In America in the mid to late 1800's there was a need for recreation.
Especially after The Civil War had ended, people were looking for entertainment.
Picnic groves became a popular escape for those who lived in cities.
Areas that offered a cooling escape in the summertime were always a hot spot and enterprising
people developed ways to cash in on the picnic groves of the time.
Games, boating, swimming, restaurants and rides were all a part of these early parks.
The rides may have been just a horse/pony ride or a hayride through the woods but it was something that crowds came to do.
As the 1870's rolled on primative versions of the Ferris wheel and Carousel were popular
rides at many of these picnic areas. With the establishment of trolley lines throughout the country many trolley companies
extended their lines to these areas or built their own parks at the ends of the lines. With this version of mass transit,
more and more people were able to visit and the parks got even bigger.
It was in 1893 when the whole amusement park industry was official born. In Chicago the
World's Columbian Exposition (aka Chicago's World's Fair) opened the publics eyes to new architecture styles, electric lights
and the first Ferris wheel and midway.
The midway was just a basic path, lined on both sides with games of chance, food and
rides. But it was and is a mainstay in many parks today.
In 1895, in Coney Island, Captain Paul Boyton opened what was called the first true
amusement park. Sea Lion Park is often created as being the first true amusement park. The park was fully fenced in and used
rides as the main draw for crowds. The park featured a Shoot The Chutes water ride, a sea lion show, Circus, a high dive act,
a petting zoo and the world's first looping roller coaster called The Flip Flap. Although the ride was too much for many people
it was a success as spectators paid to watch the ride rather than ride it.
The success of Sea Lion Park promted the opening of perhaps the greatest park to ever
adorn Coney Island, Steeplechase Park in 1897. (You can read about Steeplechase on the Lost Park Page)
Steeplechase was so successful that Sea Lion Park couldn't keep up and closed in 1900.
Luna Park followed Steeplechase in 1902 on the site of Sea Lion Park and Dreamland came
soon after in 1904.
The industry wasn't just booming at Coney Island. It was a nationwide explosion that
reached from Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1898 to the piers in Santa Monica, California. Everyone who had an
idea for a ride or park made something work although not many would last.
But there is more. And more. And more.
