Captain Fleming’s Third Annual Gator Fun Run – Omaha, NE 2026

Background: From about 1921 to 1925 the city of Omaha wintered alligators in Fire Station No. 6, located at 24th & Cuming street. When the weather turned warm the alligators were transferred to Riverside Park, which today is the location of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. On March 22, 1922 an alligator escaped its basement enclosure, mounted the stairs, and chased Captain Charles R. Fleming, and the other seven firefighters, from the firehouse. It was an event of some notoriety, receiving several columns of ink in Omaha newspapers. In memory of this strange, historical moment, the Omaha Firefighters Historical Society (OFFHS) returns with Captain Fleming’s 2nd Annual 5K Gator Fun Run. The run will be held inside Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, the original home of the alligators! Race Details: The race is set to begin at 07:30 CST on April 25, 2026. The check in desk will sit immediately before the zoo gates. The race start location is near the Mutual of Omaha pavilion; the r