Shellpot Park facts for kids

Shellpot Park was a fun trolley park located in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware. A trolley park was an amusement park built at the end of a trolley (streetcar) line. People would ride the trolley to the park for a day of fun! Shellpot Park was open from 1893 until 1934.

The Wilmington City Railway Company created the park. They extended their trolley lines to Shellpot Creek, which was just outside the city. This made it easy for people to visit.

Early Days of Shellpot Park

When it first opened, Shellpot Park was a simple place. It had a lovely wooded area and a lake. People mostly came to enjoy picnics and relax in nature. There was also a nearby area called Malin's Grove that visitors could enjoy.

Exciting Attractions

As Shellpot Park became more popular, it added many exciting rides and attractions. These included a small miniature railroad, a beautiful carousel, and a thrilling roller coaster.

The Carousel

The park's carousel was built in 1916 by a famous company called the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. It was a grand ride with lots of animals! It had twenty-eight horses that looked like they were jumping, and eighteen horses that stayed still. There were also two chariots for people to sit in. To make the ride even more magical, the carousel had two special music machines called Wurlitzer band organs.

The Roller Coaster

A big roller coaster was added to Shellpot Park in 1925. It was also designed by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. This roller coaster was quite exciting for its time, featuring a drop that was 65 feet tall! Imagine zooming down from that height!

The Park's Final Years

After the 1920s, fewer people visited Shellpot Park. To try and attract more visitors, the park added an outdoor arena. This arena was used for boxing events, which were very popular at the time.

Sadly, the park's famous carousel was sold in 1932 to another amusement park called Dorney Park. Even more unfortunately, that carousel was later destroyed in a fire in 1983.

In 1934, a big fire broke out along the railway tracks near Shellpot Park. This fire destroyed most of the remaining rides and attractions. Because of this damage, Shellpot Park had to close its gates for good in 1934. The park's old dance pavilion, which had been turned into a roller skating rink, was eventually torn down in 1936.