Fabled landmark Val Air Ballroom that entertained generations returns in West Des Moines

For 84 years, West Des Moines' Val Air Ballroom welcomed anyone from “bobby soxers” to metalheads looking for a night on the town.

Frank Sinatra, Snoop Dogg and former presidents are among the dozens of famous names who walked the concert venue’s maple-wood floor as the ballroom survived decades of musical trends and the long journey from 78 records to online streaming.

Just when the ballroom finally appeared to be on its last legs, local entrepreneur Sam Summers stepped into the role of conservationist, investor and now a potential visionary. He looked beyond the peeling paint and code violations to create a destination venue for the entire state.

Summers’ company bought the 8.5-acre site at 301 Ashworth Road for $1.9 million in 2022, receiving a decaying building infused with local history and memories, and also the worrying potential to become a money pit.

But a reported $14.5 million in renovations later, Summers is confidently set to relaunch the ballroom today, an appropriate leap day for a space with a hallowed “Jumpin' Jive” legacy.

“We want people to come in and not see things that are wrong with the space. When I came to shows here over the years, my staff or myself would feel like there were deficiencies in the space and so we want people to come in and just feel like it should,” Summers explained.

“There are no lines. It feels great in here and you can see the band. You can hear the band.”

More: With Val Air reopening, Sam Summers expands the breadth of musical acts visiting Des Moines

Who is Sam Summers?

The co-owner of Wooly’s, the 683-person capacity venue in the East Village, founded First Fleet Concerts, which will be booking the ballroom’s events, plus the Hinterland Music Festival, and East Village watering holes Up-Down Arcade Bar and Ernie's Boondock. He also books shows for the new Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee.

He began promoting concerts while a student at Iowa State University, and despite the time-consuming and undepictable nature of the live music business, he remains a passionate fan of music and the live concert experience.

Original Val Air Ballroom owner Thomas Archer transformed the bankrupt Wilson Rubber Co. property into a ballroom in 1939. Generations of Iowans recall visits for high-school events, social occasions and its core business, as a 2,500-ticket capacity music venue.

Summers has worked closely with Archer's descendants to preserve as much of its past as possible, but some changes were inevitable to conform to modern health and safety considerations. New electrical, plumbing, safety sprinklers and ADA-compliant accessibility ensure the venue is set for the future, while still honoring the good bones and character of the vintage setting.

Preserving the Val Air Ballroom's history

Once ticket holders enter the ballroom’s front doors, security will guide the audience through metal scanners and direct guests up the stairs to the main room.

During the construction phase, Summers found two swatches of an earlier color scheme and adopted mint green for the walls and a salmon pink for hard-top surfaces and accents.

The interior is partially illuminated by mid-century wall sconces and vintage light fixtures rescued from years of neglect. And a lounge has been attached to the ladies’ bathroom to add an unexpected corner of retro-glamor and a potential setting for photo shoots.

The venue’s broad and diverse booking policy will not be altered under Summers’ ownership. A smaller stage on the side of the main hall was previously used for corporate events and stump speeches by political figures, including Sen. Ted Kennedy, and former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

“We've got pictures of the Secret Service on the roof,” Summers said, referencing a cache of memorabilia, posters and documents the Archer family shared with the team.

Summers sees that podium as a possible venue for smaller touring acts and national cultural figures to give talks. He’s even considering producing live albums recorded direct from the stage and “put out a double record. So, when I have more time, I'll do that.”

Parties, wedding receptions and corporate events are quickly on their way back. “Just today someone reached out about a Christmas Eve service for 2,000 people. Some of the big conferences used to be here. Food and beverage festivals are trying to come here,” he said during a tour of the space on Feb. 22.

For performers, the backstage area has been retooled with a generous amount of space, curtained off from the audience. Val Air staff have not been neglected, and now have access to their own off-shift areas, offices, and bathrooms.

Before the ballroom closed for reinventions in 2022, singer-songwriter Jason Isbell played one of the final scheduled concerts and will be one of the first to witness the makeover.

“We have him coming on March 6, Summers explained. “He actually played right before we closed down. So, I hope to get his feedback on it.”

The general admission setup for the majority of acts can be quickly converted to an all-seating show, depending on the performer and the type of audience. The cavernous basement can easily store the seats that will be used for the upcoming Joe Pera comedy show on June 16 and an appearance by classic rockers The Marshall Tucker Band and Jefferson Starship on April 26.

Pera’s hushed, slow and steady delivery will provide a perfect test of Val Air’s new L’Acoustics sound system, a French brand favored by sound engineers, the xBk Live venue in the Drake neighborhood and discerning touring bands, including Slipknot.

Working closely with preservationists, Summers and his team were granted permission to raise the height above the stage to enable the installation of a lighting rig and create an uncluttered view of the backdrop. The stage itself was also raised six to eight inches, making all the action easier to watch from the back of the room.

The maple wood floor has been restored and reinforced, but once the lights go down, concertgoers won’t necessarily notice the difference, aside from a slight, pleasantly bouncy feel under their feet.

Mindful of being a good neighbor, insulation has been added to the roof to prevent concert sounds bleeding into the surrounding streets. During its earliest incarnation, the venue was literally open to the sky. “Dance under the stars,” 1930s advertising encouraged. The design inspired the “air” part of its “Val Air” name, sandwiched next a nod to its close vicinity to Valley Junction.

And everyone inside will appreciate the long-awaited overhaul of the air-conditioning system. Eager to have a few events underway to dial-in the sound and guest management, Summers already has bold plans mapped for the remainder of the year.

A speakeasy-inspired bar and restaurant on the basement level could be completed as early as September. He would love the space to partner with a local restaurateur and frame a menu around Midwestern supper club favorites.

And inspired by Santa Fe, New Mexico, creatives Meow Wolf, a handful of potential interactive focal points are buzzing around his mind, designed to surprise ticket buyers, either at the front desk, or around the hall.

Practical improvements will continue to evolve over time, including hand-painted signs, QR-code drink ordering at the seated tables, and outdoor landscaping.

The Val Air Ballroom’s famed signage is already switched on, upgraded with LED illuminations to replace fragile and disintegrating neon.

Val Air’s earliest days brought thousands to dance to big-band beats. As a teen-idol, Frank Sinatra wowed a “bobby soxer” audience during a 1942 appearance. And Lawrence Welk, a close friend of Archer, frequently bought his orchestra back for return engagements. Outside the ballroom, a large cursive sign encouraging “dancing” has been left intact for a new generation.

“People are so uptight now. I don't think they dance. But I will say, the Latin shows we do, there are bands playing, and it's a lot more dance forward. Oh, it's cool,” Summers said.

He maintains a long, personal wish list of musicians he would like to return to the new and improved stage. Top of the current roster is Iowa’s own Slipknot, who previously packed 2,530 rabid fans into the ballroom in 2004.

Launching their 25th anniversary tour in Europe later this year, Summers has made it clear to their representatives he would dearly love for the band to choose the Val Air for a homecoming event.

Another dream headliner would be Bob Dylan, who once played a setlist of classics at the ballroom back in 2006. Summers is patient that Dylan’s “never ending tour” schedule will wind its way back to West Des Moines. “I'm sure that will happen eventually,” he said.

He’s also looking forward to the return of yet-to-be announced hip-hop shows currently plannedfor later in the year.

Summers hopes the opening with Greensky Bluegrass will provide a chance to meet former patrons who remember the ballroom during its glory years. “I'll be curious to see who comes out to our soft opening. To hear stories from people about who they saw, what they came for. A lot of school dances were hosted here.”

Richard Lane is a freelance writer based in Des Moines.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The renovated Val Air Ballroom reopens in West Des Moines