The Masonic Amphitheatre and Park is a state-of-the-art outdoor facility and park that opened in June 2012. The Amphitheatre was designed and built by third-year architect students from the design/buildLab at Virginia Tech. The Smith Creek Pedestrian Bridge which links historic Clifton Forge to the Masonic Amphitheatre was designed and built by the design/buildLAB students (a different class) one year later.
The Theatre’s stage was repurposed from a concrete slab that was part of a wholesale tire company owned by Bill Cook. Bill donated the land for the Amphitheatre to the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation and the Amphitheatre became part of a complex that includes the Historic Masonic Theatre on 510 Main Street and the Masonic Amphitheatre on 513 Church Street in Clifton Forge, VA. The two structures are adjacent to one another.
The Amphitheatre’s season presents a diverse program of musical entertainment, plays, and festivals, runs from April to early October.
The Amphitheatre seats 500 people with bench seating and the Amphitheatre lawn which invites lawn chairs and blankets for individuals and families to enjoy every event. In the past four seasons, the majority of the programs offered are free of charge or donation only and many showcase local Alleghany Highlands’ talent.
The Amphitheatre is available to rent by organizations, businesses and non-profits.
Performers are thrilled with the acoustics and the sound that the Amphitheatre provides. The Masonic Amphitheatre is managed and staffed by volunteers.