WOODWARD, Iowa – If only the walls could talk — and the dance floor too.

That’s the case at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward. The ballroom was built in 1931 on what used to be a man-made lake fed by Beaver Creek. After the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, the lake was cut off from Beaver Creek. It slowly shrank in size, and now is made up of farmland.

While Lake Robbins no longer exists, the ballroom that gets its name from it has stood the test of time. The original flooring is still in place, and until recently, the roof has held steady too.

Over the years Lake Robbins Ballroom has hosted many big names, from Glenn Miller to Lawrence Welk to Cab Calloway. Ronald Reagan was known to be a frequenter of the ballroom while working as a sports broadcaster for WHO Radio.

Dancing and live music are still a staple of the ballroom most weekends. Saturdays are known for western and old rock ‘n’ roll, with classic big band ballroom music on Sundays. There are other events like line dancing that happen occasionally, and some groups rent out the ballroom for various events.

A loyal following has helped Lake Robbins Ballroom survive through the years. Loyal patrons kept the business going through the COVID-19 pandemic. When a new roof was needed within the last few months, customers stepped in and helped raise around $100,000.

While Lake Robbins Ballroom typically draws an older crowd, ballroom owner Lyn J. Wilkinson emphasizes that it’s a place for people of all ages. She says: “You’ll see people come in with walkers and canes and then you’ll see them step aside and they’re out on that dance floor. And the magic, there’s just magic about it. I said if the younger generation could catch the magic that these older people have… it’s just wonderful.”