Island Park, Idaho (KIFI) — Construction is accelerating on The Playmill Theatre’s new home in Island Park, with the steel framework and exterior shell now complete ahead of winter. Developers say the project remains on track to wrap by spring 2026, followed by a grand opening for the summer season.
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For more than six decades, The Playmill has been a staple of summer tourism in the Yellowstone region — drawing families, visitors, and theater lovers to its long-running location in West Yellowstone, Montana.
However, Playmill leaders say the beloved venue had finally reached its limits. The theater officially closed the doors at its original location after the 2025 season.
“We’ve outgrown the space we were in, but it will always be like home to us,” said Sam Merrill, one of the Playmill’s family owners. “The magic of the original space will be put into this new theatre, and be even greater with better technology and experiences.”
The new theater — located at 4111 North Big Spring Loop near the SpringHill Suites by Marriott — will span 22,000 square feet. The venue will seat 480 patrons, nearly double its former capacity of 267.
The space is purpose-built for modern theatrical productions, giving the Playmill the flexibility to introduce new staging, lighting, sound, and accessibility options not possible in its decades-old former pharmacy-turned-theater.
The Merrill family originally planned to launch construction in 2020, but pandemic disruptions and economic uncertainty delayed groundbreaking.
The expansion includes new amenities that are expected to boost local tourism and extend guest visits:
These additions are designed to elevate the Playmill from a summertime show into a year-round entertainment destination.
The theatre’s history is deeply rooted in the community. After the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, the original West Yellowstone building sat abandoned until a group of BYU-Idaho theater students revived it in 1964 with makeshift seating. It grew into a regional treasure over the next 60+ years.
Merrill says the move is the next chapter in that legacy.
The new location will allow the Playmill to operate beyond its traditional summer season — launching its first extended production schedule in 2026, which marks 63 years of performances. The lineup includes:
Tourism officials anticipate heightened economic activity in Island Park as audiences return to the Playmill tradition with more capacity and year-round offerings.
Season tickets and updates are available through the Playmill Theatre’s official site.
Originally reported by Danielle Mullenix in Local News 8.
