Krug Park (amusement park)
Location | |
---|---|
Opened | 1895 |
Closed | 1940 |
Owner | Frederick Krug |
Slogan | "Omaha's Polite Resort" |
Krug Park (currently known as Gallagher Park) was an amusement park located at 2936 North 52nd Street in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska, United States at the turn of the 20th century.[1] In 1930, Krug Park was the site of the worst roller coaster accident in the nation up to that time.[2]
History
Charles Tietz, an early Omaha
Roller coaster incident
The most deadly roller coaster accident in the United States up to 1930 happened at Krug Park.[3][4] On July 24, the park's "Big Dipper" roller coaster crashed. After 6 p.m., a bolt worked loose and four cars full of children and teenagers plunged to the ground. Four people, Ruth Claire Farrell (15), C.H. Stout (34), Tony Politika (22) and Gladys Lundgren (29),[5] were killed and 17 were injured.[2] The Omaha City Council immediately passed an ordinance banning roller coasters in Omaha. Krug Park stayed open but business declined afterwards, and it closed in 1940.[6]
Gallagher Park
Gallagher Park | |
---|---|
Type | |
Area | 18.8 acres (76,000 m2) |
Created | 1941 |
Operated by | City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Department |
Status | Open all year |
It was landscaped into a traditional style park in 1955.
See also
- History of Omaha
References
- ^ a b "Krug's Park." Nebraska's Memories. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
- ^ a b "Survivor recalls Krug Park tragedy," Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine KETV.com. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- ^ Kucirek, M.L. (2004) Omaha's Krug Park Roller Coaster Accident: Exploring the Diffusion of Communication in Newspaper and Among Omaha Residents. University of Nebraska at Omaha. p 8. Retrieved 9/9/07.
- ^ "Krug Park". Nebraska Memories. Retrieved 3/27/15.
- ^ "Omaha, NE Amusement Park Accident, July 1930". GenDisasters.com. Retrieved 6/3/2015.
- ^ "Krug Park" Archived July 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- ^ "Gallagher Park" City of Omaha website. Retrieved 2010-05.
- ^ "Gallagher Leisure Pool" City of Omaha website. Retrieved 2010-05.