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THE HISTORY & PROMISE OF WILMER'S PARK Wilmer's Park is a legendary concert venue created from a tobacco farm that covers 80 beautiful acres in the woodlands of southern Maryland. The venue was founded by an African American entrepreneur named Arthur W. Wilmer and was in operation from the early 1950's through 2001. This beautiful venue has historically offered a variety of combined activities, unlike any other establishment. The Park is located a short 30 minute drive, just southeast of the nation's capital and is also only 25 minutes from the new National Harbor conference facilities. When the Park opened in 1951, it offered an indoor tavern, restaurant, indoor music hall, motel, and outdoor stages where the best music of the time was played. It is a by product of the age of segregation when Black entertainers performed on the "chitlin" circuit of clubs, theaters and parks in cities and towns throughout the South and on the East Coast south of the Mason Dixon line. And it is one of the few venues left that offers the rich heritage of the legendary entertainment figures that have graced its stages. The shows at Wilmer's Park and other historically Black entertainment venues in southern Maryland drew thousands of patrons to see entertainers who became household names. Some of those who played at Wilmer's Park are legends, such as; Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino, Otis Redding, B.B. King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Chubby Checker, Stevie Wonder, Smokey and the Miracles, the original Supremes without Diana Ross, Count Basie, Sam Cooke, Patti La Belle and the Blue Bells, James Brown, the Temptations, the Impressions, and Ray Charles to name a few. In later years, when segregation was changed by legislation, Wilmer's Park expanded its repertoire. Music that could be heard streaming from the Park included rock bands like Led Zepplin and the Grateful Dead. There was also Gospel, Zydeco, and Go-Go music featured on many occasions. In addition to the music concerts offered at Wilmer's Park, it was a place where the Old Negro League played pickup baseball games and families held reunion picnics, and hot air balloon rides. For a short period there was even a Ferris wheel and carnival activities hosted on the site. Mr.Wilmer, died in 1999 but his family was determined to carry on the legacy. The Park is now owned and operated by the Arthur W. Wilmer Foundation, LLC, a for-profit real estate development group, specializing in mixed use community development. The new owners plan to revitalize the Park and to preserve some of its history.
The planned extensive
renovations and modernization of Wilmer’s Park have been dubbed the “Wilmer’s Park Renaissance” where
the tradition of great music and unique experiences that was established over so many years will continue. Some new
additions will include an Independent Living gated Active Adult community for people 50 and older, a local shopping center,
and restaurants that offer Jazz or a fine dining experience. There will be facilities to support business meetings,
medical services, professional education, church socials, weddings and other indoor and outdoor events for patrons and families
from the local community, across the USA, and across the globe. The
Wilmer’s Park Renaissance is also committed to community service. It will continue to support selected charities, local
schools, and colleges with monetary gifts and services. It will also work with selected local colleges and serve
as a host for training programs for those students who are studying the culinary arts and hotel and restaurant management
curriculum. Wilmer’s Park Renaissance is in the process of collecting and maintaining a pictorial and oral history
of the music and performers who played there and in similar venues throughout southern Maryland. Along with training
in the performing arts at the new Wilmer’s Park Renaissance Cultural and Heritage Center, there will be periodic guided
tours of its facilities for K-12 students so that they can learn about its history. For additional public information about plans for the Park, Click Here and Click Here . Wilmer’s Park
has always been a unique entertainment experience and the Wilmer’s Park Renaissance will continue to uphold that tradition
while improving community outreach and extending services offered to the community. The Park and its facilities
will be available year round.
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