Published August 27, 2026 | Updated August 27, 2026

During a day off, I dropped by the newly opened Charles E. Lakin Foundation Pier. I found it to be a fantastic addition to the Iowa side of the Missouri River. The weathered steel with its zig zag design offers a nice visual contrast to the Farnam Pier on the Omaha side.

Once you enter the pier, you find plenty of seating where you sit back, watch, observe, and reflect. On a day with few clouds, I was fortunate that some of the seating is covered offering a respite from the sun. I found the native plants to be a nice touch even if they seemed a bit thirsty. From there, my attention immediately shifted to the wood play structure with a twisty design that my son would have a blast climbing. From the pier, you can see the banks of the tree-lined Missouri River as well as the casino. I suspect it will be a nice spot to listen to whoever’s performing at Stir. As you near the end, you find a ramp as well as stairs leading to a point that looks out over the country’s longest river.

The best feature, at least for an Omaha native like me, are the views of the skyline. From the pier you can see Omaha’s three skyscrapers. Most impressive is the new Mutual of Omaha Tower, which is flanked by First National Bank Tower on the right and WoodmenLife Tower on the left. Several other buildings are visible but prominent are 1200 Landmark Center, Brickline at the Mercantile, and The Greenhouse apartments. Look a bit further south and you’ll see what remains of the Conagra campus and The Breakers apartments and to the right, Farnam Pier inside Heartland of America Park. While my visit was during the morning, the pier has ambient lighting which makes it pop after the sun goes down.

The pier can be accessed from Iowa Riverfront Trail and is nestled between Tom Hanafan’s River’s Edge Park on the north, Harrah’s Hotel and Casino on the south, and Dodge Riverside Golf Club to the east. I parked at River’s Edge Parkway next to the park and the I-480 bridge. From there, I made the 10-minute or so walk to the pier. If you’d prefer, the parking lot from Harrah’s sits much closer to the pier.

The park opened in 2013 on the Iowa side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Its five-acre great lawn has been used to host a multitude of events. The park continues to add new features with the MidAmerican Energy Adventure Tower and the Ty and Linda Heithoff Borman Treetop Walk coming in the next few weeks.

Truth be told, I don’t spend much time at River’s Edge Park unless I’m crossing the pedestrian bridge. The pier, however, is a nice addition and will make the walk along the riverfront more enjoyable. I suspect it will get a lot more action once the two new features open this summer.

The Lakin family in Iowa dates back to 1876 when Charles E. Lakin I arrived and worked as a farmhand before acquiring 1,000 acres of land. The family’s landholdings grew over the years with his son, Charles II, becoming the largest individual landowner in the state with an estimated 17,000 acres by 1962. He started the foundation in order to give back to his community. Click the link to learn more: https://www.lakinfoundation.org/

Omaha Exploration, 2026. All rights reserved. Excerpts and links are welcome with full credit given to Omaha Exploration and a link back to the original content.