_{By Mike Romero}

The Osmond family unveiled ambitious plans this week for Vesper Amphitheater, a proposed “world-class” entertainment venue at the base of Provo Canyon that would transform a longtime mining and gravel pit site into a major cultural and recreational destination.

Announced by Donny and David Osmond during an event at the canyon site, the project would feature a 20,000-seat outdoor amphitheater – roughly the size of Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in West Valley City. The venue also has an 8,000-seat enclosed indoor configuration for year-round performances. Developers hope to begin construction in spring 2027 and complete the venue by fall 2029, pending rezoning approvals and city review processes.

Located south of U.S. 189 across from Timpanogos Park, the proposed 100-acre development is designed to blend entertainment with the surrounding natural landscape. Renderings show a hillside amphitheater inspired by venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and Tuacahn in southern Utah, with seating oriented toward Mount Timpanogos. Plans also include boutique shops, hotel villas, restaurants, gathering spaces, trail connections, and expanded recreational access intended to position the venue as both a tourism destination and a “gateway to Provo Canyon.”

Project leaders emphasized that restoration and conservation are central to the vision. The site has operated as a mining facility for more than a century, and developers say the project would reclaim and rehabilitate the altered terrain while preserving the canyon’s natural character. David Osmond said the team plans to restore more than 100 acres of land, connect approximately 20 miles of trails, support fly-fishing access along the Provo River, and implement dark-sky standards and advanced sound-mitigation technology.

Despite this, some members of the community have voiced concern about regularly bringing 20,000 people to Provo Canyon – enjoyed for its sense of quiet and solitude – and how the increased traffic will alter the environment and the experience beloved by locals. Some have suggested that the mining pit should be restored to nature instead of a commercial endeavor.

Local officials have voiced strong support for the proposal, while acknowledging that significant planning and infrastructure hurdles remain. Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins called the development a transformative opportunity and a potential economic driver for the city. City leaders, Utah County officials, UDOT, and project planners are expected to collaborate on traffic flow, infrastructure improvements, and public safety considerations as the proposal advances through the approval process. A formal presentation to Provo City officials is scheduled for July 29, with rezoning requests and general plan amendments still required before construction can begin.