(Publisher’s Note: Although this piece was composed a little more than two years ago, the recollections remain the same. Park Dances were a “thing” for teenagers in the Wheeling area for several decades, but since Wheeling Park’s White Palace has been completely renovated into a year-round meeting place the events have not taken place. The current $3.2 million renovation project is expected to be completed by May 2024.)
Yes, there was the occasional fight, but those usually involved high schoolers from two different districts and over a girl. Let’s be honest; those dances made introductions to possible dating mates from across the Ohio River, and the territorial boys were, we’ll say, protective.
It was the place to be seen, though. It was the chance to let it go even though the crowd was normally a sea of teenagers from both sides of the Ohio River.
The music? Popular DJs like Bob Dorris and Donnie “Roberts” Gilbert would spin the best of the ’80s, but “Rock Lobster” by the B-52’s was one of the only tunes that would draw both boys and the girls to the dance floor.
Wide Open
These days, the White Palace is not as wide open as it was 35 years ago since it has been transitioned into an educational area on the first floor and a banquet hall on the second, where the dances took place.
But back then it was open air with those same teenagers sitting on the ledges, and that was expected and OK because liability lawsuits were not as prevalent then as they are today. And the view was usually interesting since couple after couple could be seen sneaking away to go “golfing” somewhere on the park’s nine-hole course.
Those strolls, though, caused some of the altercations later on in the evening, and word would spread throughout the arena that fight night was on. There was no telling where the brawl would erupt, but all eyes were on the door to see when the “golfers” would pay to get back in.
Rock Lobster
During the mid-1980s, the music industry continued to be impacted by foreign influences, but Michael Jackson established himself as the “King of Pop” at the same time.
Normally, most of the young men attending would ogle from the sidelines, and the single guys would do their best to select the ladies they would ask to dance when a Journey or Lionel Ritchie song would be played. Couples always hit the dance floor when the DJs spun “Endless Love” to show their undying dedication to each other … until something stupid would break them up, of course.
Popular in the 1980s were tunes like “Beat It” by Jackson, “I love Rock n’ Roll” by Joan Jett, “When Doves Cry” by Prince, and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cindi Lauper. The only song, though, that would drive everyone in attendance to the dance floor, was a little ditty by the B-52’s because there was no predetermined choreography for “Rock Lobster” … except, of course, almost hitting the floor to, “Down, Down, Down …”
Romance in the Air
The lights came on, and the dances were over at 11 p.m., and most of the high schoolers immediately would travel down National Road to the corner where Rax was located and was, at the time, the No. 1 restaurant in the regional chain.
Some, though, would not seek sustenance offered by the BBC but instead love as they found an isolated spot to park and, well, play a little “baseball.” Now, some Park Dance patrons would not wait until the end as they wandered off to “go golfing” or went up to the bandstand that was beyond the old wishing well.
The romances created during the Park Dances usually led to Homecoming dates, and in some cases, lasting love that is still alive today. That is why, on June 29, 2013, a group of local residents teamed up to stage Park Dances Revisited at the Wheeling Park ice rinks, and the event drew natives from all corners of the country.
