Step Inside: Alpine Valley Music Theatre – East Troy, WI

Settled in East Troy, Wisconsin, Alpine Valley Resort is an all-season resort that features golfing in the summertime and skiing in the winter. Along the stunning rolling hills and lush greenery is a performance venue that has hosted some of the biggest musical artists of all time. The Alpine Valley Music Theatre provides fans with a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience, equipped with breathtaking sunsets and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

1. The Alpine Valley Music Theatre opened in 1977.

During its first summer, it hosted 36 shows and a total of 198,000 guests. Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Buffett, Kansas and Bob Seger performed in the first few months following its opening. Those aren’t such bad statistics for a venue’s inaugural year.

2. For many years, Alpine Valley was the largest amphitheater in the U.S.

Until San Manuel Amphitheater, then called Glen Helen Pavilion, opened in 1993, Alpine Valley Music Theatre was the biggest in the country. It currently holds a capacity of 37,000.

3. Alpine Valley is a ranking nationwide favorite.

Rolling Stone awarded this theater sixth place on its list of “The Best Amphitheaters in America.” Alpine Valley beat out all other amphitheaters in the midwest, including Chicago’s Ravinia, which came in tenth place.

4. Grateful Dead helped put this place on the map.

Between 1980 and 1989, the Grateful Dead performed at Alpine Valley 20 times. With the Dead came the Deadheads, who flocked to East Troy, by the thousands. Dead & Company, the subgroup with John Mayer and Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, still performs at Alpine Valley, attracting the devoted following to the green hills of Wisconsin. Other jam bands, like Dave Matthews Band, Phish, The Black Crowes, and Blues Traveler make the trek to Alpine Valley to play this incredible venue.

5. Pearl Jam chose to celebrate their 20th anniversary here.

In 2011, the band came to Alpine Valley to play a two-day festival. This celebration featured appearances from The Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age and Pearl Jam’s own subgroup, Temple of the Dog.

6. Stevie Ray Vaughan played his last ever concert here.

Avid music fans will remember this day. Before his tragic death on August 27, 1990, Vaughan played an incredible set at Alpine Valley. After the show, foggy conditions caused his helicopter to collide into a mountain.

7. One feature has remained the same throughout the years.

Although the amphitheater has been renovated and maintained over the years, the wood roof pavilion has stayed intact since day one. The roof’s natural material allows sound to resonate against the hills and valley beautifully, something that theaters with steel structures cannot relate to.

8. The cost of parking is included in your ticket price.

You won’t have to pay extra to park at Alpine Valley. However, if you want to upgrade to premier parking, it will require some extra cash. The cost of premier parking varies based on the performer and the day.

9. Tasty eats.

The amphitheater features dishes from food-loving celebrities and renowned chefs from across the country, including Questlove’s Cheesesteak™, named for the GRAMMY Award-winning drummer’s innovative spin on the Philly classic made with Impossible™ plant-based meat. The drinks are top-notch, too. Gulp down refreshing drinks from our brand new signature cocktail program, curated by world-class mixologist and 2014 American Bartender of the Year, Sean Kenyon.

Add some shows to your concert calendar by checking out Alpine Valley Music Theatre’s schedule here, or in the widget below.