Crescent Park (defunct amusement park) facts for kids
| Location | 700 Bullocks Point Avenue Riverside, Rhode Island, U.S.A. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°45′22″N 71°21′28″W / 41.756144°N 71.357833°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1886 |
| Closed | 1979 (carousel remains operational) |
| Operating season | Easter – Columbus Day (carousel) |
Crescent Park was a very popular amusement park in Riverside, East Providence, Rhode Island. It was open from 1886 to 1979. For 93 years, millions of people from New England and around the world visited the park. It was famous for its delicious Rhode Island Shore Dinners and the beautiful Alhambra Ballroom. People also loved its fun midway, which had many rides and games.
Sadly, fewer people visited the park in the 1970s. This caused the park to close down. The land was later cleared to build new homes.
Today, the only part of the park that is still open is the amazing 1895 Crescent Park Looff Carousel. It was designed and built by Charles I. D. Looff. This carousel has been completely fixed up and still works today!
Contents
History of Crescent Park
How the Park Started (19th Century)
Crescent Park began in 1886. A man named George B. Boyden rented land next to Narragansett Bay. This land was owned by John Davis, who had the Bullock's Point Hotel there. Boyden later bought the hotel and changed its name to the Crescent Park Hotel. This hotel was used until 1935, when it was taken down to make space for a parking lot. Boyden named the park "Crescent Park" because the nearby beach was shaped like a crescent moon.
In 1892, a famous carousel builder named Charles I. D. Looff put the park's first carousel there. The building for this ride was built over the beach. It was right next to a long pier where steamboats would arrive. In 1895, Looff built a second, even more special carousel for the park. This is the one we know today as the Crescent Park Looff Carousel.
This beautiful carousel has 61 horses carved by hand. It also has 1 camel, 4 chariots, and a fantastic German band organ. This organ was built by A. Ruth & Sohn. This historic carousel has been fixed up and is still running for people to enjoy!
A large hall for shore dinners was built on a hill overlooking the Bay. The Riverside area was well known for its hotels and places to have clam bakes.
- Charles I. D. Looff also built the park's first roller coaster. It was called the Toboggan Racer.
Growing and Changing (20th Century)
In 1900, another roller coaster called a scenic railway was built near the Looff carousel. The next year, Boyden sold the park to the Dexter Brothers. Colonel R.A. Harrington became the park manager. In 1902, a very large building was built on the midway. It was first used for art and craft shows. Later, this building became the famous Alhambra Ballroom.
In 1905, Charles I. D. Looff moved his carousel factory to Crescent Park. He designed and built many carousels there. These carousels went to parks all over New England and the United States. He also used the Crescent Park carousel to show off his amazing work. During this time, Looff also built a fun "tunnel-of-love" ride called The Rivers of Venice.
In 1910, Looff moved to Long Beach, California. His son, Charles, Jr., and daughter, Helen, took over running the Crescent Park operations.
Charles Looff, Jr. made many improvements to the park. In 1914, he built a new shore dinner hall right by the Bay. It was big enough to seat 2000 people! He also made the Alhambra Ballroom more open by removing inside columns. In 1916, he built a 150-foot boat called the Miss Looff. He named it after his younger sister, who had passed away. In 1920, he bought the park and ran it until he died in 1925.
In 1922, Looff, Jr. even started a radio station, WKAD, at the park! After his death, a company called Beacon Manufacturing Company bought the park.
The park was damaged by a big storm in 1938, called the 1938 New England hurricane. The pier and the Comet roller coaster were hit the hardest. But they were both rebuilt. In 1951, a group of people who ran park concessions bought the park. They made many improvements over the next 15 years. They added new rides like the Flying Fish and the Satellite. They also added a Turnpike Ride, an 1860s Train Ride, and a Sky Ride. Food options got better, and they offered free shows.
The park was sold again in 1966. Three years later, in 1969, the Alhambra Ballroom sadly burned down.
The Park's Last Years (1975-1979)
In 1975, the company that owned Crescent Park faced financial trouble. A bank took over the park and hired a company to run it in 1976 and 1977.
People started to worry that the park would close and the carousel would be sold. So, a group of local residents formed the "Save Our Carousel Committee." After a long legal fight, they successfully saved the carousel! The rest of the park closed for good after the 1977 season.
In 1979, the Crescent Park property and all the rides, except the carousel, were sold at an auction.
After Closure and Saving the Carousel (1980-Present)
Part of the midway was destroyed by a fire in March 1980. In 1982, a real estate company bought the park land. They planned to build homes there. However, they agreed to protect the carousel and the beach. The old shore dining hall also burned down in another fire in July 1984.
The amazing, fixed-up carousel reopened on July 17, 1984. In 1985, the Rhode Island government called it "The State Jewel of American Folk Art." It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States. The carousel's base was rebuilt in 2000 with help from a special grant. A part called the ring gear, which was original to the ride, was replaced in 2010.
Images for kids
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The beautiful Crescent Park Looff Carousel today.
