Skylon Ballroom moved to new location Thursday
HARTINGTON, Neb. -- An iconic attraction in northeast Nebraska was on the move Thursday.
After more than seven decades, the Skylon Ballroom in Hartington was moved to a new location about a quarter-mile up the road.
The landmark's owner, Roger Wortmann, told the city he wanted to either move or get rid of the venue to expand his business.
But a $1.6 million bond to pay for the move failed in May.
But instead of demolishing the classic event venue, Wortmann worked out a deal with the city to find a way to move the Skylon anyway.
"They asked me to move it and renovate it, and I said 'I'm not gonna own it and I'm not gonna run it'," Wortmann said. "So, they came up with a deal with me that they would by it from me after it got moved, as long as I got them like a six or seven year contract on it."
Once the city purchases the building, they plan on renovating it, which both city officials and Wortmann say will be cheaper than building a new facility from scratch.
The Skylon Ballroom was first opened in 1952.