New Life Ahead For Fort Dodge’s 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 soon have the lights turned back on.

The Laramar Ballroom has sat empty collecting dust instead of stories for years but a new owner has begun to revitalize the site as it prepares to enter a new era.

According to the Webster County Assessor’s site, the building sold in June for $45,000 from Anhelo Inc to Laramar Acquisition Company LLC.

Alpha Media stopped by 710 1st Avenue North Wednesday afternoon where 

the folks of DG Construction were busy working on the first step to restoring the building.. the cleanup.

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.

Most recently it was a wedding venue and hosted MMA fight nights.