Laramar Ballroom Grand Opening Tonight in Fort Dodge

Photo by Brooke Bickford Laramar Ballroom

A Fort Dodge landmark building that once played host to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper one January night in 1959 will open its doors to the public tonight.

The Laramar Ballroom had sat empty collecting dust instead of stories for years but last June it was purchased by a collaboration of Fort Dodge investors and the rest is a part of its extensive history.

Production Coordinator for the Laramar, Brady O’Brien, says people will be very surprised by the progress when the doors open tonight at 4pm. Tickets are required for the grand opening event.

The venue held great significance in Fort Dodge since it was built in 1905 and was the Fort Dodge Armory. After World War I the building shifted gears into a live music venue.

According to the Fort Dodge Community Foundation Facebook Page, the list of performers included Lawrence Welk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash who reportedly played there in April of 1963