Peony Park

The park was strictly segregated until 1963. Earlier, in 1955, the State of Nebraska took Peony Park to district court over its segregated swimming policy. In State of Nebraska v. Peony Park, the court found that under Nebraska Civil Rights Law, Peony Park discriminated against African American swimmers at the Amateur Athletic Union Swimming Meet held at the park on August 27, 1955. During that event, two African American participants were barred from the meet because Peony Park barred them from pool. On September 7, 1955, the court fined Peony Park $50 and costs of the trial. Additional civil suits were settled out of court.[6]

Continuing racial tension in Omaha led to youth activists leading protests which brought down the color barrier at the park and added to the civil rights movement in the city.[7][8] The Omaha Star newspaper made a name for itself during this period, mixing "light news" and entertainment with articles about the incident, segregationist policies around the city and the ongoing trial.[9]

The pool and surrounding beach occupied 4.5 acres (18,000 m²) of the park. Holding approximately five million gallons of filtered, chlorinated water, the seven hundred foot-long pool was supplied by artesian wells. The depth ranged from one foot to 10 feet (3.0 m).[10]

Peony Park was home to three water slides. In 1983 there was an endurance competition in which the winner, a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, slid down the four-story water slide at Peony Park 1,710 times in 87 hours and 19 minutes. For winning he won $1,300, a 1950 vintage Coke machine, a moped, waterbed, stereo and other prizes offered by radio station Sweet 98 (KQKQ-FM), sponsor of the event.[11]

On the south side of the lake was the Royal Terrace Ballroom, which was billed as "1 acre under one roof."[10] Big name bands from the Swing Era played the ballroom on a regular basis. Columbus bandleader Bobby Mills played a record one year straight each weekend in 1957. Regional rock act The Rumbles reunited at the Royal Terrace in 1979.[12] The ballroom also hosted events with Metallica, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Replacements, Living Colour, 311, The Violent Femmes, and The Bangles in its later years.[2]

An open-air stage and orchestra shell were covered with a white roof. Called Royal Grove, the area included an open-air dance floor that accommodated three thousand dancers.[10]

From 1978 through 1981, Omaha radio station KOIL hosted an outdoor dance party that was called "Under the Stars" in the Royal Grove, which was broadcast live. It began as "Disco Rondo" (named after the now defunct soft drink) and then changed to "Sprite Night", sponsored by KOIL. Disc jockeys like Christopher Collins, Chris Moreau, Randy Malick, Bill Mattson and Thousands of teens continued to show up each summer year after year, even after KOIL altered its format to become more adult focused. After 1981, the event moved to KQKQ-FM (Sweet 98) and was hosted by teen DJ Hot Scott.

Originally, there was an open area to the west of Royal Grove with a softball diamond and picnic and recreation grounds. There were also bathhouses, service buildings and refreshment stands throughout.[10]