West Bend Mutual Insurance has donated $600,000 for a new amphitheater stage at Washington County Fair Park.
The stage, to be named, the “Silver Lining Amphitheater,” is part of a plan by Washington County to upgrade the facilities at its fair park in West Bend and attract new talent to the venue. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2016 and be completed for the 2016 fair.
The Silver Lining Amphitheater will replace the fair’s current amphitheater, which was built in 1999, with a larger 50-by-100-foot stage. The covered venue will accommodate 1,500 people.
“The Washington County Fair has prided itself in securing top national entertainment,” said Sandy Lang, executive director of the Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center. “With the high caliber of entertainment, the request has been for a much larger stage.”
As part of the public-private partnership to improve the fairgrounds, the Washington County Board has allocated up to $85,000 in county funds for architectural services and preliminary site work.
Zimmerman Architectural Studios will design the Silver Lining Amphitheater.
Zimmerman’s entertainment venue portfolio includes the Miller Lite Oasis, Harley-Davidson Roadhouse and Summerfest’s Rock Stage.