Lakeside Amusement Park

Lakeside Amusement Park is a family-owned^[1] amusement park in Lakeside, Colorado. Opened in 1908, it is the oldest amusement park in Colorado still operating in its original location,^{[Note 1]} and is the last remaining White City-style park in the United States. The park notably features the Tower of Jewels and the Cyclone roller coaster.

Lakeside Amusement Park, originally known as White City, was founded by a group led by Denver-based brewer Adolph Zang,^[2] on an approximately 57-acre site^[3] adjacent to Lake Rhoda (then known as West Berkeley Lake).^[4] Referred to as "the Coney Island of the West",^[5] the park featured the Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architectural styles favored in many other amusement parks of the era, and was lit by an estimated 100,000 electric bulbs.^[6] It was serviced by a trolley line built by the Denver Tramway, but was independently owned, rather than being owned by the trolley company that served the park, meaning it is not a true trolley park.^[7]

The park’s original buildings included the 150-foot Tower of Jewels at the park’s main entrance, a natatorium, a 15,000 square foot ballroom, a roller skating rink, a boat house with a 160-foot pier, and a miniature train station modeled after Denver Union Station.^[8]

Original rides and attractions included the Lakeshore Railroad (a miniature railroad which circled the lake), a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel, an airship and balloon ascension platform, a funhouse, the Devil's Palace (described as an "interesting and instructing amusement" featuring snakes and other reptiles),^[9] a shoot the chutes, a mile-long Scenic Railway, and the Velvet Coaster. W.H. Labb of Indianapolis designed the Velvet Coaster, which featured a 1,200 foot (370 m) framework situated along the southern end of the lake, with a total of 3,600 feet (1,100 m) of track.^[10] A ride called Tickler was installed, but was removed soon after customers reported it causing serious injuries, including broken bones.^[11]

Derby Racer, a double-track racing coaster designed by John A. Miller, was added in 1911. The ride was built at the northern end of the park, which had previously been used for social functions only, signifying a gradual move away from the park's White City aspirations into a more amusement ride-centric focus.^[12]

Scenic Railway and several other structures in the southwestern section of the park were destroyed by a fire on November 15, 1911.^[13] Another fire in January 1912 destroyed the skating rink and damaged Derby Racer.^[14] Derby Racer was repaired, while the natatorium was converted into a new roller skating rink. It would not be used for swimming again until 1928.^[15]

Following its acquisition by Ben Krasner in 1935,^[16] the park underwent a period of major renovations and additions. Many new rides were added, including the Cyclone roller coaster, which replaced the Derby Racer in 1940. New buildings and features were built in the Art Deco style, including individual ticket booths for most major rides and attractions. Architect Richard L. Crowther designed much of the park's architectural features during this period, and included a great deal of neon lighting in his work.^[17]

The ballroom closed in 1972 due to declining interest in ballroom dancing.^[18] It was later deemed a significant fire hazard and was demolished in 1974.^[19] A fire in December 1973 destroyed the pool building, which was at the time being used for maintenance and off-season storage. Parts and blueprints for many of the park's rides were lost.^[20]

From the late 1930s through 1988, Lakeside Amusement Park operated Lakeside Speedway on the park grounds. The auto racetrack was a 1⁄5-mile (0.32 km) oval and featured races of three car classes sponsored by CARC: stock, limited modified, and fully modified. The race track was built on the site of the park's former baseball diamond, and reused the spectator stands from the baseball field in the track's viewing area. Following a fatal accident in 1988, racing at the park came to an end.^[21]

In 2014, members of the Domino Service Dogs training group were denied access to the train ride unless they left their service dogs behind. As a result, the Cross Disability Coalition filed a lawsuit against the park, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Colorado's laws ensuring access. The local police department and the town of Lakeside were also included as defendants in the suit.^[22]

The 1908 tower and casino building still stand, but are closed to the public, instead being used for storage and park offices. Also closed to the public is the Riviera cocktail lounge, the lone remnant of the park's original ballroom building.^[23]

• The park is featured in season one, episode ten of the animated series Thundarr the Barbarian.
• Lakeside Amusement Park is one of several parks featured in the 1999 public television program Great Old Amusement Parks.
• Scenes from the 1995 movie Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead were shot in the park.
• The park served as the basis for the fictional location "Lakefront Expo^[31]" in Fortnight,^[32] a novel about serial murders in Denver, set in 2034.

• Lakeside Amusement Park
• After 110 Years of Ups and Downs, a New Coaster Could Take Lakeside to New Heights Westword. Denver, CO
• Lakeside Amusement Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase
• Lakeside Amusement Park historic photos from the Denver Public Library
• Lakeside Amusement Park photos and video at Theme Park Review