On the shores of Lake Hopatcong in a quiet area of
Mount Arlington New Jersey lived a beloved amusement park called Bertrand Island Amusement Park.
It's humble beginnings as a bathing beach drew crowds to the area to
relax in the cool waters and seek refuge from the heat of the larger cities.
Louis Kraus opened a hotel near the bathing beach called California Lodge
in early 1920. He soon acquired the beach area and began building an amusement park.
In 1922 Kraus built the boardwalk and a row of 400 bathhouses. A fire
destroyed the old dance hall that year so in 1923 Kraus had The June Rose Ballroom built on the same site.
Slowly rides were added and the park took shape. In 1925 the Wildcat
Roller Coaster (also known as The Cyclone) was erected cementing Bertrand Island as a credible amusement park.
1926 saw the addition of The Old Mill water ride (later named The Lost
River), The Aeroplanes, Skooter bumper cars, The Whip and a ferris wheel.
Kraus was finding it difficult to keep up the pace with the park after
World War II so he decided to sell in 1948 to Lorenzo D'Agostino, son Ray D'Agostino and Larry Donofrio.
The trio ran the park, with Louis Kraus as manager until Kraus died
in 1955.
When Lorenzo D'Agostino passed and Larry Donofrio aging, Ray D'Agostino
became the parks owner until he dicided to sell in 1978.
The park continued to add rides over the years and even added a kiddie
area in 1951.
Sadly times had changed in the 1970's and the newer, larger theme
parks began taking it's toll on the smaller family run facilities. After major theme park owners toured Bertrand Island they
deemed that the park had no room to expand and lost interest in purchasing it.
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