Two years after troubled opening, huge Missouri venue is gearing up for more concerts
Two years after a weekend of Garth Brooks concerts caused serious traffic delays, the Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Missouri is opening up its doors again in May.
The grand opening is May 21 with the first Concert for Conservation, and all proceeds go “directly to conservation efforts to protect the land, wildlife and natural habitats of the Ozark region,” according to a press release from Bass Pro Shops.
Featured performers at the opening include country artists Chris Janson, John Anderson, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Petersens and Clay Self. Country music superstar Morgan Wallen will follow May 25.
Located at 1901 State Highway 86 in Ridgedale, the outdoor amphitheater is a 15-minute drive from Branson and is billed as the “first of its kind in the world,” according to a press release. It’s 3 1/2 hours south of Kansas City, overlooking Table Rock Lake and the Boston Mountains of Arkansas.
When Brooks performed at the venue, many fans posted on social media about the traffic woes, parking issues, miles-long walks and troubles for attendees with disabilities. Some fans only caught a few songs, while others were less lucky, missing out on the concert entirely.
The capacity for Brooks’ shows in 2022 were 25,000 each day. Now the venue is capped at around 20,000.
What improvements were made to Thunder Ridge Nature Arena?
Bass Pro Shops, which owns Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, and Big Cedar Lodge, a resort near the arena, partnered to address the issues concertgoers faced.
They expanded Highway 86 from two to four lanes and created new turn lanes, a roundabout and a tunnel, which started in May 2023 and cost more than $22 million, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
The venue increased its on-site parking to around 6,500 parking spaces, which can accommodate an estimated 18,000 guests. The venue also features an oversized vehicle lot and rideshare pickup and drop-off spots, a Thunder Ridge Nature Arena spokesperson told the Springfield News-Leader.
A spokesperson said the tram service will still be offered moving forward, and that the number of shuttles and their capacity will vary per event. Concertgoers complained about the venue’s tram service during Brooks’ shows, as it slowed down due to the number of guests shuttling from a parking lot around two miles northeast of the arena.
Improvements have been made for people with disabilities. Additional pathways, increased seating and increased dedicated parking were among the renovations, the venue’s spokesperson said. They have also expanded the main entrance gate and added two secondary entrances to handle heavy traffic.
“We would like to take this opportunity to express our deep and heartfelt appreciation to the many talented people (currently more than 400), who are working hard to create this special place,” a Thunder Ridge spokesperson said in an email to the News-Leader. “All in all, we are committed to making Thunder Ridge a remarkable, fun experience for our guests and a special place for our community.”
In addition to these improvements, they are building The Nature Tower, a 12-story luxury hotel opening in June, according to a press release. Each tower suite will feature five bedrooms, private bars, outside decks, fireplaces and an unobstructed view of the amphitheater.
Who is performing at Thunder Ridge in 2024?
Some of country music’s biggest names and a couple of pop superstars are on their way to Thunder Ridge Nature Arena for its first full season:
Concert for Conservation: May 21
Morgan Wallen: May 25
Chris Stapleton: June 13
Fuerza Regida: June 15
Luke Bryan: July 27
Slightly Stoopid & Dirty Heads: Aug. 31
Imagine Dragons: Sept. 8
Pitbull and T-Pain: Sept. 21
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.
