Electric Park Ballroom

Built in the early 1900’s, the famed Electric Park Ballroom got its start when R.E. Peterson developed a 14 acre site outside of Waterloo.

The original site included an amusement park with rides, a movie house, sports garden, picnic area, fun house and a lunch counter.

 

The concept for the ballroom did not come about until the 1930’s, when a fire swept through Electric Park and destroyed much of what had been built.

 

In 1934, the “New” Electric Park Ballroom was constructed after the earlier fire. The driving force behind the development of the famed ballroom was once again, R.E. Peterson. This time, in addition, he also constructed a new site for the barrel of fun and the merry-go-round, with all the property now included in the city limits of Waterloo.

 

The likes of Jimmy Dorsey, Glen Miller, and Guy Lombardo were top draws at 25 cents a head.

In the late 50’s, Electric Park took to rock and roll like so many other ballrooms in the region. With bookings for Conway Twitty, The Everly Brothers, Dion, Johnny & The Hurricanes and Bill Black’s Combo being common.

 

Today the ballroom is operated by The National Cattle Congress, which has done a superb job with operation and upkeep for this beautiful facility.

 

We’d all like to welcome to The Hall of Fame, the famed Electric Park Ballroom of Waterloo, Iowa, still rockin’ after all these years. 

 

Built: 1906 (fire destroyed some of structure) 1936 (present structure)

Electric Park had a Figure 8 Roller Coaster 1908-1922.

A Roller Coaster named Loop the Loop 1909-1910.

A Roller Coaster named Spiral Coaster 1911-1933.

 

 

CREDITS: Iowa Ballroom Project