Bertrand Island Amusement Park facts for kids
| Location | Brigantine, Lake Hopatcong, USA |
|---|---|
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1910 |
| Closed | 1983 |
Bertrand Island Amusement Park was a popular fun park in New Jersey. It was located on a special piece of land. This land was like a finger sticking out into Lake Hopatcong. Water surrounded it on three sides. The park was in the town of Mount Arlington, New Jersey.
Contents
History of Bertrand Island Park
Bertrand Island Amusement Park started as a simple swimming beach. In the 1910s, it began adding fun rides. This happened after a trolley line connected the park to other areas. The Morris County Traction Company built this connection.
Park Expansion and Attractions
During the 1920s, the park grew much bigger. The owner, Louis Kraus, added many new things. The park eventually had about 20 rides. These included a big wooden roller coaster and an airplane swing. There were also bumper cars for exciting rides.
The park offered many other fun activities. Visitors could enjoy picnic areas. There was also a Skee-Ball arcade. A large dance hall was popular for music and dancing. Guests could grab a meal at the park's cafeteria. Since it was on a beach, it had a diving tower. There were also boat docks for people arriving by water.
Famous Carousel
For many years, the park had a very famous carousel. It was an "Illions Monarch II Supreme" model. This carousel was known for its beautiful horses and decorations. Later, this special carousel was sold. It moved to Circus World in Florida.
Why the Park Closed
Bertrand Island Amusement Park was open for over 70 years. It finally closed its doors in 1983. One reason was competition from bigger theme parks. These larger parks offered more modern rides. Also, Lake Hopatcong changed over time. It became a community where people lived all year. This meant fewer visitors just coming for summer fun.
In 2001, the land where the park once stood was developed. New townhouses were built there.
Remembering Bertrand Island Park
The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum helps keep the park's memory alive. They created a special narrated history. It includes video footage and many old photographs of the park. The museum also has an exhibit. This exhibit features many items that were once part of Bertrand Island Park.
Bertrand Island in Movies
The area around Mount Arlington was used for filming a movie. Scenes from the 1985 film The Purple Rose of Cairo were shot there. This movie was directed by Woody Allen. One scene featured actors Jeff Daniels and Mia Farrow. It was filmed right at the entrance to the "Wildcat" wooden roller coaster.
- Bertrand Island Amusement Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase
