Champions Fun Center, which offered numerous activities, including go-karts, has closed.
Champions offers FUN for everyone!
Champions Fun Center has announced it will close permanently, but the building apparently already has a new tenant.
The entertainment complex at 1555 Yolande Ave. that offered miniature golf, go-karts, bowling, an arcade and other activities, closed in November because of the coronavirus pandemic and had said on its Facebook page that it planned to reopen this spring.
But last week, the business posted on its page that it was closing permanently.
“COVID-19 and 2020 have been rough on us all, including Champions Fun Center,” the post reads. “It is with heavy hearts that we have decided to close. Thanks for your support over the last 20 years.”
In addition to restrictions on activities due to COVID-19, Champions also faced more competition over the past couple of years. Last spring, a dinosaur-themed indoor miniature golf business opened three blocks away, and Sun Valley Lanes last year unveiled a $4 million expansion that added miniature golf, laser tag and volleyball to the bowling alley in west Lincoln.
The Champions building will apparently find new life as youth basketball and fitness gym.
VRLY Storm Basketball posted Thursday on its Facebook page that it has taken over the building and is turning it into a a facility called Club LNK, which it describes as “a membership-based gym where youth can come be active, hang out with friends, and have a facility that is focused on solutions for kids.”
PhotoFiles: A roller coaster and thrill rides at Capitol Beach
The Bug
In 1955, 185 children were entertained at the Lincoln Exchange Club’s annual Sunshine Special. The “Bug” was the group’s favorite ride at Capitol Beach.
Burlington Beach
Called Burlington Beach until 1912, the park featured a 50-passenger steamer, swimming pool, a Penny Arcade, Fun House and a roller coaster. It was also where William McKinley made a presidential campaign speech in 1896.
Roller Coaster
This 1931 aerial photo taken of Capitol Beach may bring back memories of pleasant Fourth of July outings to the once-popular amusement park. The park featured a roller coaster, a carnival, kiddie rides, swimming pool, dance hall and later stock car racing.
Queen of the Blue
The excursion steamer Queen of the Blue operated in the 1890s on Old Salt Lake, then called Burlington Beach. The 50-passenger excursion boat was one of the attractions said to draw 150,000 visitors a year.
Out on the lake
In Capitol Beach’s heyday, boating was a great attraction that would only cost 50 cents per hour. The beach was a popular resort situated about a mile west of downtown Lincoln.
Relaxing at the pool
The Capitol Beach neighborhood once was known for its salt basins, amusement park and swimming pool that attracted 150,000 people each season.
Beauty Contest
Winners of the bathing beauty contest held at the Capitol Beach grocers and butchers picnic area in 1952 were Diane DeVriendt, Coddey Freeland, and Christine Evans.
Preparation for the summer season
Lincoln’s Capitol Beach amusement park appears ready for the summer crowd in 1952. The park lasted for more than 50 years before the amusement devices were removed in 1962 to make way for Capitol Beach Manor.
Train Wreck
This 1956 photo shows the wreckage left after part of the miniature train at the Capitol Beach amusement park tipped over, spilling young passengers and injuring the children.
Along for the ride
Kids are joined by their parents as statehouse employees gathered at Capitol Beach in 1959. Don Kusy, Department of Roads worker, shares a train ride with little Mary and Mark. Rear seat passengers are Lura Marshall, Kathy Nicholson and Linda Marshall.
Memories
This picture shows the deterioration of Lincoln’s amusement park in 1962.
A new beginning
Ugly weeds have grown around the deserted buildings of Capitol Beach Amusement Park in August 1962. The bright neon lights are gone and the once popular family park sits silent as wrecking crews start the process of leveling the park.
Tearing down the gate
On Feb. 20, 1963, Lincoln’s longtime playground takes one more step to extinction as the gates through which hundreds of thousands of fun seekers passed came tumbling down.
Cooling off by the pool
Twenty-year-old graduate of the University of Nebraska, Jean Brown sits on the fountain at Capitol Beach in 1963.
Modern Day Capitol Beach
Through the years the amusement park equipment and buildings deteriorated and were razed, one by one. Today, the former summer hot spot is a 115-acre residential area.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.