Pankowski Friends Amphitheater Project
The Pankowski Friends Amphitheater, a stone and timber gathering space, was the first major capital fundraising campaign for the Friends of Schmeeckle. Construction was completed in September 2019. The amphitheater is the main venue for Candlelight Hike Festival performances, family nature programs, and special events sponsored by Schmeeckle. It is also available for private and community rentals.
Why an amphitheater?
Between 2005 and 2018, the popular biannual Candlelight Hike Festivals in Schmeeckle grew from about 300 participants to nearly 4,000. As a result, the small campfire ring where UW-Stevens Point students performed character programs was no longer adequate. As their first capital campaign, the Friends group decided to raise funding for a professionally designed amphitheater that would blend into the landscape, serve as a focal point, and provide a better audience experience. It would also create opportunities for new campus and community partnerships.
Amphitheater design and construction
The amphitheater was designed with one foot in classic rustic park architecture and the other in modern sustainable design. Native sandstone blocks, quarried from the nearby Krukowski Stone quarry in Mosinee, provides tiered seating for 200-250 people. Spaces in the stones at the front of the seating area provide accessibility for people in wheelchairs and with other mobility disabilities.
A covered stage area is constructed with exposed glulam timbers, which are several smaller boards glued together to create massive columns and beams. The unique flared roof is wider in front and narrower in back, helping to direct sound toward the audience. Black metal rods held by massive brackets are used in place of more traditional wooden roof tie beams, creating an open feel for the structure. Cedar shingles cover the roof. Dimmable lights were added in the ceiling in 2021.
The entire structure was designed to blend in with the natural environment of Schmeeckle, while providing a unique community venue for programs, concerts, and other events.
The Rettler Corporation in Stevens Point developed the site concept design, seating and landscaping plans, and coordinated the construction. Alliiance architects in Minneapolis developed designs for the unique stage area with a flared roof. Ellis Construction served as the primary contractor to build the amphitheater.
The project earned a Silver Award in 2019 from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, which recognizes the most impressive construction projects in the state.
Timeline and cost
Fundraising for the amphitheater started in December of 2016, when Dallas and Edith Pankowski offered a $65,000 gift to kick-start the fundraising campaign. The Rettler Corporation was hired by the Friends group in May 2017 to develop the site concept and coordinate the project planning. By July 2018, enough funding had been raised to bid out the project. Ellis Construction won the bid and was hired as the general contractor in August. A Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on September 7, 2018.
The project took almost exactly a year to construct. The Grand Opening Celebration was held September 13, 2019, and featured live music by Adam Greuel (of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Art Stevenson (of High Water), Dan Alfuth, Frank Stanislawski and Jeff Ebel (of Gray Catz), and Matt Williams (of Steez).
The total cost of the amphitheater project was $275,000. The amphitheater was funded entirely by generous donations and grants through the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve. The Friends gifted the amphitheater to UW-Stevens Point on May 10, 2020. Today, the amphitheater is managed and maintained by Schmeeckle Reserve staff.
Renting the amphitheater
The amphitheater is a beautiful venue for weddings, concerts, family reunions, and other events. It is available to rent up to a year in advance through Schmeeckle Reserve. Click here for more information.
Photo gallery
Click the albums below to view photos of the amphitheater during and after construction:
Project Donors
A special thank you to the nearly 100 donors who made the Pankowski Friends Amphitheater a reality! The amphitheater is named for Dallas and Edith Pankowski, who provided the founding $65,000 gift to kick-start the fundraising campaign.
Generous grants were also provided by the Sentry Insurance Foundation ($50,000), the Community Parks Improvement Committee ($10,000), the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin ($7,000), the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Development Grant ($5,000), the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society ($5,000), and the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation ($5,000).
The following individuals, families, and businesses have graciously donated funding toward the Friends Amphitheater project:
Founders ($50,000 and above)
- Dallas and Edith Pankowski
- Sentry Insurance Foundation
Partners ($10,000-$19,999)
- Helen Busch, in memory of Bob Busch
- Joseph and Charlene Jarabek
- Jerry Lineberger, in memory of Susan Lineberger
- Nancy Ross, in memory of John M. Ross
- Community Parks Improvement Committee
- Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve
- Rettler Corporation
Sponsors ($5,000-$9,999)
- Mitzi and Bernie Hlavac
- Jack and Cynny Porter
- Kevin and Adelle Spaay, in honor of all Ella’s patrons, 1974-2016
- Seramur Family Foundation, Inc.
- Timothy L. Taschwer Trust
- Aldo Leopold Audubon Society
- Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin
- Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Development Grant
- Wisconsin Public Service Foundation
Supporters ($1,000-$4,999)
- Samantha and David Birkenkamp, in memory of Susan Lineberger
- Jim, Sunshine, and Walden Buchholz
- Mike and Pat Dombeck
- Ken and Meg Erler
- Bill and Kim Fisher
- Kent and Sue Hall
- Dave and Karen Henneghan
- John and Dori Jury
- Dan and Donna Marx
- Steve, Anne, Tom, and John Okonek, in memory of Irene Okonek
- Don and Tina Peters
- Sheri, Tony, and Ben Rohde
- Rick and Sharon Rothman
- In memory of Duane E. Sherman
- Richard and Diane Steffensen
- Kathleen Taft
- Chris and Kaila Thompson
- Rick and Sarah Wilke
- Kay Wohlbier, in memory of Carl T. Wohlbier
- David and Cindy Worth
- Noah and Andrea Zimmerman
- Ron and Donna Zimmerman
- American Family Insurance-James Check Agency
- Delta Dental of Wisconsin
- Plover Kiwanis Club
- Shulfer’s Sprinklers & Landscaping
Donors (up to $999)
- Anton and Mary Beth Anday
- Steve and Sue Bergin, in memory of Professor James Newman
- Bill Berry and Nick Schultz, in memory of George and Jeanette Rogers
- Dennis and Linda Brown
- Jason Brown
- Melanie Balsis
- Judy Cable Anderson, in memory of John E. Anderson
- Jim Canales
- Jim and Barb DeWeerd
- Barbara Dixson and Alan Smith
- In honor of Leah Egan
- Megan and Troy Espe
- Steve Faber and Jackie Meyers
- Jim and Madeleine Haine
- Alan Haney
- Geoffrey Harris
- Jan and Kathy Hermann
- Jack Hurrish and Joan Karlen
- Gene and June Johnson
- Lynne E. Kagelmann, in honor of Educators of Wisconsin
- Phil and Penny Kallas
- John and Patricia Kedrowski
- Christine Koeller
- Bob and Nancy Korth
- John and Donna Koutre
- Sue Kwarciany
- Brenda Lackey and Cathy Scheder
- Janet Langton
- Michael and Janet LeClair
- Kendra Liddicoat and Brian Barringer
- Scott Maas
- Stephen W. and Lynn M. Marquardt
- Dianne Meyer, in honor of Cooper and Camden Thompson
- Gary Nickel and Deborah Padgett, in memory of Susan Lineberger
- Ron and Sharon Omernick, in memory of Stanley and Lillian Mijal
- Mike and Linda Orella
- Paul and Becky Otto
- John and Dawn Porter, in honor of Jack and Cynny Porter
- Wendy Porter and Steve Nyberg, in honor of Jack and Cynny Porter
- Judy Ratkowski, in memory of Doug Post
- James Rogers
- Timothy Roman
- Kathryn Savonne
- Susan Schlicht, in memory of Karl and Joan Williams
- Susan and Alvin Schuller
- Dan and Tina Sivek
- Tully Smith
- Dan Stephens
- James and Susan Zach
- Alliiance (in-kind gift)
- GFWC Stevens Point Woman’s Club
- Lands’ End
- Torborg’s Waupaca Lumber (in-kind gift)