Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-13
GRAND PLAZA OPENS AGAIN
Lake Manawa's Pleasure Resort Ready for
Town Weary People,
MANY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BEACH
Everything shows New and Clean,
Oncrinr nm Invitation to h Peo-
PIE Who Want to Get Away
from the Heat.
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BEACH

The Grand Plaza at Lake Manawa was
formally opened for the summer season yes
terday and the beautiful resort was visited
by a very fair crowd, considering 1t was the
first day and in view OF the fact that so
many people from Council Bluffs took ad-
vantage OF the first really fine day for more
than a week to visit the Transmississippi
Exposition.
During the spring a number of improve
ments were carried out at the lake and the
Grand Plaza this season Is looking better
than 1t has for years. The lawns within the
enclosure are in the very pink of condition,
the recent rains having given the grass a
luxuriant growth, and with the plentiful use
of the lawnmowers the rich green sward has
been cut until the grass plots are nearly as
smooth and level as a billiard table. The
shrubbery and shade trees are out in full
foliage and the whole presents a decidedly
attractive scene. The lake itself Is also at
its best at present, with more water in 1t
than has been the case for several years
past. Everything around the Grand Plaza
has been treated to a new coat of paint and
the big pavilion, with its many easy loung-
ing chairs, looks especially inviting to the
visitor. All the walks within the enclosure
have been recently newly g~raveled
anu lht DtuS 4 Dll6hl dnu gay
with posies of all colors and
varieties. The bath houses have been
converted into stables for the convenience
of visitors who prefer to drive to the lake
in place of travelling on the steam motor
train.
The rowboats have all been repainted in
the brightest of colors and were in great de-
mand yesterday afternoon and evening by
those who wished to take a trip across the
lake to Manhattan Beach. This was the
only means of reaching Manhattan Beach
yesterday, as the steamers have not yet been
put in commission for the season. 1t will
probably be a month before the big double
deck steamer can be gotten ready, but the
smaller one, The Liberty, will, it is ex-
pected, be ready for service by next Sunday.
The bath houses at the Plaza having been
converted into stables, all bathing this sea-
son will be on the Manhattan side of the
lake, where the best sand beach is to be
had. The approach to the pier at the road
outside the Grand Plaza enclosure has been
fenced off this season and the only way to
reach the steamers will be through the
Grand Plaza grounds.
Those who have for years past known the
cars on the Lake Manawa railway will
hardly recognize them this season, so differ
Cit w Iney appear III tnelr Drlght new
coats of paint. They look as If they had just
come out of the builders shops. That they
needed repainting and fixing up no one will
gainsay. The season yesterday was opened
by Weston & Beasley's vaudeville specially
company, which from 4:30 in the afternoon
until IL O'Clock at night, with the exception
of a short interval for supper, gave a contin-
uous performance. The company includes
some clever people, who give a very pleas
ing performance.
The attendance in the evening was consid-
erably larger than during the afternoon and
additional cars had to be added to the late
trains back from the lake.