White City (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts) facts for kids
White City in 1908. The colossal figure of "King Dodo" guards the entrance to the fun house.
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| Location | Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 42°16′23.42″N 71°45′8.89″W / 42.2731722°N 71.7524694°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1905 |
| Closed | September 5, 1960 |
White City was a super fun amusement park that used to be in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, near the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. It was right next to Lake Quinsigamond and was open for many years, from 1905 to 1960.
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A Look Back at White City's History
White City was started by a local businessman named Horace H. Bigelow. The park first opened its gates on June 18, 1905. It stayed open for 55 seasons, finally closing on September 5, 1960.
Most amusement parks back then didn't last very long. Many closed around the time World War I started. But White City was different! It kept going for a long time.
Like many parks of its time, White City was a "trolley park". This means it was built at the end of a trolley (or streetcar) line. The idea was to get more people to ride the trolleys, especially on weekends.
Fun Rides and Attractions
White City was right next to Lake Quinsigamond. The park even used the lake for some of its cool attractions!
- You could go on fun boat rides.
- There was a "Whirl of Air Ships" ride that swung people out over the water.
- They even had trained diving horses!
The park also had many other classic amusement park attractions:
- A busy midway with games.
- A silly fun house.
- A penny arcade where you could play old-fashioned games.
- Lots of concession stands for snacks.
- Exciting rides, including a roller coaster.
- Cool sideshow acts to watch.
White City also had a roller-skating rink and a big ballroom for dancing. Famous singers like Paul Anka and Jerry Vale even performed on its stage!
Roller Coasters Through the Years
The park's first roller coaster opened in 1914. Later, in 1928, it was replaced by a brand-new, super-fast coaster called the Zip. This coaster was considered one of the best in the world at that time!
The Zip stayed at the park until it closed. Over the years, it got new names. First, it was called the Cyclone, and then later, the Yankee Clipper.
Where Did the Name "White City" Come From?
One of White City's early slogans was "Land of Fifty Thousand Electric Lights." Some people think the park got its name from all these bright lights and the white color of its buildings.
However, it's more likely that the park was named after the famous "White City" at the 1899 Chicago World's Fair. That fair had beautiful white buildings.
"White City" was a very popular name for amusement parks back then. There were other White City parks in places like:
- Springfield (Missouri)
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- Indianapolis
- New Haven
- New Orleans
- Syracuse (New York)
- London
- Sydney
- Melbourne
After White City amusement park closed, a shopping center called White City Plaza was built on part of the land.
