Entry No. 43 — the Des Moines file — filed under: outdoor-amphitheater
Briar Patch Amphitheater
A Deadhead who followed the Grateful Dead through 80+ shows came home to rural Iowa and carved a natural-bowl amphitheater into an oak-hickory forested hillside — that's Briar Patch, tucked between wetlands and prairie just outside the tiny town of Bevington. Owner Bob Rice built it himself starting in 2000, and the programming reads like his music diary: annual "Jerry Daze" Grateful Dead tribute weekends, Bevington Bluegrass Festival, and now a 750-cap deep-dubstep blowout called Wubstock running a Void Acoustics rig. Axios Des Moines' own headline called it "Des Moines' hidden rural music venue," and that's underselling it — most locals have never heard of it. On-site forest camping seals the deal.
The move: Grab a tent, make the 25-minute drive south on I-35, and catch one of the summer festivals — Wubstock (July 17–19, 2026) or Bevington Bluegrass (June 19–20, 2026) — then camp the night in the woods with 749 strangers who all found the same secret.
📍 Before you go It's a private homestead carved into the woods off I-35 south of Des Moines, near Bevington (some listings say Prole) — lean on GPS to the Warren Avenue address and watch for the rural turnoff, because there's no marquee and you'll feel like you're driving onto someone's land, because you basically are; be respectful of the property and the quiet country road in. Plan for summer: this is an open-air, festival-season place built around sunsets, campfires, and stargazing, not winter visits. On-site forest camping is the whole point, with primitive tent sites typically bundled into a festival pass and RVs costing more, so come prepared for rustic, pack-it-in conditions and bring cash, a camp chair, and your own supplies. The drive itself pairs well with the Middle River countryside, so make a full day of it from the city.
- 📍 Bevington (25 min south of Des Moines)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2103 Warren Ave, Bevington, IA 50033
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Axios · songkick.com · lowhighpresents.com · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-09