Groundbreaking Today for New Wichita Foundation Amphitheater

WICHITA, Kansas — Exploration Place is breaking ground today on its new riverfront amphitheater.

The Wichita Foundation Amphitheater will showcase the nightly Ring of Fire show at Wichita’s iconic Keeper of the Plains sculpture. It will also provide a stunning venue for live performances, free family movie nights and other community events.

The groundbreaking takes place at 3:30 p.m. on March 6 with an opportunity for photos and video.

The ceremony will include brief remarks by:

• Gayle Malone, Exploration Place board chair
• Sarah Lopez, Sedgwick County commissioner and Exploration Place board member
• Adam Smith, Exploration Place president and CEO
• Dan Lara, economic development representative with the U.S. Economic Development Administration
• Shelly Prichard, Wichita Foundation president and CEO
• Ryan Baty, Sedgwick County commissione

The amphitheater will be a harmonious blend of art, architecture and nature and will open in September 2024. One of its defining features will be its unparalleled and uninhibited sightlines across the Arkansas River to the Keeper of the Plains. The 1,500-capacity amphitheater also includes a mixed-use space designed to promote a vibrant, bustling atmosphere along the river, where pedestrians and cyclists can gather safely.

Exploration Place opened in April 2000 and welcomed a record 403,543 visitors in 2023. The Wichita Foundation Amphitheater marks the first phase in a $22 million project to develop Exploration Place’s 20-acre riverfront property.

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The mission of Exploration Place, Kansas’ premier science center, is to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences for all. Exploration Place is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and through 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings. For more information, visit exploration.org.

The Wichita Foundation invests in people and ideas to spark change. Since 1986, the Foundation has partnered with individuals, families and nonprofits to build community through the Fund for Wichita and nearly 300 charitable funds. For more information, visit wichitafoundation.org.