Rock Springs Park facts for kids

Rock Springs Park was a fun amusement park that used to be in Chester, West Virginia. It opened its gates in 1897 and closed in 1970 after its last owner, Robert Hand, passed away. A few years later, the state of West Virginia bought the land. They needed it to build a new road, U.S. Route 30, and the Jennings Randolph Bridge over the Ohio River.

A Look Back: The Park's History

Early Days: Before the Park Opened

The area where Rock Springs Park was built has a long history. Even 4,000 years ago, ancient people thought it was a special hunting ground. Later, during the time of Colonial America, George Washington himself visited the spot twice! In 1758, he was on an island nearby. Then, in 1770, he camped close to where the park entrance would be and drank from the natural springs.

The park's story really began in 1857. Back then, it was called Rock Springs Grove. The Marks Farm gave the land for church picnics. A man named Patsy Kernan then leased the area. He used his ferryboat, the Ollie Neville, to bring people from East Liverpool, Ohio across the Ohio River for picnics. At first, the grove only had hiking trails, picnic spots, and a small dance floor. Over time, they added a lunchroom, a baseball field, a roller skating rink, and a merry-go-round.

In 1890, a lawyer named James "J. E." McDonald bought a large piece of land, including Rock Springs Grove. He planned to build a new bridge over the Ohio River, start a streetcar line, and turn Rock Springs into a big amusement park. It took three years to get enough money for his big plans. Finally, construction began in 1896, and Rock Springs Park officially opened in 1897.

McDonald's Era: 1897-1899

Rock Springs Park officially opened on May 26, 1897. The first streetcar from the East Liverpool Street Railway Company crossed the new Chester Bridge and went right to the park. New things added during this time included a main building, a midway (the area with games and rides), a new merry-go-round, and bathhouses.

Smith's Era: 1900-1925

Charles "C. A." Smith's company bought Rock Springs Park in 1900. Under his ownership, the park grew a lot! They added another new merry-go-round, the Casino dance hall, an outdoor theater, the Old Mill ride, and the World's Greatest Scenic Railway, which was an early roller coaster. There were also grandstands for the baseball field, places for boating, and a swimming pool with a three-and-a-half-acre lake. This growth made the park very popular.

C. A. Smith also made it easier for people to get to Rock Springs. The streetcar line was extended, and special train and boat trips brought visitors from places like Wheeling, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. However, the park faced some challenges. Fires destroyed the Casino in 1914, the Old Mill in 1915, and other buildings in 1917. Even with a new dance hall in 1918, business started to slow down. Smith left the park after the 1925 season.

Macdonald's Era: 1926-1934

Rock Springs Park became successful again when Charles Clinton "C. C." and Grace Macdonald took over. They added some exciting new rides, like a Dentzel carousel in 1927 and the famous Cyclone roller coaster in 1928. They also built a log cabin in 1927, which became their home.

C. C. Macdonald later bought another park called Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. He and his family moved there, but he spent four years traveling between Idlewild and Rock Springs. In 1934, the Macdonalds gave ownership of Rock Springs to their daughter and son-in-law.

Hand's Era: 1935-1970

Robert and Virginia Hand, the Macdonalds' daughter and son-in-law, owned the park next. During their time, no major new rides were added, but different smaller rides came and went. The biggest additions were a band shell for music and a circle swing ride. The Hands raised their two sons in the log cabin that Virginia's parents had built.

By 1970, the Hands' sons were grown up and had their own families. Robert and Virginia had spent their whole married life running Rock Springs Park and were looking forward to retiring in Florida. Sadly, Robert Hand passed away in October 1970, right after the park's season ended. Because of this, Rock Springs Park never opened again.

The Park's End: 1971-1974

After Robert Hand's death, many of the rides that could be moved were sold. However, the Cyclone roller coaster, the Aeroplane circle swing, the carousel, and some kiddie rides stayed behind. The empty buildings were a reminder of the fun times that used to be there.

On June 26, 1974, a "Last Dance" was held at Virginia Gardens, the park's dance hall. This was the final event at Rock Springs Park. More than 1,000 people came to the Last Dance, bringing life to the park one last time. Soon after, the project to reroute U.S. Route 30 began, and the highway would go right through the old park.

By the end of July 1974, the remaining 21 buildings were sold off. Once the area was clear and the lake was drained, large machines came in. They cut the mountain into two, almost completely erasing any signs of what was once Rock Springs Park. The new Jennings Randolph Bridge was built over the Ohio River, replacing the old Chester Bridge that once brought so many visitors to the park.

What's Left: 1975-Today

Most of Rock Springs Park is gone, but a few things still remain around Chester. The log cabin where the Macdonalds and Hands lived is still standing. It was moved from its original spot but can still be seen from U.S. 30. C. A. Smith's old home is also nearby. The Virginia Gardens Memorial Park is not far from the Chester exit of U.S. 30. There's also a historical marker along Carolina Avenue, though it has a small mistake in the park's name. The original Rock Springs themselves still exist, but their water now flows through a pipe into a drainage ditch.

In June 2010, a book about the park called Images of America: Rock Springs Park by Joseph A. Comm was published by Arcadia Publishing.

• Rock Springs Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase