Under the tenure of the Vail Valley Foundation (VVF), The Amp has seen five major renovations: the original completion of construction in the mid-1980s, and upgrades in 2001, 2011, 2014, and 2025 (ongoing through 2028).

Architect Jim Morter originally designed The Amp and was instrumental in the $9 million renovation in 2001 (which added more seats and restrooms and a larger roof), as well as subsequent efforts overseen by Zehren & Associates in 2011, which enlarged the loading dock and upgraded the orchestra pit.

“Our philosophy has always been to respect the original design and build upon it, rather than competing with it,” says David Kaselak of Zehren & Associates, which became the venue’s architect of record for yet another renovation in 2014. That update introduced a new entrance area with a soaring canopy, enhanced ticket and bag-check areas, night lighting, a mini-stage, new concessions and restrooms, a re-terraced lawn to reduce steepness, and a series of sculptures, images of President and Mrs. Ford, and a timeline of their major milestones in Vail. This time, Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas, performed in the “new” venue.

Four years ago, VVF revamped the garden behind the stage, dominated by aspens and evergreens, to include a colorful blend of perennials and annuals.

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to renovations is that the site is constrained on all sides—bounded by  Betty Ford Way, Gore Creek, athletic fields and tennis courts, and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. The 2014 renovation incorporated translucent tensile architectural elements into the social courtyard canopy to allow in light and views of the surrounding landscape and realigned the entrance so it was closer to the Alpine Gardens entrance.  

Currently, The Amp is in the throes of a $19 million upgrade that includes enhanced landscaping, new handrails, upgraded upholstered seats, concrete repairs, more office and storage space, additions to the box office, enhanced dressing and green rooms with showers and bathrooms, improvements to acoustics, as well as east and south concessions, a loading dock and a completely new, two-story north concessions building with a multipurpose studio and assembly space that corporate and individual patrons can rent. Pavilion concrete repairs, painting, new seating, an expanded production booth, and handrailing installation were completed in April 2026. The replaced hard-backed seats actually came from the Denver Broncos’ old stadium four decades ago. The new, upholstered myrtle-green seats (complementing surrounding tree canopies) include cup holders and are fabricated in the United States. 

This summer, sound and light engineers benefit from a larger state-of-the-art production booth relocated to the front of the house. The former one was too small for the level of the performances The Amp now hosts; the season has grown from 30 to 40 events in three months into a six-plus-month season with more than 80 events annually.

“We’re getting great acts now, but we’ll get even better acts in the future,” says The Amp's David Hyde.

Utility upgrades will be made this winter, with the final capital improvements starting in September 2027 and concluding in May 2028.
VVF expects the enhancements to bolster The Amp’s annual economic impact by several million dollars.

“The planned renovation and additional work will allow The Amp to expand its menu offerings and, more importantly, continue to attract the world-class talent it has always been known for,” Kaselak says, noting that prior to the most recent renovations, The Amp was dated and lacked the polish and modern amenities of competing venues. 

Since the amphitheater opened in 1987, the Town of Vail has contributed roughly $2.5  million toward capital improvements, including the addition of a jumbo screen for those in lawn seating. As of mid-April, the VVF had raised $14  million of its $19 million capital improvement campaign goal for The Amp, including $5 million from Bravo! Vail.

Says Caitlin Murray: “Bravo! Vail is proud to partner with the Vail Valley Foundation to invest in The Amp and its future, improving the guest experience and ensuring it will remain the home of classical music in Vail for years to come.”