The Airplane Coaster opened at Rye Playland, Rye, NY in 1928. This engineering marvel was designed by Fred Church and constructed at a cost of under $200,000. The highest point was about 103ft with about 3400ft of track and consisted of many tight spiraling turns. The ride was demolished in November 1957 after a failed inspection.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Giant Safety Coaster opened at Brighton Beach Park in Brooklyn, NY in 1910. It also went by the name Chase Thru the Clouds. The coaster closed in 1918.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
This postcard of The Dip coaster at Glen Island, NY was postmarked 1912. This massive ride opened in 1911 and closed in 1920.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Greyhound roller coaster opened at Celeron Park in Jamestown, NY in 1924. This was a basic out & back layout with several large camel back hills. It was designed by renowned coaster designer John Miller and lasted until 1959.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
This aerial postcard view of Coney Island, NY shows the 1925 built Thunderbolt on the right and the Flying Turns (1934-1939) on the left. The Thunderbolt last operated in 1982 and it’s rotting structure was still standing until the city of New York had the ride leveled in November, 2000.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
Because of it’s historical status, I have included this postcard of the Cyclone coaster at Coney Island, NY. This coaster opened in 1927 and still thrills riders to this very day. Enthusiasts often consider it one of the best coasters ever built .
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
This postcard of the Bobs coaster (later renamed Tornado) is dated April 28, 1942. The coaster was built around a beautiful ornamental tower (pictured above) by the Thompson Company where ride designer L.A. Thompson apparently had offices on the top floors. He died 7 years before the coasters 1926 completion. On Dec. 9th, 1977, a suspicious fire leveled the great ride.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Atom Smasher opened at Rockaway’s Playland in Rockaway Beach, NY in 1938. A front seat Point-Of-View ride was featured in the 1950’s hit 3D movie “This is Cinerama”. The coaster closed in 1985.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Jack Rabbit was one of many coasters that existed in Rockaway Beach, NY during the early 1900’s. This coaster opened in 1920 at Seaside Park and closed sometime in the 30’s. A possible casualty of the infamous 1938 hurricane.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
This Flying Turns postcard was dated August 25, 1939. The ride opened at Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, NY in 1934. The lift hill and drop of the old roller coaster “The Limit” was incorporated into what became the Flying Turns. The ride burned in 1939 and never rebuilt.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Wildcat or Dips coaster opened at Lakeside Park in Auburn, NY in 1930. It ran along the banks of this small outlet near Owasco Lake until it closed in 1949.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Zip coaster opened at White City Park in Worcester, MA in 1928. This was a great hillside/ravine coaster considered to be one of the best in it’s time. Designed by Herb Schmeck and built by PTC, this coaster lasted until 1961.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Comet roller coaster opened at Lincoln Park in North Dartmouth, MA in 1946. This twister style coaster was said to have delivered quite a punch. The park closed in 1987 and the coaster’s future is uncertain at this time.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Mountain Flyer was located at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA. Designed by Herbert Schmeck, and built by PTC, the coaster opened in 1929 and closed in 1987.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Thunderbolt was just one of many exciting coasters in Revere Beach, MA during the 1920’s. It was built in 1921 but only lasted until 1930.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The last coaster to operate in Revere Beach was the Cyclone. The coaster was built by the Traver Engineering Company in 1925 at a cost of $125,000. It operated until 1969 and eventually destroyed in April 1974.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
This postcard view is of the Lightning roller coaster in Revere Beach, MA. The Harry Traver designed coaster was built in 1927 and dismantled in 1933. The intense ride was known for its steep drops and sharp curves which sometimes injured it passengers. High maintenance and low ridership finally sealed it’s fate.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Derby Racers opened in 1911 on the famous boulevard of coasters in Revere Beach, MA. It was replaced by another racing coaster sometime in the 1930’s.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Cyclone was built in 1930 and opened at Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. This beachside twister had a swooping first drop and several tight turns. The coaster was destroyed by fire in Oct. 1948.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Lake Placid Bobsled was a Flying Turns coaster built for Palisades Park, NJ in 1937. It was considered to be the fiercest of the Flying Turns coasters but only lasted a mere 9 years when dismantled in 1946.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Cyclone coaster opened in 1927 at Rock Springs Park in Chester, West Virginia. This basic out & back style coaster was designed by Harry Baker and lasted until 1970.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Wildcat opened in 1924 at Lakeside Park in Salem, VA. It was torn down in 1967 and replaced by the Shooting Star coaster which lasted until the mid 1980’s.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Figure 8 coaster opened at Luna Park in Seattle, WA in 1907 and tragically burned to the ground in 1912. The entire park was on a pier overlooking the Puget Sound in the West Seattle area known as Alki Point. During extreme low tides today you can still see the pylons from the old pier. One can also visit the Luna Park Cafe just down the road from where the park once stood.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
This nice aerial postcard depicts Olentangy Park in Columbus, Ohio. This large trolley park opened in 1893 and had at least 4 coasters including 2 Racers (seen above), Loop the Loop and a Figure 8 which can be seen right center. The park closed in 1937.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
Brady Lake Park in Ravenna-Kent, Ohio (just east of Akron) was just one of many lakeside parks in Ohio during the 1920’s. The Wildcat coaster was designed by renowned coaster designer Herb Schmeck. It opened in 1928 and had a lifespan of 24 years closing in 1952.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Flying Turns opened in 1930 and was the last of the big coasters to open at Euclid Beach Park near Cleveland, OH. This was a free wheeling coaster in which the 3 car bob-sled trains rolled freely down a barrel shaped track made of cypress wood. It proved to be a major hit with patrons until the parks final operating day September 28, 1969.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
This postcard shows the Thriller roller coaster that was at Euclid Beach Park near Cleveland, OH. The coaster was built in 1924 and closed with the park in 1969.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Hummer opened at Craig Beach Park in Lake Milton, OH in 1929. After 2 fatal injuries in 1941, the coaster permanently closed in 1945.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Grand Canyon Railway was a third rail coaster which opened on Fraser’s Million Dollar Pier in June 1911. The driver could obtain additional speed by applying power down as well as up the hills. The 135ft. themed mountain had a waterfall and at night, the multi-colored lights gave the appearance of an erupting volcano. The ride was nearly a mile in length but was completely destroyed by fire on Sept. 3, 1912.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica, CA. was a nautical themed amusement park built in 1957 to compete with Disneyland. The Sea Serpent coaster opened in 1925 under the name High Boy on what was then known as the Ocean Park Pier. Attendance fell during the 1960’s and the park closed for good on Oct. 6, 1967.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Jack Rabbit opened in 1904 at Wenona Beach in Bay City, MI. It was reprofiled in 1920’s to add larger dips. The closing date is unknown.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
The Jack Rabbit opened in 1915 at Hague Park near Jackson, Michigan. The amusement park burned down in 1923 and was never rebuilt.
*This originally appeared on the original Lakewood Park Charlotte website*
“chrome” postcards depict the shiny, real photo, color postcards that became popular in the 1950’s.
“rp” stands for Real Photo black and white or tinted postcards.
“aerial” simply means this postcard view was taken from the air.