In the fall of 1920, business leaders from Central City purchased over 50 acres (20 ha) of land, known as Parker's Island, from the estate of George Howell.

Records from 1934 to 1938 show uncollected debts and unpaid bills due to a large drop in park visitation and summer cabin rentals from 1930 to 1940.

[3] On June 14, 1940, the pavilion opened, with 370 couples from five Nebraska counties and seven states purchasing tickets to dance to Sternie Sternberg and his Orchestra.

On July 4 of that year, over 5,000 people attended the park and over 700 couples purchased dance tickets at ten cents apiece.

Through the 1940s, dances were held about twice a week, with orchestras conducted by Wally Wallace, Earl Gardner, Skippy Anderson, Gene Pieper, Sammy Haven, Riley Smith, and with bands led by Tiny Little, Hutch Miller and John Holub.

[3] The dance pavilion is located in Riverside Park in Merrick County, Nebraska, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of Central City.