Hunting Park Carousel
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Hunting Park
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Castle Rock Park
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Smith's Island Resort
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Beechwood Park
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Playland
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Broomall Grove
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Lenape Park
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PT Barnum's
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In 1809, the first horse racing track (trotters) in America was created at what is now Hunting Park. In 1854, the state of Pennsyvania outlawed betting on horses.
In 1902, the Dentzel company built a carousel in the park. Their factory was only a few blocks away at 3635-41 Germantown Ave., and prospective customers would be brought to Hunting Park to see and ride a finished carousel.
The carousel was removed in 1967. It was the last carousel to operate in the city of Phila. The "lead horse" now resides on the carousel at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
The Phila.-Camden ferries would go around the island until 1838 when a channel was dredged right through it to accomodate the increased traffic. The south half kept the name Windmill Island, but the north half was re-named Smith's Island for the owner, John Smith.
In the 1880's, Jacob Ridgway built an amusement park on Smith's Island and ran ferries to it from Camden.
In 1890, the islands were declared a menace to navigation, and in 1891, an operation was begun to remove them by dredging. By 1897, they were completely gone.
Smith's Island Amusement Resort (Phila., Pa.) -
Smith's Island
Smith's Island
Smith's Island
Four years later, in 1899, the trolley line was complete. On Memorial Day of that year, the permanent Castle Rocks Park opened. (Oddly, someone added an "s" to the name.) Broomall Grove closed and most of the attractions moved to the new park.
Alas, Castle Rocks Park never had a large patronage (Willow Grove Park and Woodside Park were closer to Philadelphia and much larger) and it closed in 1905 after only six years of operation.
- Thanks to Ernie Mitchell for this information
It had a dancing pavilion, refreshment stands, and picnic grounds. In the summer, an orchestra played every day except Sunday.
Four years later, in 1899, the trolley line was complete to Castle Rock where a more permanent park was built.. Broomall Grove closed and most of the attractions moved to the new park.
- Thanks to Ernie Mitchell for this information
Less than two months after the park opened it was placed in receivership. By August, 1909 the park was closed. The land was sold a decade later.
- Thanks to Ernie Mitchell for this information
It was a small urban amusement park, but it had quite a few rides squeezed into its small area. Among them were a Wild Mouse coaster, ferris wheel, scrambler, a big slide, a train and bumper cars.
"I loved riding The Wild Mouse and the ferris wheel. I also have a vivid memory of my father trying to put my younger brothers into one of those boats that went around in a circle of water, and his foot slipped off the edge and into the water. Being a kid, that was hilarious, but I remember it stopped being funny when he wanted to go home because his one foot and leg were all wet." - remembers Valerie.
Next to the amusement park was Boulevard Pools and a miniature golf course.
None of these places are there now. Boulevard Pools and the miniature golf course are now a car dealership, and the amusement park is now a skating rink and K-Mart.
Castle Rock Park (Phila., Pa.) -
Broomall Grove (Phila., Pa.) -
Beechwood Park (Phila., Pa.) -
Playland (Phila., Pa.) -
Playland (NE Phila.)
This was an amusement park not too long ago. It was on Rte 52, along the Brandywine Creek.
It had giant swings, bumper cars, canoes, and a large swimming pool. It also had a carousel built be Gustav Dentzel at the turn of the century.
It is now a picnic grove.
Lenape Park (West Chester, Pa.) -
Boating on Lenape Lake
The Lake at Lenape Park
Overhead View of Lenape Park
A Scene at the Park
Early Days of Lenape Park
In the 1880s, PT Barnum opened an amusement park in Philadelphia, at Broad and Morris Sts. It featured Jumbo the Elephant.
We're not sure if this was an actual amusement park, or more of a zoo or museum.
PT Barnum's Amusement Park -
Created- Sun, Apr. 16, 2000
Revised- Mon, Apr 23, 2007
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