Ramona Park facts for kids
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| Location | East Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States |
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| Coordinates | 42°57′04″N 85°36′47″W / 42.9511°N 85.6131°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1897 |
| Closed | 1955 |
| Attractions | |
| Roller coasters | 1 |
Ramona Park was a super fun amusement park in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was open for many years, from 1897 to 1955. The park had exciting rides, including a cool double-track wooden roller coaster. It also featured a theater where people watched shows and a ridable miniature railway for fun train rides. You could even rent boats there!
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History of Ramona Park
Ramona Park was built right on the west shore of Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids. It was first owned by the Grand Rapids Street Railway Company. This made it a "trolley park."
Trolley parks were popular in the United States a long time ago. Transportation companies would build parks at the end of their trolley lines. This way, people would ride the trolleys to get to the park, and the company would earn money from both the trolley fare and the park tickets! Coney Island is another famous example of a trolley park.
Over the years, people traveled to Reeds Lake and Ramona Park from nearby cities like Grand Rapids. They used different ways to get there:
- Horse-drawn trams
- Steam trains
- Electric streetcars or trolleys
- Later, city buses
The bus routes that went to the park were always, and still are, number 6.
Reeds Lake was a popular summer spot even before Ramona Park opened. It was a few miles from Grand Rapids. People enjoyed picnics, entertainment pavilions, and renting skiff boats. As early as the 1850s, large steam boats carried hundreds of passengers on the lake.
In 1872, a railway was built that used horse-powered trams. Later, in 1877, a powerful steam engine was added. It could pull three open train cars all the way to Reeds Lake.
Did you know that a future President of the United States, Gerald Ford, worked at Ramona Park when he was young? His name was Leslie King back then.
Sadly, in 1954, the people of East Grand Rapids decided to close the park. They wanted to build homes and shops there instead.
Exciting Park Features
Ramona Park had many amazing attractions for visitors to enjoy.
Roller Coasters
The park's first roller coaster was a single-track ride shaped like a figure eight. It opened in 1903. Later, in 1913, the "Giant Coaster" was built.
The most famous roller coaster was the "Jack Rabbit Derby Racer." It was built in 1914. This was a special double-track wooden roller coaster with a super steep 80 percent drop! It was one of only two double-track coasters in the whole country and was the most popular ride at Ramona Park.
Ramona Theatre Pavilion
The Ramona Theatre Pavilion was a grand building on the east side of the park. It was right by the boat landing and had a great view of Reeds Lake. This theater was a huge hit in the summer and could seat 1,700 people!
Many famous entertainers performed there, including Will Rogers. You could watch plays, musicals, Vaudeville shows, and even movies. In the early 1900s, it was an open-air theater, but it was later enclosed.
On July 16, 1905, a young Groucho Marx made his first professional performance at the Ramona Theatre! Many other stars like Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, and Buster Keaton also performed there. During the 1930s and 1940s, stage shows with singing and dancing were very popular and affordable.
The Midway Rides
The midway was the main area for many fun rides and games. Here are some of the rides you could find:
- Flying Scooters
- Figure 8 roller coaster
- Venetian Swings
- Ferris wheel
- Aero-swings
- Kiddie Auto
- Merry-go-round
- Mystic Chutes
- Loop-O-Plane
- Fun House
- Games of chance
- Food Concessions
Ridable Miniature Railroad
The Ramona Park Railway was a miniature steam locomotive. It was a huge favorite with the crowds! This tiny train, with its open cars, could carry 30 or more people. It took them on a half-mile ride all around the park. In its best years, it carried as many as 50,000 people annually!
Baseball Games
Did you know that the Detroit Tigers baseball team even played a "home" game at Ramona Park on May 24, 1903?
Ramona Park Today
Today, where Ramona Park once stood, you'll find different buildings. These include a grocery store, condominiums, apartments, and shopping centers.
The East Grand Rapids branch of the Kent District Library has a special room dedicated to Ramona Park. You can see old items and learn more about the amusement park there!
A famous amusement park organ called "Big Bertha" used to play at Ramona Park. This organ was built in Paris. Now, you can find "Big Bertha" at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Florida, inside the restaurant called 1900 Park Fare.
Images for kids
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Greetings from Grand Rapids.
