Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo Park Glen Echo Park
Playground of the Nation's Capital

Bethesda, Md
1912 - 1968

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I first became fascinated with Glen Echo Park, when I drove by it on another business trip a few years ago.
In 1891, the National Chautauqua of Glen Echo opened along the Potomac River. It had many stone buildings for performances and classes. Soon a trolley line was built to it from Washington.
The Chautauqua failed in the mid -1890s.
In 1912, Leonard Schloss bought the land and built Glen Echo Park. It was located on MacArthur Blvd. in Bethesda, Md., west of Washington, D.C.
The first coaster at Glen Echo was "The Dip Gravity Railway". It was a 'ravine coaster' in that it took advantage of the natural terrain of the park. By doing this, it didn't need a large lift hill, which saved on wood and was less costly. "The Dip" ran from 1912 to 1920.
The "Coaster Dips" replaced the "Dip Gravity Railway" in 1921. There were two accidental deaths on the "Coaster Dips" in the late 1930s, but the ride remained popular. It ran until 1965.
The Dentzel Carousel was installed in the park in 1921. It included a Wurlitzer organ (1926).
The Spanish Ballroom was added in 1933.
It was advertised to have 14 major rides, 3 swimming pools, a kiddieland, sportland, skeeball, miniature golf, basketball, shooting gallery, picnic facilities, and 7 refreshment stands
Some of the smaller attractions included the Mad Mouse coaster, haunted house, house of mirrors, penny arcade, a children's boat ride.

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A race riot erupted in 1966, which hurt attendance for the next two years. The park closed in 1968, and it sat vacant for a while before the National Parks Service bought it. Now the park houses some artist's studios.
The carousel has been renovated and is open to the public, and as of 1999, the bumper car pavilion was being renovated.
The Spanish Ballroom is still there in all it's splendor.

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World Cruise Ride The Whip

Coaster Car in the Station Spanish Ballroom

Bumper Cars Carousel - 1921

Carousel Roller Coaster - 1968

Coaster at Night Cuddle-Up

Coaster Dips Laff In The Dark

Park at Night Trolley at the Entrance

Trolley at the Entrance
1930's Crowd at the World Cruise

Glen Echo Sign Theatre

Trolley to the Park Coaster

Coaster Coaster

Pool Glen Echo Park

Bumper Car Pavilion Pool

The Dip Gravity Railway
1912-1920 Restored Carousel Horse
from a present-day postcard

* * * Return to Amusement Park Nostalgia

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Created- Wed, Dec 19, 2001
Revised- Tues, Sep 25, 2007
crc1123@voicenet.com


World Cruise Ride	The Whip

Coaster Car in the Station	Spanish Ballroom

Bumper Cars	Carousel - 1921

Carousel	Roller Coaster - 1968

Coaster at Night	Cuddle-Up

Coaster Dips	Laff In The Dark

Park at Night	Trolley at the Entrance

Trolley at the Entrance 1930's	Crowd at the World Cruise

Glen Echo Sign	Theatre

Trolley to the Park	Coaster

Coaster	Coaster

Pool	Glen Echo Park

Bumper Car Pavilion	Pool

The Dip Gravity Railway 1912-1920	Restored Carousel Horse from a present-day postcard