Five Amusement Parks of the Past
Scroll down to view the 5 parks
White City - Rose Island - Glenwood Park - Fontaine Ferry - Kiddieland
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This recent book has much more information and many photos.
Lost Amusement Parks of Kentuckiana by Carrie Cooke Ketterman
Lost Amusement Parks of Kentuckiana by Carrie Cooke Ketterman
White City - 1907 to 1912
Promoted as “The Coney Island of the South”, White City Park was located at the foot of Greenwood Avenue, north of Chickasaw Park. It opened in 1907, and like Fontaine Ferry, which opened two years earlier, it sat on the bank of the Ohio River.
The park was aglow with white-washed structures and 250-thousand electric lights, which were still novel at the turn of the century. White City included Canals of Venice boats, a scenic railway, bathing beach, and much more. One standout was the “Shoot the Chutes” water coaster, which plunged riders into a large lagoon. This ride was the first of its kind in the Louisville area.
White City didn’t last long. Where Fontaine Ferry lasted for 64 years, White City Park operated only five years. Following a massive fire in 1910 and subsequent rebuilding, White City - renamed Riverview Park — was unable to compete with the larger Fontaine Ferry. The attraction closed after the 1912 season, and the land was sold for residential development a decade later.
The park was aglow with white-washed structures and 250-thousand electric lights, which were still novel at the turn of the century. White City included Canals of Venice boats, a scenic railway, bathing beach, and much more. One standout was the “Shoot the Chutes” water coaster, which plunged riders into a large lagoon. This ride was the first of its kind in the Louisville area.
White City didn’t last long. Where Fontaine Ferry lasted for 64 years, White City Park operated only five years. Following a massive fire in 1910 and subsequent rebuilding, White City - renamed Riverview Park — was unable to compete with the larger Fontaine Ferry. The attraction closed after the 1912 season, and the land was sold for residential development a decade later.
Rose Island - 1923 to 1937
Rose Island was a popular amusement park near Charlestown, Indiana, situated on a peninsula created by Fourteen Mile Creek emptying into the Ohio River. It was previously a recreational area known as Fern Grove in the 1880s, mostly used as a church camp.
In 1923 David Rose purchased the property, added an amusement park, hotel, and swimming pool and renamed it Rose Island. It included a wooden coaster and a Ferris wheel. There was a 12 room lodge and 22 cabins. There were wolves in a pen, monkeys in a cage, and a black bear. There was also a combined dance hall/ice rink and a 400 seat restaurant. In total, the park was 118 acres. In 1932, the park had 132,000 visitors.To access it, people either took a steamboat or they drove to a footbridge. The footbridge was a wooden swinging bridge 50 feet above the creek.
Its closure was due to the Great Depression and damage caused by the 1937 Flood. The damage was too much in order to rebuild for the 1937 season. Subsequently, the Rose Island area became part of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. When the plant was deactivated, the land was given to the new Charlestown State Park.
A 1930, 32 page pamphlet about >>> Rose Island
In 1923 David Rose purchased the property, added an amusement park, hotel, and swimming pool and renamed it Rose Island. It included a wooden coaster and a Ferris wheel. There was a 12 room lodge and 22 cabins. There were wolves in a pen, monkeys in a cage, and a black bear. There was also a combined dance hall/ice rink and a 400 seat restaurant. In total, the park was 118 acres. In 1932, the park had 132,000 visitors.To access it, people either took a steamboat or they drove to a footbridge. The footbridge was a wooden swinging bridge 50 feet above the creek.
Its closure was due to the Great Depression and damage caused by the 1937 Flood. The damage was too much in order to rebuild for the 1937 season. Subsequently, the Rose Island area became part of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. When the plant was deactivated, the land was given to the new Charlestown State Park.
A 1930, 32 page pamphlet about >>> Rose Island
Glenwood Park - 1903 to 1935
Glenwood Park opened in 1903 on the banks of Silver Creek in New Albany. The entrance was at the corner of Spring and Beharrell Streets. It was a popular destination for picnics, recreation, and Chautauqua events. It included among its attractions, boating, bathing, fishing, baseball, football, tennis, a carousal, miniature railroad, theater, dancing and much more. New Albany High School used the football field.
