Now Just an Empty Lot: The 1930s Avalon Ballroom, Niles

Before rock ‘n roll began taking over arenas, stadiums, bars, and school gyms, the dance pavilion scratched the dancing itch of boys ‘n girls from the 1920s thru the 1950s.

One such pavilion that has been long gone was the Avalon Ballroom near Niles, on Barron Lake. Nestled on the shore on Lake Shore Drive, the pavilion was constructed in the 1930s by a family by the name of Reid. Thanks to the railroad coming through, bringing and dropping off passengers, the Avalon became the source of entertainment and a main destination for anyone looking for some nighttime, weekend, or summertime dancing.

Barron Lake began its tourist trade as early as the 1800s, and many people from the surrounding Michigan cities and towns were becoming regulars, as were many from beyond the Indiana border – many Indianans were making the trek to Niles.

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The Barron Lake area used to have a hotel and overnight cottages to accommodate travelers who came a long distance. And why wouldn’t anyone want to visit? The Avalon got many of the great Big Bands of the era. New Year’s Eve was particularly busy and soon every December 31 became the date to celebrate at the Avalon.

As mentioned earlier, rock n’ roll finally hit big in the 1950s and the Avalon Ballroom began losing customers. It had no choice but to close. Sadly, it was turned into an antique auction outlet, an embarrassing outcome for such a beloved and history-laden building.

After a few other businesses came and went, the ballroom was by now beyond repair and was unceremoniously demolished in 1998.

Members of the generation old enough to remember the Avalon are losing numbers every year; their memories of the Avalon are now aimed at an empty lot between two homes. One just casually driving by would never know the grand ballroom that once stood on this blank spot.