Tavern in a cavern: Unearthing the history of a popular Peoria attraction

Ask Dean is a Journal Star column focusing on all things Peoria: its history, mysteries, quirks and culture. Send your questions to dmuellerleile@pjstar.com.

Question: Have you seen the underground tunnels that run under Glen Oak Park? — Gerald Green

Answer: Research could not unearth tunnels beneath Glen Oak Park, but did reveal a popular, painted commercial cavern nearby.

For decades, a tavern-cafe operated in a "deep, high cave" across from the park. The subterranean tavern was part of a sprawling picnic grounds with attractions including dancing and bowling — both outdoor and later indoor — amid "beautiful foliage" and water fountains.

A 1971 Journal Star story described the grotto as "a delightful place in hot weather and comfortable in cold weather." A later story said celebrities "made it a point to visit."

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Accounts of the "pleasure resort" are rather scarce, and sometimes contradictory. The enterprise operated under multiple names, including both Alps Beer Garden and Alps Beer Gardens. Most reports trace its history back to 1886.

A long-gone landmark

In July 1974, the Journal Star provided a history of the Alps Beer Garden. In a story headlined, "Site Of One-Time Landmark To Be Sold," the story described the "long-gone Peoria landmark," a "'picnic and pleasure resort'" at the corner of "Frye and Pacific avenues" — the latter now Prospect Road.

The five-acre beer garden, the story said, included a small park, a bandstand and dancing platform, a bowling alley and a shooting gallery.

"Its major attraction, however, was a tavern and cafe in a grotto, said to be a favorite haunt of the world-famous midget, Gen. Tom Thumb, who played pool there when he appeared in Peoria with the original Barnum & Bailey Circus."

Two acres of the site, "which now has only a residence on it," were to be sold at auction. The owners of the property, at 1336 E. Frye, were reported as Dr. and Mrs. Rudolph D'Elia.

"According to state Sen. Hudson Sours, an attorney and unofficial local historian, the Alps Beer Garden operated from the late 1890s until Jan. 15, 1919, when the Volstead, or Prohibition, Act became effective, and the sale of beer became illegal." (Sours' dates differ from those in other accounts.)

The article also cited, somewhat mysteriously, "a folder describing the resort ... sent years ago to the Journal Star by a reader."

The folder said, in part: "It (the beer garden) was located...opposite the new side entrance to Glen Oak Park.

"The resort had a cafe and refreshment hall, a small park with avenues of trees, gravel walks and beautiful foliage. ... It also has a bandstand, dancing platform and pavilion. Next to the pavilion was a bowling alley and shooting gallery."

The folder said that the grotto, or cave, was at the end of the main avenue and was "25 feet deep, 150 feet long, 20 feet wide and of equal height."

"The cave was described as having exterior lighting and being furnished as a cafe. The sides and roof were of hewn rock and painted and decorated."

According to the story, "Mrs. D'Elia said that she was told that Tom Thumb, the midget, played pool in the underground tavern with his own special cue, custom-made to fit his tiny size. Other celebrities, including actors who appeared in Peoria's early theaters, also made it a point to visit the Alps, she said.

"The cave itself has been closed for years; the city reportedly had it filled in to prevent youngsters from being trapped. However, said Mrs. D'Elia, the cave was opened a few years ago, and several persons explored it briefly."

The story concluded, "According to newspaper accounts, the lanes for what became the Alps Bowling Alleys were first laid in St. Louis and brought to Peoria and installed about 1900. That site, Prospect and Frye, is now the location of a grocery store."

Cave paintings

An Oct. 2, 1989, column in the Journal Star added some detail on the pleasure resort. "The Alps Beer Gardens opened in 1886 at the corner of President and Pacific. (This is now, Frye and Prospect). ... Fresh mineral water fountains were on the grounds. ... A grotto was located on the side of the hill.

"It was a very deep, high cave illuminated by candles and lanterns. Beer and food were served. ... Burrowed in the side of the hill, the cave was natural. The walls contained painted murals. Natural air vents kept the cave washed with fresh air."

A separate "combination tavern and ... bowling establishment" operated at the same corner, the column said, "up from the grotto and beer garden." The Alps Bowling Alleys, the story said, briefly offered gambling — slot machines, punch boards and dice games.

Rise and demise

The actual operating dates of the Alps Beer Garden/s and its attendant attractions are difficult to determine.

Its reported opening ranges from 1886 to "the late 1890s." Closing years are equally unclear. It is possible elements of the enterprise operated at different intervals, under different names.

The 1890 "Frank's Peoria City Directory" lists a "saloon and summer garden" operated by Charles Brauns at "Pacific ne cor. President," now Prospect and Frye. An advertisement attributed to an 1890 Peoria city directory lists a "picnic grounds and summer resort" at that corner.

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The grotto itself is believed to have closed in 1919, when Prohibition began. According to a photo in the 1995 book "Peoria ... Impressions of 150 Years," the Alps Beer Gardens opened in 1886 and continued to operate during Prohibition, when it "served food and soft drinks."

The Alps Bowling Alleys reportedly held on until the 1940s. According to the 1989 Journal Star column, "The corner building was sold to the Shell Oil Company in 1945, and the rest of the property, including 14 building lots" was sold separately.

Long gone but not forgotten

Today, there is little evidence to be seen of the "pleasure resort" or its cavern tavern. A filling station and later grocery/convenience store replaced the bowling alley. The cave itself was reportedly filled in. On much of the remaining property, houses have been built and "No Trespassing" signs posted.

A grocery/convenience store still stands at the corner of Prospect Road and Frye Avenue. It was the setting of the Dan Fogelberg song "Same Old Lang Syne." An honorary street sign at the intersection designates Frye Avenue as "Fogelberg Parkway."

More information and images of the Alps Beer Garden/s and its attendant attractions can be found on the Memories of Peoria Facebook group page.

Whether it's a person, place or product, send your "Whatever happened to ...?" and "Wasn't there a ...?" questions, comments and suggestions to dmuellerleile@pjstar.com. Please put ASK DEAN in the subject line.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Popular Peoria 'pleasure resort' included a comfortable tavern in a cavern