, they’re betting on a more intimate concept. If the renderings hold, the project will feel modern yet rooted in the land’s natural contours. For fans and locals alike, these new venues bring more options beyond the 22,000-capacity Gorge main stage and a mainstay cultural hub.

Featured Image: Google/KOMO News

About The Author

Ginger Ale

Having grown up just an earshot from Ultra Miami’s venue Bayfront Park, it was next to impossible for me not to fall in love with electronic music. My love for music was evidently strong enough for me to write my college essay on festival culture and continue attending Ultra for 12 consecutive years (still counting). As an avid traveler, I’m definitely not afraid to hop on a plane for a music event. My current bucket list festivals right now are Tomorrowland in Belgium, Cercle Festival in France, Kappa Futur in Italy, and Sonus in Croatia. Though the list could go on forever, some of my favorite artists are Franky Wah, BICEP, Cassian, and Mochakk.

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