Luna Park, Seattle facts for kids
Luna Park 1910. In the foreground is part of the Great Figure Eight roller coaster. At right rear is the carousel, and to its left the natatorium.
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| Location | Seattle, Washington |
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| Opened | 1907 |
| Closed | 1913 |
Luna Park was a popular amusement park in Seattle, Washington. It was open from 1907 to 1913. The park was designed by Charles I. D. Looff, a famous carousel carver. He also created the first carousel at Coney Island's Luna Park. Seattle's Luna Park was named after that famous park. On July 4, 1908, Luna Park was the site of Seattle's first ever manned flight.
Contents
History of Luna Park
Building the Park
The park was built on 12 acres of land. It was located near Duwamish Head on Alki Point in West Seattle. Construction began in 1906, led by Charles I. D. Looff. The park was built on pilings, which are like tall stilts. Its large boardwalk stretched out over Elliott Bay. People called it the "Greatest Amusement Park on the West Coast."
You could get to Luna Park by taking the West Seattle ferry. Or you could ride the Seattle Municipal Railway's Luna Park Line. At night, the park glowed with lights. Every building and ride was outlined in bulbs. This bright lighting made the park visible from far away. It was known as a safe place for families to visit at night.
Fun Attractions at Luna Park
Luna Park had many exciting attractions. One main attraction was Charles I. D. Looff's beautiful hand-carved carousel. Another was the Great Figure Eight Roller Coaster. Other popular rides included the Giant Whirl and Shoot the Chutes. Visitors could also explore the Canals of Venice and the spooky Cave of Mystery.
The carousel was first meant for a park in San Francisco. But the 1906 San Francisco earthquake changed those plans. So, the carousel came to Seattle instead. Today, this carousel is at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.
The park also had two theaters, Dreamland Theater and the Trocadero. They showed new plays every week. Daily acts included Uncle Hiram the clown and a trained monkey and dog circus. There was even a "Human Ostrich"! The park also had a live bear pit and special exhibits. You could play games of chance like shooting galleries.
One of the park's biggest buildings was its Natatorium. This building had heated saltwater and freshwater swimming pools.
On July 4, 1908, something amazing happened at Luna Park. L. Guy Mecklem launched his airship from the park. This was Seattle's first ever manned flight. He raced two automobiles for ten miles to the Meadows Racetrack. Mecklem won the race by two minutes! After that, he kept his airship at Luna Park for a short time. People paid ten cents to see it up close.
Changes in West Seattle
Some of Luna Park's nighttime activities worried the people of West Seattle. The park had a very long bar. This made local citizens concerned about their community. They worried about too many people drinking. So, West Seattle asked to become part of the City of Seattle. They hoped the mayor, William Hickman Moore, would help.
Seattle took over West Seattle in 1907, just two days after Luna Park opened. But it didn't change much at first. The city was growing fast. Mayor Moore had many other things to focus on. West Seattle citizens then tried to get a vote to close the park. But their petition was stopped.
Later, Hiram Gill became the new mayor. He had a more relaxed view on city rules. This was not what West Seattle had hoped for.
Challenges for the Park
Some visitors got hurt at the park. One person fell from a ride and broke their neck. Another hurt their knee on a game and won a lawsuit against the park. There were also disagreements between the companies that ran the park. This led to lawsuits. Charles I. D. Looff, who managed the rides, sold his part of the company. He then went back to his work in California.
Luna Park planned a big reopening for 1913. News headlines said "New Luna Park to Equal Eastern Amusement Resorts." They promised new owners and a new manager. The park was going to have bigger attractions, like "racing coasters." They even offered shares in the park for $1,000 each. They promised a 25% profit. However, Luna Park closed that very same year.
Closing and What's Left Today
The rides were taken apart and moved in 1913. The Zeum Carousel went to California. It is now running at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco, California. The Natatorium stayed open, changing its name to Luna Pool.
In 1931, Luna Pool caught fire. The rest of Luna Park was destroyed in the blaze. Many people thought the fire was set on purpose. The pier was completely ruined. It would have cost too much for the city to rebuild it. So, it was closed for good in 1933.
In 1946, the City of Seattle filled in the pools of the Natatorium. This was to prevent any future problems. Today, the area is called Anchor Park. There is a large anchor on display there, found in the nearby waters. The park also has special viewers. They show ghost-like images of Luna Park over Elliott Bay. This lets visitors imagine what the park looked like.
Today, all that remains of the "Greatest Amusement Park on the West Coast" are the original pilings. You can see them during very low tides. The name also lives on in local businesses, like the Luna Park Cafe.
In August 2011, a book called "Seattle's Luna Park" was released. It tells the park's story with pictures.
Gallery
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The entrance bridge
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The park's midway
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The band stand
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The Figure Eight roller coaster
- Luna Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase
