Luna Park, Houston facts for kids

Luna Park was a popular amusement park in Houston, Texas. It opened in 1924 and closed around 1934. People called it the "Coney Island of Texas." The park was built on 36 acres of land and cost $325,000 to create.

Luna Park had many fun things to do. There was a carousel, places for picnics, and live shows. It also had a large dance hall with special springy floors. The park featured many mechanical rides, including a big roller coaster called the Giant Skyrocket. At night, 50,000 light bulbs lit up the park, making it shine. Luna Park was also one of the first parks to offer free car parking for its visitors.

Grand Opening Fun

Luna Park first opened its doors on June 26, 1924. It was located next to White Oak Bayou. News reports from that time said the park had "virtually every variety of amusement device known."

Houston's very first roller coaster was at Luna Park. It was called the Skyrocket. This coaster was 100 feet tall and had an 84-foot drop. It was also very long, more than 1.25 miles! At the time, it was known as the "largest" and "highest" roller coaster in the United States. The Skyrocket was super popular, carrying between 2,500 and 3,000 riders every day.

Besides the Skyrocket, the park had other exciting rides. These included a huge seaplane swing and a caterpillar ride. There was also a merry-go-round, dodgem cars, and a small airplane swing. Kids could enjoy a junior Ferris wheel and a miniature railway. The park's scenic railway was even taller than the one at Coney Island.

Luna Park also had a very large pavilion. It was said to be the biggest in the American South. Here, visitors could watch live shows. These included amazing aerobatics (stunt flying) and other unique performances.

Park Activities and Events

Luna Park offered more than just rides. Visitors could enjoy many different activities. The park hosted boxing and wrestling matches. There were also long dance marathons, where the winner could get $750! The park held beauty pageants and fun outdoor games for families.

By 1928, Luna Park started celebrating Mexican Independence Day. The Mexican consulate helped organize these events. They included patriotic speeches, music, and readings of the Mexican Declaration of Independence. The dance marathons were so popular that in 1929, the park planned a "floating marathon." This special event took place in a water tank built just for it.

Why Luna Park Closed

The original owners of Luna Park sold it to a lawyer named Abe W. Wagner. He held a contest to pick a new name for the park. The winning name was Venice Park. He also changed the park's address.

The late 1920s were great for Luna Park. But then, the stock market crashed in 1929. This event, known as Black Tuesday, caused big problems for the park. People had less money and were not going out as much. This meant fewer visitors came to Luna Park.

Today, parts of where Luna Park once stood are busy highways. These are I-10 and I-45. Other parts of the old park grounds are now home to different businesses and houses.