Dan Daly, Journal staff | Posted: Tuesday, October 9, 2007 11:00 pm
|
SPEARFISH - The
Black Hills Passion Play, a summer institution in Spearfish, is on
the real estate market for $15 million. But it's unclear whether
that means the "Passion Play" might end its 68-year theatrical
run.
Don Aaker, a
Realtor with Century 21 Spearfish Realty, confirmed that the
Passion Play property is listed for sale with his
office.
He referred further
questions to Guido Della Vecchia, who operates the summer
production with his wife, Johanna Meier, daughter of Black Hills
Passion Play founder Josef Meier. But Della Vecchia declined
comment this week.
According to the
listing posted on the Century 21 Web site, the Passion Play
amphitheater and 23 acres are for sale for $15 million. It makes no
specific mention of the business itself being for
sale.
The property is
surrounded by residential neighborhoods in the fast-growing city.
Its location would make it attractive for residential or commercial
development. However, Aaker said a number of people in Spearfish
would like to see it remain a visitor attraction or theatrical
production site.
Lisa Langer, head
of the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce, said a group of
Spearfish area residents are looking at ways to turn the Passion
Play property into some type of music or entertainment venue,
rather than a residential neighborhood.
"I personally would
hate to see that," Langer said. "I don't doubt for one minute that
it isn't prime real estate for somebody, however I believe there
are many opportunities to keep that amphitheater going, not only
with the Passion Play but also with other entertainment
venues."
The Black Hills
Passion Play, a sweeping outdoor drama of the last days of Jesus
Christ, is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the Black
Hills.
Josef Meier brought
the play to the United States from Germany in the 1930s. In 1939,
Meier and his wife, the late actress Claire Hume Meier, found a
permanent home for their traveling production on the west edge of
Spearfish.
The Passion Play
troupe performed every summer in Spearfish. For a number of years,
the actors also performed in Florida during winters and toured
extensively.
Over the years, the
event and the grounds expanded. Today, the Black Hills Passion Play
property includes a 6,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and a stage
that stretches 350 feet.
At its peak, the
Passion Play filled the city with bus tours and travelers three
nights a week. In recent years, as Spearfish grew, the religious
pageant became a less visible part of the city. But Langer said the
Passion Play remains an important part of the city's
identity.
In fact, it was the
Passion Play that brought Langer to Spearfish back in 1986. A
professional actress, she portrayed Mary Magdalene for five years.
She ended up staying in Spearfish.
She believes last
summer's attendance was up over 2006. It's less visible in the city
these days in part because more tour bus companies are opting to
take their groups to hotels in Rapid City or other Black Hills
cities, rather than in Spearfish.
Contact Dan Daly at
394-8421 or at dan.daly@rapidcityjournal.com
