Luna Park, Olcott Beach facts for kids

Luna Park was a fun amusement park located in Olcott Beach, New York. It was right on the shore of Lake Ontario. People often called it "Dreamland." This park was open from 1898 to 1926. It even opened before the famous Luna Park in Coney Island!

What Made Luna Park Special?

Unlike some other Luna Parks, this one didn't have huge roller coasters. Its main attractions were different. Visitors loved swimming in Lake Ontario. There were also many restaurants and snack stands. People could enjoy live shows and music at the Dreamland Dance Hall.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Over time, Luna Park added some smaller rides. One popular ride was a circle swing ride. But the biggest draws were still the lake and the entertainment. The park was a great place for families and friends to spend time. They could swim, eat, and watch exciting performances.

Why Luna Park Was Popular

Luna Park stayed popular for a long time. This was because Olcott Beach was a busy place. Many steamboats stopped there along Lake Ontario. Interurban trains also connected the town to big cities like Albany, Niagara Falls, and Buffalo. This made it easy for people to visit the park.

The End of Luna Park

After World War I, things started to change. More people began using cars to travel. This meant fewer people arrived by trains and steamboats. As a result, fewer tourists came to Olcott Beach. Luna Park and another nearby park, Rialto Park, saw fewer visitors. Luna Park managed to stay open until the end of the 1926 season.

What Happened After?

In 1927, a huge fire struck Olcott Beach. It destroyed almost every building on Cooper Street. This included the Castle Inn and the train station. Most of Main Street was also burned. Sadly, Luna Park was completely destroyed in this fire. The beachside hotels could not be saved either.

Olcott Beach did not have an amusement park for some time. Then, in 1940, Olcott Amusement Park opened. It stayed open until 1986. A new Rialto Park also opened in 1942. It operated for 50 years. In 2003, the Olcott Beach Carousel Park opened in the same area.