Lost Summers: Riverview Park

The Wild Mouse…crossing the rickety wooden bridge to get to the island…the Riviera Ballroom. If you grew up in Central Iowa in the 1950s-1970s, you probably have memories of Riverview Park. Bill Kooker was the 3rd generation of his family to manage Riverview Amusement Park in Des Moines, Iowa. His grandfather was one of the original owners. Bill, his grandfather, his uncle and his father all ran Riverview for nearly 50 years, maintaining the life and times of this Iowa Institution. Bill will share rare photos, videos and stories of growing up at Riverview!

This joint library-Historical Society event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of West Des Moines Historical Society Members, EMC Insurance Foundation, the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation and the Iowa Arts Council. New this year- all Iowa Files programs will be live streamed on the West Des Moines Historical Society’s YouTube channel and all videos will be closed captioned.