We are in the middle of corn fields.
We are 2 miles south
& 2 miles west of
Woodward
(1 mile South of Hwy 141 from the North Side)
A little over 2 miles west of Hwy 141
from the East side)
72 Years for Wilma with the Ballroom.
Wilma married Pete Bess in 1944.
(Previous owners.) .... but She started
dancing at the Ballroom in '37 or '38
In her high school years. (that's 79 years)
Yes .... There was a Lake.
Mr. Robbins made a man-made lake
& put an 8 sided cabin on it with a board walk. This was in the beginning of 1920's. He started building the Ballroom
in 1929 & opened
November 11, 1931.
Herbie Kay out of Chicago was the Orchestra. His female vocalist was
Dorothy Lamour.
She was 17 years old.
We Celebrated the Ballroom's
89th Anniversary
Sunday Nov. 8, 2020
(actual date is 11/11/1931)
Rumor has it .. Frank Sinatra
was out here singing with the Dorseys
I'll be checking this out
We know Ronald Regan danced out
here when he worked for WHO
.................
11 more years & we'll be celebrating
100 years
26726 150th St
Woodward, IA 50276
515-438-2305
............................................................
We are so sorry to lose some more of
our old friends & dancers.
Ray Duffee 2/23/14
Jean Zmolek 3/30/14
Dave Barnes 5/15/14
Margaret Lee 5/18/14
Coloma (Kip) Shannon 6/21/14 (our ticket Lady)
Max Wheelwright 6/28/14
Joseph Book 7/30/2014
Evelyn Dagnillo 9/16/14
Rhonda Armstrong 11/28/14
We are so sorry to lose
more Friends
Al Godfredsen 2/6/15
Pinky Redman - 2/17/15 Al Welsh Orchestra's drummer for 60 years.
Del Martin 1/2015
Helen Cunningham 11/18/2014
Johnny Saunders 2/8/2015
Gary Grant 2/20/2015
Vince Morris 2/21/2015
Eleanore Meier 8/3/2015
Lou Greco 8/17/2015
Marilyn Meyer 8/31/2015
Howard Clemons 9/ /2015
Jack Vierling 11/3/2015
Josephine Thiel 11/7/2015
Robert Ziesman 12/4/2015
Larry Schultze 12/6/2015
Bill Cardwell 1/7/2016
Reta Williams 1/28/2016
Alice Jenkins 2/21/2016
Lester Menke 3/5/2016
Karen Swenson 6/11/16
Conrad John 6/17/16
Wilma Jean Bess 7/2/2016 (Previous Owner)
Arlene Hendrixson 7/17/16A
Duane (Bud) Young 7/23/16
Jeanne Robbins Phillips 9/17/16 ( Father & Grandfather built Lake Robbins)
Charles Heinz 10/16
Dick Smith 11/26/16
Norman Gore 1/29/17
Arlyce Nichols 3/2/17
Jeanette Ziesman 3/6/17
Don Kinnison 5/16/17
Michael Westaby 5/17/17 (Gloria & Marlo's son)
Gary "Hatch" Hatcher 6/30/17
Patsy Capen 7/1/17
Belle Maring 8/31/17
Tim Dawson 10/13/17
Nada Shannon 11/24/17
Betty Greif - Feldmann 2/13/18
Anoka Stratton 4/25/18
Noah Bess 5/14/2018 (Wilma & Pete's son)
Bryan Idso 7/9/18 (Karon's son & our PT Cook)
Howard Hammond 7/23/18
Maggie Radebaugh 7/27/18
Velma Bailey 9/17/18 (one of the Bouton ladies who helped us.)
Charles Radke 10/12/18 (keyboard in Al Welsh & Everett Boyer's bands)
Horace Young 10/19/18
Wendall Eike 11/6/2018
Gordie Strain 2/9/19 (with Midwest Rock & Soul Revue Band)
Helen Bush 2/21/19
Jon Stafford 3/13/19 (According to Hoyle Band)
Ross Leeper 4/11/19 (Al Welsh & Everett Boyer's Bands)
Joan Lindner 4/14/19
Everett Boyer 6/2019 (his 1st job with his band was here at Lake Robbins)
Maxine Martens 7/4/19
Nancy Dean 8/28/19 (Tex Dean's wife)
Keith Knight 10/2/19
Owen 10/6/19
Jack West 10/22/19
Nadine Christensen 12/4/19
Carol Reeves 4/12/20 (She was a great help .. kitchen & serving)
Loren Roiger 4/25/20
Tex Dean 6/2020 (Drummer for Everett Boyer, Stardusters, Sentimential Swing)
Russell Dent 6/23/20
Noel Friday 7/2020
CANCELLED
We just heard Everett Boyer
passed away in June 2019
What a great lost. His first job with his band was at Lake Robbins. He told me he was always greatful to Wilma for given his band a chance.
