Omaha, Nebraska: Gondola Ride and Computerized Fountain (In Transition)
No longer must you travel to Italy for a romantic evening paddle in a gondola boat, although you do have to avoid an upwind mecha-fountain. Under construction; promised opening in late summer 2023.
Heartland of America Park
- Directions:
- The gondolas are in Con-Agra Lake, which is in Heartland of America Park, which is on the east edge of the city, on the river, just south of I-480. Parking deck is on the south side of Farnam St. just east of S. 10th St. The gondolas dock at the north end of the lake.
- Hours:
- Promised opening in late summer 2023. (Call to verify)
- Phone:
- 402-599-6565
- Status:
- In Transition
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Visitor Tips and News About Gondola Ride and Computerized Fountain
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The entire park is closed until 2022 for renovations.
[Michael Blitch, 09/07/2020]The original description is good except that it specifically mentions the water is controlled not to spray you, which is totally untrue. On a normal, windy day in Omaha the cloud of spray can drift all the way to the old rail tracks on the East edge of the park. Walking around the lake is sure to get you wet, and the water is treated with some sort of chemical that makes it blue.
Also, there are smaller fountains in same lake, and some war monuments along the path.
[Megan, 06/10/2008]On Con-Agra Lake (the little man-made body of water in The Heartland of America Park) there are now gondola boats to compliment the little tour boat that was already there. The gondola boats are piloted by guys who look like real Venetian gondoliers. The little tourist boat is still there, but I'm not sure what rides cost now. It used to be only a quarter to ride the regular tour boat.
[Don Fraysier, 06/18/2003]In downtown Omaha, NE, there is a large park near the river, called Heartland of America Park. It features a little man-made lake where you can take a boat tour for something like twenty-five cents. In the middle of the lake is a fountain which shoots water as high as 305 feet in the air. The fountain is controlled by computer, the computer being aided by lots of little weather vane-like thingies placed atop the tall light poles around the lake. These devices note the velocity of the wind, and control the discharge from the fountain accordingly. This way, all of downtown Omaha doesn't get sprayed if the wind kicks up too bad. Visitors on the boat sometimes get a little mist from the fountain on them, but nothing too bad. The park, lake, and fountain are part of a comprehensive riverfront plan, still in development.
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Or perhaps not until 2025, according to the Park schedule.