Omaha's Peony Park: An American Legend

by Carl D. Jennings

What began in 1919 as a modest gas station and restaurant on famous Lincoln Highway, Peony Park would grow to become the best-known entertainment oasis in Omaha history. Featuring vintage images spanning the parkís 75-year existence, author Carl Jennings resurrects the fond memories of romance, entertainment, and family fun. ÝÝBuilt across from the widely known peony gardens owned by Carl Rosenfield, people traveled from all over the country to visit the colorful valley. Eventually blossoming into a beer garden and ballroom, the addition of a swimming pool in 1926 and becoming the official headquarters for the Lawrence Welk Band in the 1930s ensured the Parkís popularity. Captured here are the Big Band years, featuring images of Duke Ellington and Omahaís own Preston Love. Also showcased are the events and attractions that made Peony Park a fondly remembered family get-away, including Coca-Cola Date Night, ìSeven Swings,î Polka Days, Wonderland, and the Galaxy roller coaster.

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Damian · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of historic buildings, landmarks and architecture, then Omaha is NOT the city for you. And it's books like this one from Carl D. Jennings, that remind you how very little Omaha cares about its own history. In fact, Las Vegas does a better job of preserving its history than Omaha.

I had the pleasure of working at Peony Park the last summer it was open. I was the depressed teenager, with the $2 Luke Perry haircut, running the midway games, and giving you a chance to win awesome prizes like extremely cheap and flammable stuffed animals, and Lite 96.1 FM keychains. Why was I depressed? Because I was running the midway games, and giving you a chance to win awesome prizes like extremely cheap and flammable stuffed animals, and Lite 96.1 FM keychains. Anywho, I digress.

Although not a lot of writing, the photos and illustrations in this book do a fantastic job telling the story of a place that started out as a simple park with, you guessed it, a whole mess of peonies (yes I laugh everytime I say "peonies"). With the turn of each page, you watch it grow to an amusement park as well as a gathering place for music lovers to watch musicians of all generations, like Lawrence Welk, The Beach Boys, Ricky Nelson, and Pearl Jam, and it's absolutely fascinating.

Peony Park was home to events like La Festa Italiana, Sprite Night, the Omaha Press Club, and the JROTC Military Ball, just to name a few. And just like the Aksarben race track, Indian Hills theatre and other great Omaha landmarks (Rosenblatt Stadium in a couple of years), Peony Park sadly became a victim of the Omaha tradition of "tear it down and build something much more boring with much less character in its place". But I'm not bitter.

So if you ever want to walk down memory lane, take a stroll down aisle 5 of Hy-Vee, look up at the beautiful flourescent lights and instead, try like hell to picture the beautiful chandeliers of Peony Park ballroom hanging over your head (which now hang at the ballroom of the Holiday Inn on 72nd & Grover). Or better yet, go pick out a flick at the nearby Blockbuster Video, and you might hear the laughter of kids riding the corvettes in Kiddie Land, or the faint ~whoot~ of the C.P. Huntington mini-train making its way into the depot.

Or, save yourself some gas, and read this book. Then you'll see why "Omaha history" is just an oxy moron.