In the United States, trolley parks, which started in the 19th century, were picnic and recreation areas along or at the ends of streetcar lines in most of the larger cities. These were precursors to amusement parks. Trolley parks were often created by the streetcar companies to give people a reason to use their services on weekends.
The parks originally consisted of picnic groves and pavilions, and often held events such as dances, concerts and fireworks. Many eventually added features such as swimming pools, carousels, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, sports fields, boats rides, restaurants and other resort facilities to become amusement parks. Various sources report the existence of between 1,500 and 2,000 amusement parks in the United States by 1919.
One such location was Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City, where in 1829 a horse-drawn streetcar line began to bring pleasure seekers to the beach. In 1875, a million passengers rode the railroad to Coney Island; the next year doubled that. Hotels and amusements were built to accommodate the upper classes and the working class. The first carousel was installed in the 1870s, the first Switchback Railway roller coaster in 1881. In 1895, the first permanent amusement park in North America opened in Coney Island: Sea Lion Park, which was also one of the first parks to charge admission for entrance, not just tickets for individual rides.
In 1897, it was joined by Steeplechase Park, the first of three major amusement parks that would open in the area. George Tilyou designed the park to provide thrills and sweep away the restraints of the Victorian crowds. The combination of the nearby population center of New York City and the ease of access to the area made Coney Island the embodiment of the American amusement park. It was later joined by Luna Park in 1903 and Dreamland in 1904. Coney Island was a huge success, and by 1910 attendance on a Sunday could reach a million people.
Heyday
The Jack Rabbit Derby Racer at Ramona Park, a trolley park in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. The park closed in 1955.
The "golden era" of trolley parks began in the early 20th century, by which time there were hundreds of amusement parks, many of them starting as trolley parks, in operation around the United States. Every major city boasted one or more parks, often based on (or named after) Coney Island, Luna Park, or Dreamland. The era saw the typical workweek shrink and the amount of disposable income rose. The amusement parks reflected the mechanization and efficiency of industrialization, while serving as a source of fantasy and escape from real life.
Decline
Attendance at urban trolley parks generally declined in the 1920s. Changing demographics in the urban areas also played a role. So did the rise of the automobile in American life. Although the automobile provided people with more options for satisfying their entertainment needs, amusement parks that were accessible by car continued to be successful and new parks were developed.
By the end of the 1920s, amusement parks had suffered steep declines for various reasons, particularly the Great Depression.
Oldest continuously operating amusement park in the US, technically this is not a trolley park. While it had trolley service, the park had been in operation for forty years before the trolley was invented and was never owned or operated by a trolley company.
According to the book Denver's Lakeside Amusement Park, the park was developed by private interests as a separate company who then encouraged the Denver Tramway Company to extend a line to their new enterprise. It was closely linked to the trolley line, it was not a true "trolley park".
Of the original rides, only the Dentzel Carousel is in operation. Glen Echo, however, remains open as a National Park Service historic site, and an arts and cultural center managed by the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Renovated structures still in use include the historic Spanish Ballroom, the Bumper Car Pavilion, the Puppet Co. Playhouse, the Arcade building, the Yellow Barn, Adventure Theatre, the Candy Corner, the Chautauqua Tower, the Ballroom Annex, and the Hall of Mirrors Dance Studio.
When first opened, visitors came to the park on two steamers from downtown Cleveland. When the Humphrey Family took over direction of the park they agreed to discontinue boat service in return for one street car fare charge to the park from the provider. Initially a street car stop was built inside the park. (Euclid Beach Park, is Closed for the Season, 1977)
