Sea Lion Park facts for kids
Flip Flap Railway in Sea Lion Park
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| Location | Coney Island, Brooklyn, United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°34′39″N 73°58′44″W / 40.5775°N 73.9790°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1895 |
| Closed | 1903 |
| Owner | Paul Boyton |
Sea Lion Park was an exciting amusement park that opened in 1895. It was located on Coney Island in New York City. A man named Paul Boyton created this park.
Sea Lion Park was special because it was the first amusement park in North America to be completely fenced in. You paid one price to get inside. Before this park, most fun zones were just separate rides you paid for one by one. This park was about 16 acres big. It closed in 1903 and was replaced by a new park called Luna Park.
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Who Was Paul Boyton?
Paul Boyton was an amazing adventurer. He became famous for wearing a special rubber suit. This suit was like a life-saving device or a small boat. He even used it to cross the English Channel!
Boyton traveled all over the United States. He had a show called an "aquatic circus." It featured many water animals. In 1894, he opened a small park in Chicago. Then, he decided to build a permanent home for his show. He bought land behind a famous building called the Elephant Hotel on Coney Island. His new park was home to 40 sea lions!
Awesome Rides and Shows
Sea Lion Park had many fun things to see and do. The most popular attraction was Boyton's amazing aquatic show. But there were also some thrilling rides!
The Water Chute
One of the biggest hits was a ride called the Water Chute. Paul Boyton and Thomas Polk designed it. Riders got into a flat-bottomed boat. The boat would slide down a big ramp. Then, it splashed into a pool of water at the bottom. The boat would skim across the water, making a huge splash!
Boyton was a great showman. He made the Water Chute even more famous. He would stage contests where different animals rode the chutes. Lions, bears, and even baby elephants took a ride!
The Flip Flap Railway
The park also had a very daring roller coaster. It was called the Flip Flap Railway. This coaster was designed by Lina Beecher. It was unique because it turned riders upside down! The coaster would drop from a height of 20 meters. Then, it would go through a loop. This loop would flip the riders completely over.
However, the Flip Flap Railway was very dangerous. Because of safety concerns, it was eventually closed down.
Other Fun Attractions
Paul Boyton kept adding new things to the park. He added a ride called "Cages of Wild Wolves." This was an "old mill" style boat ride. In 1899, he also opened a ballroom. It was a place where people could dance and have fun.
Why the Park Closed
By 1902, people wanted new and exciting attractions all the time. It was hard for Paul Boyton to keep up. He tried to make the park better. In the winter of 1901, he spent a lot of money to update Sea Lion Park. He even bought a famous elephant named Topsy in 1902. Topsy was well-known from Forepaugh's Circus.
However, the summer of 1902 was very rainy. This meant fewer visitors and less money for the park. Also, a new park called Steeplechase Park had opened nearby in 1897. It offered even newer rides and became a big competitor.
By the end of 1902, two businessmen, Frederic Thompson and Elmer "Skip" Dundy, took over Sea Lion Park. They had big plans for the space. They reopened it in 1903 as a brand new park called Luna Park.
