Pavilion dance marks return of Flandreaus beloved Japanese Gardens

The historic Japanese Gardens venue at Flandreau City Park, long a community favorite, got a much-needed facelift and reintroduced itself this past weekend with the first Dusk to Dawn Dance in years.
For the first time in what guests said felt like forever, the pavilion came back to life, this past Thursday night, filling the air with music, laughter, and dancing. It had sat dormant for quite a while, thanks to major flooding and some much-needed renovations.
Despite the heat and a packed 4th of July weekend, hundreds eventually filled the dance floor and especially the back patio as music from Old Indian Trick echoed through the night. The updated hardwood floors saw couples dancing under the stars, and the buzz was clear it felt good to be back in a place thats dear to so many.
The renovations have been a long time coming. Originally, the pavilion was slated to reopen in 2023, but the project encountered delays, and the timeline stretched out far longer than expected.
Kyle and Wendi Haug of Parlly Property Trust, who have led the renovations, faced more complications than anticipated. What started as a simple restoration turned into a much larger project, with a rotting foundation and extensive wood damage requiring a total overhaul.
Funds raised from the evening will go to support ongoing efforts to build up and further establish the newly created Flandreau Athletic Hall of Fame who sponsored the dance.
The third FAHOF induction ceremony was held on Sueday evening to a full house at Royal River Casino. Well have more on that in next weeks Moody County Enterprise.