Idora Park facts for kids
Idora Park crowds, c. 1912
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| Location | Oakland, California, U.S. |
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| Opened | 1904 |
| Closed | January 1929 (25 years) |
| Theme | Trolley park |
| Area | 17.5-acre (71,000 m2) |
Idora Park was a fun amusement park in Oakland, California. It opened in 1904 and was about 17.5 acres big. It was a type of park called a trolley park. This meant people could easily get there by trolley car.
Idora Park started as a simple picnic spot. But it quickly grew into a full amusement park. Many people from the San Francisco Bay Area visited it. The park was very popular for many years. However, its popularity went down when more people started owning cars. Idora Park closed in 1929 and was taken down.
Contents
History of Idora Park
Park Opening
A company called the Realty Syndicate built Idora Park in 1903. It was located in North Oakland, near Temescal Creek. The main entrance was on Telegraph Avenue. The park was surrounded by a wall.
When it first opened, a man named Rodney Ingersoll built the first "sky railway" ride there. It was a type of roller coaster. It cost 10 cents to get into the park. Idora Park was open for more than 30 weeks each year.
How the Park Operated
The Ingersoll Pleasure and Amusement Park Company ran Idora Park. This company also managed other parks in the eastern United States. The park was almost named Kennywood Park. But Mr. Ingersoll decided to name it after his daughter, Idora.
The Realty Syndicate owned other businesses too. These included the Key System transit company and the Claremont Hotel. The main partners in the company were Frank C. Havens and Francis M. "Borax" Smith. Mr. Smith made a lot of money from mining borax. He then invested in transit and properties in the East Bay area. Bertrand York managed Idora Park from 1911 until it closed in 1929.
Idora Park Opera Company
Idora Park was also known for its opera house. After the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many people lost their homes. About 2,500 people found shelter at Idora Park. The Realty Syndicate provided them with food and supplies.
After the earthquake, comic actors from San Francisco moved to Oakland. They formed the Idora Park Opera Company. They performed famous shows like The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance. These shows took place in a wooden opera house called the Wigwam Theater.
In 1908, the opera company changed its name. It later became the San Carlos Opera Company. This group then toured around the country.
Exciting Rides
Rides at Idora Park usually cost 5 cents. Many were advertised as being the "largest" or the "first." The names of the rides often changed. Some popular ride names included Dodge 'em, The Whip, and the Magic Carpet.
Here are some of the rides you could find:
- The Circle Swing: A large, round disk with chains. People sat on it and swung around.
- The Social Whirl: A platform where people sat. A spinning motion pushed them off.
- The Flying Swing: A swings (ride) with cars hanging from a central point. It spun fast, making the cars fly high.
- Haunted swing: A ride that made you feel like you were swinging upside down.
- Barrel-of-Fun: A funhouse attraction.
- Trip through Hades: A dark ride.
- Helter Skelter: A tall slide.
- Chutes: A water ride where boats slid down a ramp into water.
- Miniature railway train: A small train that carried people around the park.
- Ferris wheel: A large wheel with seats that lifted riders high into the air.
- Merry-go-round: A classic carousel ride.
- The Mountain Slide: A slide that went down through a mountain-like structure.
- The Auto Race Course: A circular track where two electric cars raced.
- Noah's ark: A funhouse attraction shaped like an ark.
Roller Coasters
Idora Park had five different roller coasters during its history:
- Ingersoll Figure 8 Toboggan: This coaster ran from 1906 to 1916.
- L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway: This one operated from 1906 to 1921.
- Race Thru The Clouds: A roller coaster with two tracks.
- The Big (or Giant) Dipper: This large coaster opened in 1922 and closed in 1928. It cost $60,000 to build.
- Skyrocket (or Thunderbolt): This coaster ran from 1927 to 1928.
Fun Attractions
In the early 1900s, Idora Park was a place for flying demonstrations. People showed off lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air flying machines. For example, David Wilkie flew a glider launched from a balloon in 1906. Also, the first successful round-trip flight in the United States happened here. Thomas Baldwin flew his dirigible called The California Arrow in 1904.
Idora Park was known for many "firsts" and "largest" items. It had the first outdoor public address system. It also had the biggest horn loudspeaker made by Magnavox. The park featured the first radio theater in the West. It also had a huge searchlight. People said it was the largest in the world.
The park also had the largest Victrola tower. And it had the largest roller skating rink west of Chicago. Famous skaters like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton reportedly practiced there. The park's evening lights used so much power that a new system was needed in 1907.
The park was surrounded by a wall. Inside, you could find a zoo with animals like ostriches. There were also animal shows and a dance hall. Other attractions included a racetrack and an outdoor amphitheater. There was a Japanese garden and a bear grotto. The main street was called the Glad Way. You could also visit a penny arcade, a photo gallery, and a shooting gallery.
In 1904, a ballpark with 3,000 seats was built. After the 1906 earthquake, the Pacific Coast League baseball teams played there. The roller skating rink was the biggest in California. It had a bandstand in the middle. On Saturday nights, the Mountain Slide ride had a firework display. There were also hot-air balloon rides. Acrobats like Frank and Carrie Hamilton would parachute from them.
At a game called The Laying Hens, you threw a ball at a wooden hen. If you hit it, the hen would fall over. Then it would give you a hard-boiled egg to eat! The park also offered electric souvenirs and table tennis. There was a musical arcade and a dancing pavilion. You could find many places to eat and drink.
Entertainment
Vaudeville performers often appeared on Idora Park's stages. Many famous stars started their careers in Oakland. These included Hobart Bosworth, Fatty Arbuckle, and Mabel Normand. It's also possible that Lon Chaney performed there. Walter DeLeon wrote his first play at Idora Park.
Aimee Semple McPherson held a very large outdoor baptism at the park. About 10,000 people watched her perform baptisms in the swimming tanks. This happened after she returned from the Far East.
Tasty Refreshments
Idora Park was well-known for its cream waffles. The recipe was even published in a newspaper later on. You could buy ice cream, popcorn, and Coney Island "Red Hots" for a nickel.
The park's restaurant offered full meals. These cost between 75 cents and one dollar. Soda pop was also available in 12-ounce bottles.
Park's End
Idora Park became less popular as more people bought cars. Also, a new park called Neptune Beach opened nearby in Alameda.
Idora Park closed in January 1929. It was completely taken down later that year. There were plans to build apartments and businesses on the land. But the Great Depression slowed these plans down. Instead, smaller houses and apartment buildings were built on the 17-acre site.
By the 1930s, the Idora Park area became home to many Italian immigrant families. A new roller rink called Rollerland opened in 1930. It was located on Telegraph Avenue.
