The Mayor's New Years Eve BashDecember 31, 2022 starting at 8 PM at Colonial Gardens, Louisville, KY |
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COLONIAL GARDENS
Colonial Gardens has 4 new restaurants and outdoor entertainment. Starting its life in 1902 as Senning’s Park, the corner of New Cut Rd and Kenwood Drive featured dancing, dining, picnics and political rallies. During the Prohibition Era the grounds were transformed into Louisville’s first zoo. Attractions included alligators, bears, deer,exotic birds, leopards, lions, monkeys, ostriches, and tigers.
In 1940 the park was sold to B. A. Watson who opened a restaurant on the property and was the first to name it Colonial Gardens. For several years, popularity swelled with the performances of big bands and dance competitions. Eventually, issues such as losing its right to sell rationed foods, illegal gambling devices being found on the premises, and a fire in 1950 caused the property to again changed hands. After repairs were made it operated for several years as a dance club for teens, then evolving into a honky-tonk bar. Jerry Lee Lewis is said to have performed at the restaurant; also, Elvis Presley had an unscheduled performance at the restaurant in 1956 while in town for a show at the Armory and staying at his grandparents’ home near Iroquois Park.
Iroquois Neighborhood Association
As one of Louisville’s oldest neighborhood associations, the Iroquois Neighborhood Association has been a vital source of positive change for three quarters of a century. Throughout its 75 years of activity we have worked as an advocate for Louisville’s South End.
The Iroquois Neighborhood Association is benefiting from the ticket sales from this event and is a 501c3 noprofit.