If you haven’t been to the Zoo Amphitheatre in a while, you may not recognize everything.The terraced lawn can now accommodate thousands of additional reserved seats. There are new concessions, paved walkways, improved lighting and climate-controlled restrooms. Backstage, artists now have renovat ed green rooms, production offices, a new catering kitchen and even a basketball court. But look closely and the old sandstone is still there. That’s the balance the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre has struck as it celebrates its 90th year: modernizing one of Oklahoma City’s most storied entertainment venues without losing what made generations of Oklahomans fall in love with it. “It’s a huge milestone to be an active amphitheater in the state of Oklahoma for almost a century,” Regional Marketing Director Shelley Rowan said. “Our whole venue staff has been really excited to celebrate.” A New Zoo Amp The renovations weren’t simply cosmetic. In some ways, they had become necessary to the future of the venue. “It was in disrepair,” Rowan said. Some touring acts were even bringing their own catering setups because the facilities no longer met the needs of modern productions. To continue attracting major artists, Rowan said, the Zoo Amp needed to be able to compete with amphitheaters in markets such as Kansas City and Bentonville. So, for the first time since the 1970s, the venue underwent major renovations.The terraced lawn was reworked and can now accommodate up to 4,000 additional reserved seats. Entry points increased from one to as many as four, while concessions and restrooms were upgraded throughout the property. A new sound system better serves the venue while reducing noise bleed into the surrounding neighborhood. Behind the stage, green rooms were renovated, tour-bus parking was paved and modern production offices and new catering facilities were added. A free tram now transports guests from the Zoo and Science Museum parking lots, while the VIP “Glampground” features an Airstream bar, seating, yard games and private restrooms. Most of the work was completed for the 2025 season, with new reserved boxes added this year. But throughout the overhaul, preserving the character of the Zoo Amp remained important. Original stonework was unearthed along the lawn, with damaged stones replaced using similar material. The work brought the terraced lawn back closer to its original design.“There are certain things that will always remain the same with the Zoo Amphitheater,” Rowan said. “We are all quite partial to our memories and nostalgia.” Ninety Years in Oklahoma City There is plenty of history to preserve. The Zoo Amphitheatre was established in 1935 as a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression, and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps using native sandstone. Approximately 400 CCC workers lived nearby in tents and wooden barracks while helping build Lincoln Park, the Oklahoma City Zoo, Zoo Lake and the Amphitheatre. Its first audience came to see something called “The Circus of 21 Death-Defying Acts.”The names that followed became considerably more recognizable: Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, the Grateful Dead, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, The Eurythmics and Oklahoma’s own Flaming Lips are among the artists who have performed there. Yet the venue’s history isn’t just a list of famous performers. It’s also generations of Oklahomans who can remember their first show—or that show—at the Zoo Amp.“When you’ve been operating for 90 years, you’ve been a part of generations of people’s concert-going and live-music experience,” Rowan said. As part of this year’s celebration, fans have been submitting old concert photographs, some dating back decades. The venue has also partnered with OKC’s Lively Beerworks on a special 90th anniversary beer. The Next Act At roughly 9,000 capacity, the Zoo Amp also occupies an increasingly valuable place in Oklahoma City’s live-music landscape. “The size is incredible, because you can get an artist like a Benson Boone or Ella Langley and see them in a relatively small venue compared to some of the really, really large arenas,” Rowan said. “You can get up close. There’s really not a bad seat in the house.”That combination—major artists in a setting that still feels intimate—is part of what Rowan believes separates the venue from larger arenas. The Zoo Amp also introduced a season lawn pass this year, allowing passholders to attend every show during its inaugural season. The program is expected to return next year.There are no additional major renovations currently announced, but Rowan said smaller improvements continue as the venue settles into its next chapter. For those who remember the Zoo Amp before the overhaul, her message is simple: come back. “It’s definitely an upgraded experience,” she said. “It’s still the Zoo. You’re still going to be out on the lawn enjoying the evening.” In the 90 years since hundreds of workers helped lay the sandstone that created the Zoo Amphitheatre, much about Oklahoma City has changed. So has the Zoo Amp. But the old stone is still there. And the memorable music isn’t going anywhere. James Biscone is a native Oklahoman, attorney and author. He is a contributing writer to the Oklahoma Gazette. The post 90 Years of Zoo Amp appeared first on Oklahoma Gazette. ...read more read less