Chautauqua was a traveling institution founded in Chautauqua New York. It was popular in the late 19th and early 20th Century providing, education, concerts, dramatic performances and more.
The park was owned by the Louisville and Southern Indiana Traction Company which provided interurban service to the park from Louisville and Jeffersonville. The park was sold for residential development in 1935.
The New Albany Library has some information here.
Chautauqua was a traveling institution founded in Chautauqua New York. It was popular in the late 19th and early 20th Century providing, education, concerts, dramatic performances and more.
The park was owned by the Louisville and Southern Indiana Traction Company which provided interurban service to the park from Louisville and Jeffersonville. The park was sold for residential development in 1935.
The New Albany Library has some information here.
Fontaine Ferry Park - 1905 to 1969
Fontaine Ferry Park was in operation from 1905 to 1969. Located on 64 acres in western Louisville at the Ohio River, it offered over 50 rides and attractions, as well as a swimming pool, skating rink and theater. The most popular attraction were its wooden roller coasters, of which 4 were built over the years.
- The Scenic Railway, 1905 to 1910, next to the main entrance where the swimming pool was later located.
- The Racing Derby, with dual tracks, 1910 to 1937. It was heavily damaged by the 1937 Flood.
- The Velvet Racer, 1938? to 1948
- The Comet, 1951 to 1969
The Park was built on land originally part of Aaron Fontaine's estate and ferry landing, which he bought in 1814, and sold in 1887 to Thomas Landenwich, who built a hotel and other attractions there. The park opened to the public in May 1905. It was located at the western end of Market Street (originally Fontaine Ferry Road) at what is now South Western Parkway. Until the 1940s, visitors could travel to the park by steamboat from Downtown Louisville.
Fontaine Ferry Park became racially integrated in 1964. On May 4, 1969, it was heavily vandalized by Negro youths in a flurry of robbing, looting and destruction. The park owners decided to immediately close the park rather than put their employees at risk. The park was sold later in 1969 and was remodeled and re-opened as Ghost Town on the River in 1972. It was later known as River Glen Park. 1975 was the last season for the park. Following several fires, the city purchased the property in 1981.
It is now the site of a residential development called Fontaine Estates, the first homes being sold in 1996. The Shawnee Park Sports Complex was built on part of the former Fontaine Ferry site in 1997.
- The Scenic Railway, 1905 to 1910, next to the main entrance where the swimming pool was later located.
- The Racing Derby, with dual tracks, 1910 to 1937. It was heavily damaged by the 1937 Flood.
- The Velvet Racer, 1938? to 1948
- The Comet, 1951 to 1969
The Park was built on land originally part of Aaron Fontaine's estate and ferry landing, which he bought in 1814, and sold in 1887 to Thomas Landenwich, who built a hotel and other attractions there. The park opened to the public in May 1905. It was located at the western end of Market Street (originally Fontaine Ferry Road) at what is now South Western Parkway. Until the 1940s, visitors could travel to the park by steamboat from Downtown Louisville.
Fontaine Ferry Park became racially integrated in 1964. On May 4, 1969, it was heavily vandalized by Negro youths in a flurry of robbing, looting and destruction. The park owners decided to immediately close the park rather than put their employees at risk. The park was sold later in 1969 and was remodeled and re-opened as Ghost Town on the River in 1972. It was later known as River Glen Park. 1975 was the last season for the park. Following several fires, the city purchased the property in 1981.
It is now the site of a residential development called Fontaine Estates, the first homes being sold in 1996. The Shawnee Park Sports Complex was built on part of the former Fontaine Ferry site in 1997.
Kiddieland
Kiddieland was a small amusement park located on the east side of 7th Street Road 1/4 mile north of Berry Blvd. It was in operation during the 1950s and 1960s.