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The American Legion Building in Avoca has been a staple in our community for 95 years. It is an iconic building on our Main Street and has hosted a multitude of events over the decades – celebrations, fundraisers, graduations,  reunions, and much more.

Now, to better serve the community, the City of Avoca and the Avoca Legion Post No. 227 have come together to remodel and transform the American Legion into the Avoca Veterans Community Center (AVCC).

“We have been looking at how to best update this historic building since the City took ownership in 2022,” said City Administrator, Tyler Trout. “Now that we have the final plans, we are thrilled to advance this project and create a new venue for community members to utilize and enjoy.”

Developing the Avoca Veterans Community Center

In April 2025, Avoca’s City Council approved the $3.27 million expansion and renovation of the current Legion Hall. With little to no updates being done since 1968, there are many improvements needing to be made to modernize, elevate curb appeal, and bring the building up to code.

A few of the updates being made to the Legion Hall includes:

• Opening the ceiling to the original theatre height
• Adding beams that highlight the original restored barrel vault
• Creating The Legion Bar which will have its own separate bay adjoining the AVCC
• Adding on an outdoor deck and seating area
• Two galleries featuring a permanent installation of mounts from the Schultz Collection
• Updated, fully-functional kitchen space
• And much more!

Community members will soon be able to host a wide range of events at our very own Community Center, which will offer options for a full bar, self-serve or catered food, a sound system, and a capacity to accommodate up to 150 people.

Upon the completion of the expansion and renovations, the venue will officially be known as the Avoca Veterans Community Center. Construction is set to begin August 1, 2025 with the tentative completion to be at the end of May 2026. The City of Avoca hired Franks Design Group, based in Glenwood, to serve as the architects overseeing the project, and KelCon LLC from Omaha as the role of contractors.

What the AVCC Will Offer to the Community

If you're planning a birthday party, wedding reception, graduation, or any other gathering, Avoca currently lacks an updated, fully serviced venue. However, with the completion of the AVCC, that will change!

Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, the AVCC will cater to your needs with style and convenience. The spacious venue will feature flexible seating arrangements, allowing you to customize the space to perfectly fit the theme and size of your event. Additionally, the AVCC will provide state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for both hosts and guests. With a focus on community engagement and accessibility, the AVCC is set to become the heart of social activities in Avoca, offering a vibrant and welcoming space where everyone can come together to create cherished memories.

Additionally, the Legion Bar will offer open hours throughout the week, providing a fresh venue on our main street where community members can gather and connect. There will also be two display rooms honoring the late Dr. Roy Schultz’s taxidermied animals.

Following the AVCC’s grand opening, Avoca’s Community Relations Coordinator will be the main contact for bookings and rentals.

History of the Legion Hall

In the late 1920’s talking pictures, or talkies, started taking over the film industry marking the end of the silent movie era. In response, E.K. Harris – the owner of the Harris Bakery and Cafe in Avoca – built a Spanish style building in 1929 that became the Harris Theatre. With a capacity to hold 440 people, the first showing in the new community Theatre was Fox Movietone Follies on August 6, 1929 with an admissions price of 75 cents.

Carl Ernst took ownership of the Theatre in December 1938,  and it started being referred to as the Harris-Avoca Theatre. Ernst then sold it to Arthur Meridith in March/April 1940. The Theatre stayed open until 1957 after televisions came into being and movie houses suffered a decline in business. Many Theatres, including Avoca’s, had to close their doors. 

The Avoca Legion Post purchased the building in 1968 and it was extensively remodeled into a large meeting room, with modern and adequate kitchen facilities. The City of Avoca took ownership of the historic building in 2022 with the vision of turning this historic building into the new Avoca Veterans Community Center. 

History information gained from newspaper clippings and the book, "A Community History Avoca, Iowa. 125 Years of History. 1869-1994"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2025

Tyler Trout

City Administrator 

712-343-2424

City of Avoca Addresses Water Conservation Efforts and Regional Water Situation

[Avoca, Iowa] — The City of Avoca is taking proactive steps to address water conservation in response to ongoing challenges involving the Regional Water Rural Water Association (RWRWA). City officials recognize the importance of transparency and community collaboration in ensuring a safe and reliable water supply for all residents.

To reduce strain on the water system and preserve our shared resources, the City recognizes RWRWA's RED declaration in accordance with its established Water Conservation Plan. The plan includes tiered conservation measures designed to escalate as conditions warrant. These measures include:

• Voluntary and mandatory restrictions on water use
• Limitations on nonessential water usage (e.g., car washing, lawn irrigation)
• Public education campaigns on efficient water use

The City's water conservation ordinance mirrors RWRWA's Water Conservation Plan; however, we are unable to institute all the measures of their restrictions due to the administrative burden regarding water rationing. In addition to these limitations to our administrative capabilities, City officials also feel that instituting measures to ration water would be unnecessary and potentially counterproductive, given the public's overwhelming support and strict adherence to water conservation practices.

Below is a status update on key components of Avoca’s ongoing water conservation efforts:

• Pool Maintenance Water – The City has reevaluated its initial plans to utilize water from an outside source due to the financial and logistical challenges. Fortunately, water usage at the Aquatic Center has remained far lower than anticipated, averaging less than 500 gallons per day. This welcome development allows us to maintain this vital summer amenity, which provides residents relief from the heat, supports recreation, and contributes to local economic activity.
• East Pottawattamie County Fair – The Fair Board is transporting water to the fairgrounds to avoid undue burden on our system. The City is sincerely grateful for the Fair Board's initiative in making these arrangements.
• Leak Detection – The City is working diligently to expedite its plan to install advanced cellular water meter endpoints, prioritizing older water meter endpoints nearing the end of their service life. This technology enables personnel to monitor daily water usage without manual readings, ensuring better customer service and providing real-time alerts when potential leaks are detected. The City appreciates everyone's cooperation to ensure this effort goes as smoothly as possible.
• Leak Mitigation – The City has proactively worked for several years to reduce water loss, beginning with the replacement of over 90% of its water distribution system. These improvements have significantly lowered systemwide leakage and improved service reliability. However, leaks can still occur—particularly at the connection points of private service lines. If you observe a leak, please notify Avoca City Hall at 712-343-2424.

Regarding developments at RWRWA, the City is anxiously awaiting relief through the effort to connect an emergency pump to their newly constructed pipeline, which connects to Council Bluffs. Although this measure will not fully resolve the water shortage, it should provide added security to prevent a recurrence of the May 10th outage and boil advisory that impacted the entire system. Unfortunately, progress on the project has been hindered by environmental conditions and mechanical difficulties, making it challenging to estimate the time to completion of the emergency project with a reliable degree of accuracy. RWRWA has stated that they still expect the permanent pump to arrive in October.

City officials are actively evaluating infrastructure improvements and interconnection options to diversify water sources and reduce dependency on a single provider. In addition to working with RWRWA, the City of Avoca is also coordinating closely with our regional partners and emergency management officials to identify near-term support strategies and long-term resiliency solutions.

"Our priority is the long-term sustainability of Avoca’s water supply," said City Administrator Tyler Trout. "We remain committed to working with RWRWA and exploring all viable solutions that protect the best interests of our residents and businesses."

Residents are encouraged to visit the City's website and/or Facebook page for updates and conservation tips. Public input is welcome, and any questions or concerns can be directed to City Hall at 712-343-2424 or via email at crc@cityofavoca.com.

For direct questions regarding the progress of the RWRWA pipeline or other methods they are employing to increase the availability of water, residents are encouraged to contact Regional Water Rural Water Association directly at 712-343-2413.

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Yearly Rate Increase for Water, Sewer and Storm Water

For more information on Avoca's Water Conservation Code please click:  Water Conservation Code