Riverside Amusement Park (Indianapolis)
Riverside Amusement Park was an
History
Formation and early years
On 6 January 1903,
Despite Ingersoll's turning his attention away from Riverside Amusement Park and toward his plans for
Attractions and rides were being added in an increasing rate: an "aerial swing", a Japanese bowling alley, a "Gee Whiz",
Ownership change
In 1919, the park had new ownership. Lewis Coleman, a lawyer who provided legal advice to the Riverside Amusement Company and took payment in the form of company stock, organized the Riverside Exhibition Company and gained control of the park.
Lewis also instituted a "
In 1939, control of the park was passed from Lewis Coleman to his son, John.[1] The younger Coleman kept the park alive through the World War II years by sponsoring wartime relief programs to military families and emphasizing patriotism in his park's publicity.
Riverside Amusement Park's attendance increased after the end of
Demise of the park
The decade of the 1960s was not a kind one for Riverside Amusement Park, which was losing attendance for the first time since the end of World War II. By the time John Coleman lifted the "whites only" policy (in response to a series of protests organized by the NAACP Youth Council in 1963),[15] the park was losing $30,000 a year.[1][11]
Increased cost of insurance, maintenance, and new rides, coupled with increased competition from the emerging
All the rides were sold or demolished by 1978.[17] The land lay undisturbed for more than two decades, until the construction of the Rivers Edge subdivision in the early 2000s.[18][19]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-253-31222-1
- ^ a b c Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ Riverside Amusement Company incorporation papers, cited in Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ "What parks will offer this summer", Indianapolis News, 2 May 1903, cited in Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ "Many improvements in Indianapolis park, Indianapolis Star, 6 May 1906, cited in Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ "White City amusement park destroyed by fire", Indianapolis Star 27 June 1908, cited in Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ "Fire Causes $20,000 loss at Wonderland", Indianapolis News 28 August 1911, cited in Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ which Sandy described as "a cross between a giant teeter-totter and a flying jinny", cited in Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ "Big steer at Riverside", Indianapolis Star, 7 June 1908, cited in Indianapolis Amusement Parks 1903-1911: Landscapes on the Edge - Connie J. Zeigler, Indiana University 2007
- ^ The Salisbury Beach Dodgem: A Smashing Ride (1920-1980) - Betsy H. Woodham
- ^ a b c UNWA - Polis Center
- milk bottlecaps.
- ISBN 0-253-21544-7
- ^ http://www.iupui.edu/~anthpm/WACgalleyfinal.pdf "Racializing the Commonplace Landscape: An Archaeology of Urban Renewal Along the Color Line"] Paul R. Mullins, World Archaeology, Vol. 38(1), p.60-71
- ^ Digital Image Library - Indiana Historical Society
- ^ Mitchell, Dawn (June 25, 2017). "RetroIndy: Riverside Amusement Park, the summer resort within city limits". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ Eric B. Schoch, “Another old pastime bites the dust: amusement park set for demolition,” Indianapolis Star, 26 November 1978, cited in UNWA - Polis Center
- ^ Ex amusement park now offers affordable homes, Indianapolis Star, 24 December 2005
- ^ Past projects: Kosene and Kosene - page for developers of River's Edge development