Amusement Parks History: From Then To Now

By Chantae Reden | Published on March 22, 2022

Our love of thrills and entertainment is seen in the success of businesses that range from small fairs to ginormous amusement parks. The combination of sugary treats, lively performances and rides that loop and turn results in memories that last a lifetime. But where did our affinity for these attractions come from? Buckle up and keep your arms inside as we dive into the fascinating history of theme parks and how they've changed over the decades.

Fun Through The Centuries

The ancestors of theme parks popped up in Europe just before the Renaissance era, which took place from 1300 to 1600. Themed festivals were typically centered around religious holidays and harvests, and people gathered to enjoy food and admire exotic wares brought from faraway lands. If you wanted to take a ride, you'd sit in a basket and be spun around a pole in what was the first iteration of the modern carousel. Hand-eye coordination was tested through games that included hurling javelins through rings as well as archery and darts. Crowds gathered to watch knights show off their horsemanship through jousting.

In the 18th century, pleasure gardens sprung up in major cities in Europe to entertain the rising middle class. With excess cash to spend and newfound leisure time, citizens were ready to be entertained.

At these pleasure gardens, visitors could stroll among manicured grounds and enjoy live music, acrobats, plays, jesters and firework shows. They became places for people to socialize and play games with others that one might not encounter in everyday life, all while showing off their best clothes. Local architects would reveal their latest creation and artists exhibited their finest works, creating a way for the general public to view art pieces that would once have been kept behind closed doors.

By the mid-1700s, news of the fun of pleasure gardens traveled across the ocean and the concept took hold in America, with pleasure gardens opening in New York City. Rides were added to the mix, including the first carousel on the continent, and a demand for more sophisticated rides grew.

Wooden Horse Close Up of Carousel
Wooden Horse Close Up of Carousel

Book Now

Travelers exploring the seas on a cruise can have a day nonstop thrills at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The Boom Of Amusement Parks

In the late 1800s, pleasure gardens gave way to entertainment areas that more closely resemble the thrill-seeking theme parks we know and love today. Because the trolley companies paid a flat fee for electricity each month, they needed to entice people to use trolleys outside of peak hours. They built small parks with minor rides, picnic areas and games so people would use the trolleys in the evenings and on the weekends.

One of the most famous amusement areas that sprung up as a result of a well-thought-out rail line was Coney Island. After a long week of work and school, families viewed Coney Island as an affordable way to escape to the seaside during the summer. Rides, games, fortune-tellers and street performances sprang up to delight those who came to visit.

Coney Island, New York  on 4th of July
Coney Island, New York on 4th of July

In 1884, the Switchback Gravity Pleasure was invented by LaMarcus A. Thompson, becoming the first roller coaster in the United States. The roller coaster had a maximum speed of a little under six miles per hour and topped out at 50 feet high, but at the time, the ride was thrilling, especially for those who had never experienced anything like it.

The roller coaster inspired entrepreneurs to build multiple parks on Coney Island, which is still famous for its rides and games today. Coney Island became a hub for amusement park rides — innovative roller coasters were often invented and built elsewhere, then sent to Coney Island. People would gather their friends and family on the weekend, ride in from the outer suburbs on the subway and snack on a hot dog in between rides.

Carousel Detail Colorful Sign
Carousel Detail Colorful Sign
As Coney Island experienced success, Chicago was also becoming famous for its amusements. In 1893, architects and those in charge of the Columbian Exposition, a fair attended by guests from all around the globe, were looking to create something spectacular enough to rival the Eiffel Tower, an icon that had been showcased just a few years before, so the world's first Ferris Wheel debuted at the Columbian Exposition. It was a 264-foot behemoth of a ride that welcomed over 1.4 million guests in its carriages over the next five months. The exposition also debuted the idea of signature colors, fonts and whimsical designs being specific to a particular amusement park.
Amusement parks offer a retreat from everyday life and allow us to live in a world of fantasy.
Ferris Wheel with Blue Skies
Ferris Wheel with Blue Skies

Meanwhile, an eclectic showman with a penchant for water stunts named Paul Boyton made a reputation for himself after completing a series of water challenges and performing in P.T. Barnum's circus. After settling down in Chicago, Boyton established the country's first permanent amusement park, called Paul Boyton's Water Chutes, in 1894. The success of the park inspired him to open a second amusement park on Coney Island.

The amusement park industry boomed throughout the early 1900s. By 1920, there were hundreds of parks across the country. The rise in industrialization and more efficient transportation allowed workers to work for less time, giving them more time to escape into worlds of fun and fantasy. Ride engineers raced to build roller coasters and the competition among the engineers was fierce. Advertisements full of superlatives like "tallest," "fastest" and "longest" attempted to lure people to each park's grounds.

Carnival Corn Dog Sign
Carnival Corn Dog Sign
Though parkgoers today tend to dress with comfort in mind, those venturing to these parks in the early 1900s were often dressed to the nines. It was quite a formal affair. In addition, nearly all roller coasters of the time were built from wood rather than steel, so there would be wobbling and creaking sounds as passengers levitated out of their seats whenever the car sped down a slope.
Construction of Large Wooden Rollercoaster
Construction of Large Wooden Rollercoaster

Prepare For An Abrupt Stop

The Great Depression caused an economic downturn in the global economy, leading to the closure of hundreds of theme parks worldwide. World War II followed in 1939, which meant time and resources needed to be spent on wartime efforts rather than building the next best ride. Though some people visited theme parks as a respite from the harsh reality of everyday life, the industry struggled to attain the same success it had experienced during the previous decades.

Theme Parks Take Center Stage

The baby boom began in 1944 and the rise of kid-friendly theme parks followed. Until the 1950s, amusement parks had targeted families of all ages with few that catered solely to young children, but then Arthur Fritz started a chain of parks for budding boomers called "Kiddieland" and many other copycat parks followed.

In the mid-1950s, Disneyland emerged as the nation's first large park centered around a specific theme. Theme park developers struck gold when they centered their parks around themes like the Wild West and dinosaurs and introduced more rides that made guests wonder if the corn dog they had eaten just moments before was going to reappear.

Though waterslides had been around for decades, the country's favorite summertime pastimes — amusement parks and going for a dip in the pool — combined at theme parks in the 1980s. When "Baywatch" debuted in 1989, flashes of bright red swimwear accented the parks as visitors copied the lifeguards' signature red bathing suits.

Colorful Slides on Tropical Park
Colorful Slides on Tropical Park
The 1990s and early 2000s were all about pushing the limits of what's possible when it came to thrilling rides. Theme parks debuted rides that seemed to defy logic, with inverted roller coasters wowing the crowds. Roller coaster cars were now located underneath the supporting structure and could twist and loop at the same time. Airtime, or the time when riders are lifted out of the seat, was emphasized in newer rides, eliciting screams and sweaty palms like never before. Adrenaline junkies and those looking to test their fear of speed and heights lined up to take a ride.
Colorful Looping Roller Coaster
Colorful Looping Roller Coaster
Over just a few years, ride after ride broke the record for being the tallest, the fastest or both. Most of them no longer even resemble the rickety and slow first roller coaster revealed on Coney Island. However, not every element of the early days of theme parks has been lost. Treats like hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy continue to be some of the go-to snacks of choice for tiding over appetites while standing in line for a ride. In addition, some theme parks pay tribute to the parks of yesteryear, bringing back wooden roller coasters and classic amusement park games. For those who have been visiting parks for their whole lives, a visit to a theme park today can still feel like stepping back into childhood.
Hand Holding Pink Cotton Candy
Hand Holding Pink Cotton Candy
Perfect Day Coco Cay Entrance Pier Family
Perfect Day Coco Cay Entrance Pier Family

The Amazing Amusement Parks of Today

Amusement parks have pushed the boundaries of what's possible in entertainment. At Perfect Day at CocoCay, travelers exploring the seas on a cruise can have a day of seaside relaxation and nonstop thrills at a private island in the Bahamas. Reach new heights when you zoom down the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean before going for a ride on Up, Up and Away, a helium balloon ride taking you to the highest vantage point on the island as you tower above the Thrill Waterpark for unforgetable views. When it's time to relax, the beach is there for those looking to lounge in the cool sand and take a dip in the aquamarine sea.

Theme parks still offer a retreat from everyday life and allow us to live in a world of fantasy. Where else can we feel the excitement that builds in our stomachs as our roller coaster car crawls to the top of its first peak, metal gears clanking underneath? These parks allow us to leave our worries behind and let us imagine what it feels like to fly and to travel at the speed of light. Amusement parks are places where the only thing to do is spend time having fun.

Written By
CHANTAE REDEN

Chantae Reden is an adventure writer and photographer who rarely strays far from the coastline. She is a freediver, surfer, scuba diver, and has a mild obsession with sharks. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Escape, ScubaDiving.com and she's a guidebook author for Moon Travel Guides. Discover more of her stories on her travel website, TheSaltSirens.com. 

Get Royal Deals, Sign Up Today


RELATED ARTICLES

Top 3 Insider Tips To Thrill Waterpark At Perfect Day At Cococay

READ MORE

The Thrillseekers Guide To Perfect Day At Cococay

READ MORE

Everything You Need to Plan a Perfect Day at Cococay

READ MORE

Previewing: Promo Dashboard Campaigns

My Personas

code: