A 20-acre acoustic music sanctuary along the North St. Vrain River in Lyons, hosting RockyGrass and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival beneath towering red sandstone cliffs.
Planet Bluegrass Ranch is a 20-acre sanctuary for acoustic music, situated along the North St. Vrain River beneath 75-foot red sandstone cliffs in Lyons, Colorado. Founded by Craig Ferguson and Steve Szymanski, the ranch serves as the headquarters and primary venue for some of the country's most revered acoustic gatherings, including RockyGrass and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. The property was acquired in 1991, and by 1992, it hosted the first Lyons-based RockyGrass, transitioning the historic bluegrass festival from dusty fairgrounds to a lush, cottonwood-shaded riverside meadow. In 1994, the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival followed suit, moving from its original home in Estes Park to this permanent riverside venue. Operating at an elevation of 5,375 feet, the ranch maintains a strict daily capacity of roughly 4,000 attendees during festival weekends, preserving an intimate, community-first atmosphere that has come to define festivarian culture.
The physical landscape of the ranch is defined by its resilience and carefully designed infrastructure. In September 2013, a historic 500-year flood completely submerged the property under four feet of rushing water, causing over two million dollars in damage and destroying almost every structure. Rather than abandon the site, Ferguson led a monumental ten-month rebuilding effort, resodding the entire lawn and restoring the venue in time for the July 2014 RockyGrass festival. Today, the centerpiece of the ranch is the Wildflower Pavilion, a 5,000-square-foot heated structure of wood and steel construction. The pavilion features sliding barn-style doors on all four sides that can open completely to the elements or close during inclement weather, alongside a polished concrete floor and a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound CQ-1 speaker system. The property also includes a historic cabin used by performing artists, an outdoor bar with views of Longs Peak, and carefully manicured wildflower and perennial gardens that bloom throughout the summer.
Logistics at the ranch require careful planning, as tickets and on-site camping passes sell out almost immediately via online lotteries. Campers set up along the banks of the North St. Vrain, where late-night picking circles continue long after the main stage performances conclude. For those unable to secure on-site camping, local alternatives include the nearby LaVern M. Johnson Park or the WeeCasa Tiny House Resort, which sits just across the river. The surrounding town of Lyons is highly walkable, and visitors are encouraged to navigate on foot or by bicycle to avoid traffic bottlenecks on US-36. Dining options inside the venue emphasize local, organic, and vegetarian-friendly vendors, while Lyons itself provides classic post-show gathering spots. Oskar Blues Grill and Brew, located just down the road, is the historic birthplace of the craft-beer-in-a-can movement and remains a favorite hangout for musicians and fans alike.
Bring a river tube. The North St. Vrain River curves directly along the northern edge of the ranch. Enter the water upstream near the Apple Valley bridge and float past the main stage during afternoon sets for the ultimate festivarian experience.