Lakeside Amusement Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lakeside Amusement Park

Previously known as White City
Tower of Jewels at Lakeside Amusement Park
Location	Lakeside, Colorado, Colorado Denver, U.S.
Coordinates	39°46′42″N 105°03′34″W / 39.77833°N 105.05944°W / 39.77833; -105.05944
Opened	May 30, 1908
Owner	Rhoda Krasner
Slogan	Enjoy the Ride!
Operating season	First weekend in May to Labor Day
Area	Northwest metropolitan Denver area
Attractions
Total	39
Roller coasters	5
Water rides	1

Lakeside Amusement Park is a fun family-owned amusement park located in Lakeside, Colorado, right next to Denver. It first opened in 1908 and was called White City. It was a popular place to visit, built next to Lake Rhoda by the Denver Tramway company. This made it a "trolley park," meaning people could easily get there by streetcar or trolley.

The park was later sold to a brewer named Adolph Zang. Even though its name changed to Lakeside Amusement Park, many local people still called it White City. This was because of its amazing display of over 100,000 sparkling lights! Today, Lakeside is one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States and the oldest still running in Colorado. It's also one of only thirteen original trolley parks still open. The park covers almost half of the town of Lakeside, which was created because of the park in 1907. A famous landmark there is the Tower of Jewels.

History of Lakeside Park

Aerial view of Lakeside Amusement Park looking NNE, January, 1966

Lakeside Amusement Park is the only remaining American amusement park that was once called White City. It was first built in the fancy Exposition and White City architectural styles.

In the 1930s, Ben Krasner bought the park. He made many big changes and added new features in the Art Deco style. A designer named Richard L. Crowther created many of Lakeside's Art Deco and Modern parts. He used a lot of bright neon lights in his designs.

You can find cool old pieces from other places all around the park. For example, inside the main restaurant, there's a marble and mirror bar that used to be in the Denver Union Station. Also, the pool for the Skoota Boats ride used to be part of an older ride called the Shoot-the-Chutes.

There is a small fee to enter the park, but kids under two get in free. When you pay to enter, you get a coupon. You can use this coupon for one ride or put it towards an unlimited ride pass. There are three ways to enter: a west gate, a drive-through gate from Sheridan Blvd., and a walk-in entrance at the Tower of Jewels. Parking is always free at Lakeside.

In the past, each ride had its own ticket booth and price. Now, the park uses ride coupons, and each ride needs a certain number of coupons. You can buy these coupons and unlimited ride passes at a few main spots like the train depot or the carousel. Many of the old ticket booths are still there, but they are now used for storage.

Exciting Rides

Here are some special facts about the rides:

• The Orient Express is a miniature railway train that goes around the lake. It has two cool steam trains called "Puffing Billy" and "Whistling Tom." These trains came from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair! It also has the world's first miniature diesel train, which looks like the famous California Zephyr.
• The Merry-Go-Round (carousel) was built in 1908. It seems to be made from different animal figures from other carousels. Many of the animals look like they were carved by the famous artist Charles I. D. Looff.

Carousel details:

Type: 4 rows, Park, 3-level platform, all wood composition

Figures: 16 jumping horses, 16 standing horses, 4 chariots; figures include 2 bears, 4 burros, 3 deer, 4 dogs, 5 goats, 2 lions, 4 pigs, 4 rabbits, 2 tigers, 2 zebras, 2 panthers, 1 cheetah, 2 monkeys, and 3 cougars

Music: band organ music via pre-recorded audio tape played through loudspeakers, although a non-functioning Wurlitzer #157 Band Organ mock up is present

Fun Kiddie Rides

Roller Coasters

Satellite view of Lakeside Amusement Park in 2004

The Cyclone is the most popular ride at the park. It was built in 1940 and is considered a classic and a landmark by roller coaster fans.

Rides That Are No Longer Here

Some of the original rides at Lakeside Park are not around anymore. These include the Shoot-The-Chutes, which was a splash-down water ride, and the Scenic Railway, an elevated train ride. Other old rides were the Velvet Coaster, the StarShip 2000, Flight to Mars, and the Coney Island Tickler.

Some rides like the Scenic Railway were destroyed by a fire in 1911. You can still see the metal frame of the Staride, an old Ferris wheel-type ride, on the north side of the park. The sign and pier for the old Speed Boats ride are also still there, but they are empty.

From the late 1930s to 1988, Lakeside Amusement Park had a race track called Lakeside Speedway. It was a small oval track where different types of cars raced. The race track was built where the park's baseball field used to be. You can still see parts of the old track today.

Until 1985, there was a Funhouse where the Dragon ride is now. The Funhouse had a famous laughing mannequin named Laffing Sal. She would laugh loudly to signal that the Funhouse and the main park were opening for the evening. Inside, there were slides, moving floors, spinning discs, and rolling barrels for people to enjoy.

While not rides, there was also a Casino Theater near the Tower of Jewels. It hosted concerts, plays, and dance events. The building is still there but is now used for storage. The old Riviera ballroom is also still standing.

Park Accessibility

In 2014, a group training service dogs had a disagreement with the park. They were told they couldn't bring their service dogs on the miniature train ride. As a result, a group that helps people with disabilities worked to make sure that service dogs are allowed on rides and in all areas of the park, following rules that help everyone enjoy the park.

• Lakeside Amusement Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase