After State Bridge lodge burned to the ground in 2007, the venue's general manager Scotty Stoughton watched the ashes smolder and felt what he calls a huge void inside. Not surprising, considering State Bridge had been a big part of his life for more than a decade.

I got the call at 5 in the morning, he remembered. We had just had the most successful weekend ever at State Bridge. We were finally making money and then it all went away. When it burned, it was pretty devastating.

After the fire, Stoughton stayed away for about a year but the venue's energy slowly drew him back into the fold and now as the talent buyer and event operations manager, he's helping current owner Doug Moog bring State Bridge back. There's been a few concerts and festivals at the former stagecoach stop but nothing like it used to be.

Right now the site doesn't look like much. In the footprint of where the lodge used to sit, big yellow bulldozers are moving big rocks and piles of reddish brown dirt around. There are six yurts along the periphery. But in less than two months, in time for a Memorial Day bash, there will be an outdoor amphitheater and a stage.

The whole concept is to create the world's most beautiful and magical 500-person boutique ampthitheater. That's the goal — to bring State Bridge back to the people, back to the community, Stoughton said.