Recent flooding no match for Lauridsen Amphitheater

DES MOINES, Iowa — The reminder is a bit overdue, but it still applies.

“It’s spring and summer in Iowa,” says Water Works Park Events Manager Tom Zmolek. “We’re gonna have weather and we’re gonna have water.”

Even at a placed called Water Works Park, it’s been a while since we’ve seen this much water.

“We were able to put this in the downtown because it is a floodplain,” says Water Works Park Foundation Executive Director Sam Carrell.

But in the time that’s passed, some things have changed.

“At Water Works Park,” says Mindy Toyne, owner of In Any Event promotions, “I think people have the notion that the events are still being held in the back of the park.”

The Raccoon would rise and events would fall.

“Hinterland, our most famous music festival,” Zmolek remembers, “was supposed to be held here in the rear event field and the first year that we had it scheduled it flooded out and so at the last minute we moved it to St. Charles and the rest is history on that one.”

That history helped spur the construction of the Lauridsen Amphitheater and the carefully engineered grounds around it.

“Really it’s meant to take on water,” Toyne explains, “it was built with that threat in mind, and knowing that it is a seasonal venue.”

Built 15 feet above Gray’s Lake with a protective moat, it’s been largely untested by major flooding. And that’s been fine with Carrell.

“I’m curious,” he laughs, “but I’m not so curious that I want it to happen during the season!”

This week’s rains have barely made a dent, and weekend plans here seem safe — even with more rain possible Wednesday and Thursday.

“The grounds are completely fine at this point,” Zmolek assures. “We have one, small parking lot that we may or may not be able to use this weekend but the other six of them are open.”

90s grunge band Cake is set to take the stage at the Lauridsen Amphitheater Saturday night under clear skies.

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