Sure, you know all about Michigan’s Adventure and Cedar Point in Ohio, but Michigan was once home to plenty of smaller amusement parks. Many of these were old-school “trolley parks,” built by electric companies in the late 19th and early 20th century as a way to boost ridership on the weekends.
Let’s take a look back at the amusement parks that brought Michigan summer fun in the old days.
Walled Lake Park and Dance Hall, Walled Lake (1919–1968)
This amusement park grew around a general store at the south end of the lake. Attractions included a dance hall where big bands played, a water slide with wooden toboggans, and a roller coaster called the Flying Dragon. It later held performances with big acts like Chuck Berry and Stevie Wonder. Its casino burned to the ground on Christmas 1965.
Shutterstock
Boblo Island Amusement Park, Bois Blanc Island (1898-1993)
While technically located in Ontario, Boblo was a favorite of Detroiters, who could travel there by ferry and considered it to be the Motor City’s answer to New York City’s Coney Island. Its signature attractions included a Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a Space Needle ride.
Toledo Beach Amusement Park, La Salle Township (1907–1962)
Accessible by trolley line from Toledo, this park’s attractions included a dance hall and train rides. It’s now home to the Toledo Beach Marina.
2 of 22
Courtesy of the St. Clair Shores Historical Commission, St. Clair Shores, MI.
Jefferson Beach, St. Clair Shores (1927–1959)
Once home to the world’s longest roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, a dance pavilion, and other attractions, the park was destroyed by a fire in 1955. It is now the Jefferson Beach Marina.
Silver Beach Amusement Park, St. Joseph (1891–1971)
This park was frequented by Chicagoans thanks to steamboat service. Attractions included rides with names like Chase through the Clouds, a roller rink, a dance hall, and a boxing ring. It closed due to escalating crime, but a group called the Silver Beach Carousel Society built a new Silver Beach Carousel in 2010 on the site to honor its history.
Prehistoric Forest Amusement Park, Onsted (1963-2002)
Fiberglass dinosaurs were once king of this now-extinct Irish Hills tourist trap located along U.S. Route 12, which even featured a smoking volcano. It has since fallen into disrepair, with the dinos prey to vandalism.
6 of 22
Newspapers.com clipping
Six Flags AutoWorld, Flint (1984–1994)
This park was created to celebrate Flint’s contributions to the auto industry and once claimed to be “the largest enclosed theme park in the world.” Although it opened to great fanfare, it failed to meet attendance goals and soon closed. Its attractions included educational exhibits like a giant automobile engine and a mock assembly line. The site is now home to a University of Michigan-Flint building.
A trolley park created by wealthy real estate agent Arthur C. Gaulker, this attraction was located on East Jefferson adjacent to the approach to the bridge to Belle Isle and was lit by 75,000 light bulbs. It was also known as Riverview Park, Luna Park, and Granada Park.
The former amusement park included a double track wooden roller coaster, a theater pavilion, a ridable miniature railway, and a boat livery. Fun fact: former U.S. President Gerald Ford worked here as a teenager, moving supplies. It is now home to the Gaslight Village district.
Also known as the Springs of Eden Park, this park was established by a religious cult called the Israelite House of David, led by spouses who claimed to be the successors of English self-described prophet Joanna Southcott. It featured a zoo, hosted performances by national bands, and had its own minor-league baseball team, as well as attractions like coal-powered miniature trains. In 2011 it was revived, one of the few shuttered American amusement parks to later successfully reopen.
10 of 22
Holland Museum
Jenison Electric Park, Holland (1903–1920s)
Located on the shore of Lake Macatawa, the park was established by twin brothers Lucius and Luman Jenison and their older sibling Hiram. Its attractions included the Figure 8, one of West Michigan’s first roller coasters.
Pleasure Island Water Theme Park, Muskegon (1981–1997)
This water park had 13 water slides, mini golf, a beach with zip line, paddle boats, bumper boats, and a lazy river. Its signature attraction was a water slide named the Black Hole, which was built into a hill. The park closed after the nearby Michigan’s Adventure added its WildWater Adventure water park (which, unlike Pleasure Island, used actual chlorinated water and not just lake water). It’s now the site of a residential subdivision.
Located on Harsens Island, this former amusement park attracted travelers who arrived by steamboat from Detroit and Port Huron. It had a casino, a roller rink, and a dance pavilion, among other attractions. Its dance pavilion still exists, though it’s now used by the marina to store boats during the winter.
Wenona Beach Amusement Park, Bangor Township (1887-1964)
Established by lumber barons, it had a large pavilion, a pier, a boardwalk, a casino, vaudeville performances, and bath houses. It was damaged in a large storm in 1947 and is now a trailer park.
This park included attractions like picnic grounds and a “Dizzy Figure-8” roller coaster. It is now a city park.
15 of 22
Detroit Historical Society
Edgewater Park, Detroit (1927–1981)
Located at Seven Mile and Berg roads near Grand River Avenue on Detroit’s Westside, this former park featured a wooden roller coaster called “Wild Beast” and a 110-foot Ferris wheel. You could also catch concerts by Motown artists here. The site is now home to the Greater Grace Temple.
16 of 22
Newspapers.com clipping
Leadley Park, Lansing (1892-1917)
The park’s attractions featured a roller coaster and live animals including an alligator that escaped and was never found.
17 of 22
Flint Park, Flint (1921-1961)
Located next to Flint Lake on the north side of the city, this park had a number of rides but was damaged in a deadly tornado in 1953 and eventually fell victim to vandals.
18 of 22
Lake Lansing Amusement Park, Ingham County (1934–1974)
This park once featured a 65-foot roller coaster called the Cyclone. Its carousel was later dismantled and sold to Cedar Point.
19 of 22
Memory Lane Arcade, Frankenmuth (1975-2004)
Even in its time Memory Lane was a blast from the past, notable for its collection of old-fashioned coin-operated arcade games, fortune tellers, music-playing machines like a 200-year-old Orchestrion and player piano, and other attractions. Admission to the arcade was free.
