The Bayliss Park Hall

Bayliss Park Hall occupies a colonial-revival building in Council Bluffs, Iowa, constructed in 1900–1901 for Lodge No. 531 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The building's original character remains intact — wide front porches supported by large columns, a grand oak staircase, a ballroom with a hard maple floor and mahogany-paneled walls, and a twelve-foot fireplace with elaborate carvings in the main reception room. Period photographs displayed throughout document the hall's history from its April 1901 dedication to the present. The hall offers multiple event spaces across two floors, from the grand Ballroom accommodating up to 200 guests to the intimate Main Floor Banquet Room suited for rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, graduation celebrations, and business meetings. A second-floor balcony overlooks Bayliss Park and its fountain, providing a backdrop for outdoor ceremonies. The venue hosts weddings, receptions, corporate functions, fundraisers, themed dinner parties, and community events. Bayliss Park Hall provides flexibility for outside catering — guests select their own insured caterer and may bring their own beverages. The hall has earned a Reader's Choice designation as a favorite reception venue in the area.