His band was always one of the favorites at the Ballroom. We sure have missed his wonderful music.
Available for Weddings & In House Catering
See our Wedding page
I'm not sure what year this was taken but this is the north side of the Ballroom. It's changed a bit.
We are doing better than last month with your help. Thank you
Helen Bush
April 9, 1919 - Feb. 21, 2019 *************
Wilma with good friends, Marge, Judy, & Helen
Our Ticket Lady for 81 3/4 - 82years
RESERVATIONS
We do take reservations
On regular dances you may call in or let us know. We do not guarantee a certain table but will try to get you close to the area you like.
We have employees taking reservations all the time & sometimes the table may already be spoken for & we're not aware of it.
Reservations are 1st come 1st serve bases.
Some of our regular dancers have favorite tables
& have let the waitresses know they are coming.
They usually get the same table all the time.
On Special Events (Some events we do NOT take reservations)
There are no regular tables. If you want a table you need to reserve. We need to know you are coming. It is 1st to reserve gets the table. So if you have a favorite it is best to reserve early. (Weeks ahead).
Some special events are reservations only with advanced tickets. The day before or day of
will not get you close to the dance floor.
My dancers reserve early to get the best tables.
We are trying hard to be fair with reservations & we have had some big screw ups & we're sorry it happened. Please be patient we are trying to make it better. We have had some big nights, but we have never ran out of room. So please don't let not having a reservation stop you from coming. We will find you a table.
She was
105
Bryan Idso
July 24, 1986 -July 9, 2018
Karon's son & our Friend
He also was our part time cook/bartender
Our hearts go out to
their families.
A lot of fond memories in remembering them out here dancing.
Feb. 1, 1923 - July 2, 2016
9/19... Route 66
CW .. 7-11 .. $10
DANCE LESSON ...Sun. 9/20 & 27 ..
3:30-4:30 pm .. $5
Teacher - William Pauge .. Lesson - Beginners
(he is going to decide with the group)
9/20 ... Stardusters
Big Band .. 5 - 8:30 ... $13
A Special Thanks to Steve & Mary for all the hard work they did cleaning up trees
************************
AED
the Automated
HEART SAVER - DEFIBULATOR
A specialThank Youto our Dancers, Bands & Friends
for the Contributions so that we can have one here at the Ballroom. A Very Special THANK YOU
for the ones who promoted & made it happen.
What can I say .... we have the best !
So sorry to lose Tex Dean
he was the drummer for
Everett Boyer, Stardusters,
Al Welsh, Sentimential Swing,
One of the Best
He was one of the first to win
on the Ted Mack Show.
He was also the drummer for
Pat Boone many years ago.
ON HOLD .....
Being Rescheduled
We're Still Dancing!
as of Aug. 28, 2020
Cowboys . . . seem to be bringing a
little better crowd
Don't know what's happening to our
Rock 'n Rollers . . . .
We are dancing ... BUT
the Crowds are small ..
plenty of social distancing ...
Tables are 6ft apart ..
We can have 100 couples on the
floor & still be 6ft apart!
We need more people
to keep us open .... just hoping
to pay the overhead
BUT .. are YOU ready to come back?
We want you to be safe so only come if you feel you are ready.
They/we recommend that you wear masks
The help will be wearing masks.
If we all do it for a month .. it would prove
something .....
Keep checking Facebook - the Website
& the Answering Machine
This Ballroom was Built for Dancing!
You will find more dance dates on the Schedule page.
With a little help from our Friends
Since the crowds have been small
the bands have agreed to lower their fee until we can get more people coming in.
We also went up a $1 on the door.
We hope that we can be able
make enough to cover expenses & ride out the virus. Thank you
for all that have helped.
We really have some
great people out here! Thank you
Gangster Nite
April 4, 2020
(Saturday) ... 7 - 11 ... $10
Bob Fields
& Swingtime
Nite Club Swing
Bobby Darin ... Michael Bubie
The Rat Pack ...Frank Sinatra .. Dean Martin .. Sammy Davis Jr.
& many more
* Nite Club atmosphere
* Know the password to get in
* Dress up like your favorite Gangster
* Prizes for best Gangsters & Dolls