Luna Park, Cleveland facts for kids
Luna Park was a fun amusement park in Cleveland, Ohio. It was open from 1905 to 1929. People often called parks like this "trolley parks" because electric streetcars, called trolleys, would take visitors there.
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What Was Luna Park Like?
Luna Park was built by Frederick Ingersoll. It covered about 35 acres (140,000 square meters) of hilly land. The park had many exciting attractions for everyone to enjoy.
Fun Rides and Games
Visitors could ride thrilling roller coasters and classic carousels. There was also a silly fun house and a big Ferris wheel. For those who loved to skate, the park had a roller rink. A popular ride was the shoot-the-chutes, where boats slid down a ramp into water.
Entertainment and Sports
Luna Park also offered lots of entertainment. It had a place for concerts and a large dance hall. People could drive bumper cars or watch a baseball game. The park even had a huge 20,000-seat stadium. This stadium was sometimes called "Luna Bowl." It was used for American football games. Sadly, a fire destroyed the stadium in August 1929.
A Bright Beginning
Cleveland's Luna Park opened on May 18, 1905. It was one of many parks built by Frederick Ingersoll. This park was special because it was one of the first amusement parks to be lit up with many electric lights. This made it shine brightly at night!
The Park's Story
Frederick Ingersoll, the park's first owner, faced money problems. In 1908, he had to sell Luna Park in Cleveland. Matthew Bramley, an early investor, bought the park.
Growing Popularity
Matthew Bramley added more rides as Luna Park became more popular. The park was a favorite spot for many families and friends.
Changes and Closure
In 1920, a new law called Prohibition started in the United States. This law made it illegal to sell alcoholic drinks. This change affected Luna Park's income. The park's popularity began to decrease.
Matthew Bramley closed Luna Park for good in 1929. This was when the Great Depression began, a time when many people lost their jobs and money. The park faced some fires, and most of its rides were moved to other amusement parks in the early 1930s.
A New Beginning for the Land
In June 1939, construction started on the land where Luna Park once stood. A new housing project called Woodhill Homes was built. It was finished on November 1, 1940. This made it one of the first public housing projects in the country.
Luna Bowl Sports Teams
The stadium at Luna Park, known as Luna Bowl, hosted several sports teams.
Football Teams
The Cleveland Panthers played their home games there. They were part of the first American Football League in 1926. The Cleveland Bulldogs from the National Football League also played at Luna Bowl.
Baseball Teams
After the amusement rides started to be taken down, Luna Bowl became home to Negro league baseball teams. These included the Cleveland Tigers (1928), Cleveland Stars (1932), Cleveland Giants (1933), and Cleveland Red Sox (1934).
College Football
College teams also played at Luna Bowl. On November 19, 1927, Case School of Applied Science played Western Reserve University there. Case won the game 7–6, with Frank Herzegh scoring the winning touchdown.
The Woodland Rink
A roller rink was added to Luna Park in 1910 when Matthew Bramley bought the park. It was called the Woodland Rink. This rink was the last part of Luna Park to remain. On December 12, 1938, a fire destroyed the Woodland Rink.
