Osmonds are behind planned major music venue in Provo Canyon

Originally published June 1, 2026.

It’s been a quarry in Provo Canyon for construction materials for the past century, but starting next year, Spencer Shumway plans a reclamation project that will turn the current eyesore into a world-class entertainment destination that will bring top entertainers to Utah County.

Joined at the gravel pit by two members of the famed Osmond family, Shumway unveiled plans for the Vesper Amphitheater, a year-round entertainment venue that will seat 20,000 during summer operations and 8,000 when it is enclosed for winter events. Las Vegas headliner Donny Osmond and his nephew David Osmond helped announce plans for the complex, to be built at the base of Mount Timpanogos.

David Osmond is the son of Donny’s late brother Alan, who died on April 20. He originated the annual Stadium of Fire on the Fourth of July in LaVell Edwards Stadium at Brigham Young University in Provo.

On April 1, 2027, the venue developers plan to assume ownership of the site, end mining activities and restore native habitat, repair damaged terrain and begin construction of the theater.

“I’ve played every single kind of venue you could possibly imagine, and I have memories of certain places that I would love to go back to,” Donny Osmond, who was joined by his wife, Debbie, told an assembled audience. “And what I envision right here is where the managers, the agents, the publicists, the artists, the bands themselves, I know they’re going to say, ‘You got to play Vesper,’ not just because the audiences are amazing, but because of the ambience, the venue itself, the beauty, the year-round opportunities for entertaining here.” 

David Osmond explained that “vesper” has reference to the golden hour of the day just before dark.

“Entertainment and nature do not have to compete with each other,” he said.

The proposed 100-acre venue is located south of U.S. 189, across the highway from Timpanogos Park. Posters depicting the amphitheater show it laid out on the hillside, similar to the popular theater at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts near St. George. The seats would face north with Mount Timpanogos above and behind the stage. Also planned are villas, shops, trail connections and adjacent parking. 

David Osmond said the developers, which also include John Meyer and Lewis Meyer, among others, are working closely with Provo City on feasibility studies and conservation easements. David Osmond is executive director of Vesper, while Donny Osmond is the chair of the Vesper advisory board. 

“The goal is not to overwhelm the canyon but to transform it from an existing gravel pit into something more beautiful, more usable, more stable, more thoughtfully planned, a gateway to Provo Canyon. Make this a crown jewel of Provo Canyon.” 

“The goal is not to overwhelm the canyon but to transform it from an existing gravel pit into something more beautiful, more usable, more stable, more thoughtfully planned, a gateway to Provo Canyon,” David Osmond said. “Make this a crown jewel of Provo Canyon.” 

He went on to explain how deeply personal the canyon is for Utahns and the Osmonds alike. He said Vesper is determined to treat it with respect.

“It is a rare opportunity for land at the mouth of a canyon to become available like this,” said Shumway. “The greatest luxury we can create is access to nature, restoring this land into a gateway for hiking, biking, music and meaningful experiences. As stewards of this land, we are excited to help preserve the canyon.”

“The time has come, and this is the place,” Donny Osmond concluded.  “We love the community, we love the ambiance, we love the people, we love the potential and we love the growth.”  He is confident that artists and their managers will be determined to play at Vesper.