Built on property owned by JC Hubinger, Pastime Amusement Park comprised four full blocks next to Rand Park from Grand Avenue to Seymour Street, and 13th to 15th Streets. Opened on June 21, 1897 (with an even bigger grand opening on July 4th) it included sports fields, swimming lakes, various amusements and a great meeting hall. At the turn of the century, trolley lines ran up to the park and groups from surrounding communities would take train junkets to enjoy the grounds. The entire park was surrounded by a white fence. Enclosed were:

- the Hippodrome. This huge sports field had a half-mile horse-racing track 70 feet wide and a half-mile bicycle track 25 feet wide, with an olympic-sized football field and baseball diamond. It hosted sports as well as other events such as Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (four times in Keokuk.) Only the baseball and football fields were used up to 1920.

- the Grandstand. Facing the Hippodrome was a massive 3,000-seat grandstand with cupolas and rooftop seating areas. The grandstand was demolished by a windstorm in 1920. The "Stone and Webster Journal", Oct. 1920: "On the evening of July 1st, Keokuk was visited by the worst storm in its history. Without warning the wind velocity increased from five miles per hour at 9:12 pm, to approximately 120 miles per hour at 9:20 pm. The storm was apparently confined to a very small area, striking in the vicinity of Montrose and following down the river with its maximum intensity apparently at Keokuk...In the city of Keokuk, a great deal of damage was done to trees and wires. Many streets were rendered impassable and trees up to three feet in diameter were blown over."

- Shoot the Chutes! Behind the Grandstand this favorite American thrill ride from Coney Island sported a 70-foot tower that riders ascended, then sitting in boats rode down a 300-foot incline into a shallow lake below. Cables attached to the boats hauled them to the top for the next riders. It was primitive by today's standards but in the 1890s the latest, greatest fun.

- the Casino. At that time 'casino' could mean any large gathering hall - and this one sat 3,500! Built in a record 30 days, it reportedly had the largest stage (125 feet long by 60 feet deep) west of Chicago at that time, and an adjoining concession stand for refreshments. All kinds of acts from vaudeville to opera to comics to concerts were performed here. Famous speakers of the time gave lectures. One Hubinger feature were electric fans to cool the room. Due to lack of maintenance the Casino was torn down in 1913.

- Lake Venus and Lake Apollo. These were the two swimming lakes with beaches and diving areas. Various swimming competitions were held here. Seventy-one 16' X 7' bath houses lined 13th Street for the bathers. One occasional attraction was a horse that jumped from a high tower into the lakes! After WW1, with the rest of the park gone and the grandstand destroyed, the lakes were allowed to dry up.

The park lasted less than 10 years. When Hubinger's fortunes were dimishing in the early years of the century, there was no one to step in and maintain the facilities. Slowy it was demolished or unused until around 1920 when the property was finally sold off for residential use.

The Grandstand with cupola seating areas atop. Note the stairways leading to upper seats and the workmen with ladder.

Looking north, the Hippodrome field with the Grandstand in the background. Note the 'Shoot the Chutes' ramp on the right behind the Grandstand.

Excellent photo of the 'Shoot the Chutes' ride. Over the white fence on the left is Rand Park and the Flower Garden. This fence surrounded Hubinger Park. Note the Grandstand and people standing around the rooftop seating area. Note the deer statues in the foreground. The deer on the right may be the one that stands today in front of the Rich Mansion on Grand Avenue.

Rand Park view. Note the Birge fountain in the middle of the Flower Garden with 'Shoot the Chutes' tower and ramp next door. Note the Grandstand cupola in the right background.

Interior and stage of the Casino from the bleachers behind the main seating area. Note the electric fans above. This photo indicates about 1000 chairs in front of the stage.

Concession stand inside the Casino. Note electric fans above, and bleachers in the left background facing the stage.

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