While three main amusement parks are the ones most remembered by elder Baltimoreans' around today, there were others that have long since vanished into obscurity, with no ghosts to tell of their existence.  Still, their names certainly bear mentioning:

• Electric Park - Located at Belvedere Avenue and Cordelia, Electric Park's biggest appeal was at night, when it became a spectacle of electric lights (themselves still an amusement).  The entire area has been redeveloped into Residential space in the Pimlico Community.
• Riverview Park - Located at what is now known as Point Breeze off of Broening Highway, this park once attracted crowds to it's roller coaster and water amusements.  It was torn down to make way for a Western Electric Plant, and has since been redeveloped for further industrial use.  No known artifacts are believed to survive.
• Lakeside Park - At the end of the Lakeside Streetcar line along the shores of Lake Roland lay this park at the turn of the 20th Century, never extremely popular among any besides North Baltimoreans.  The area has long since been redeveloped between the parklands and residential use.  The main pavillion still stood until the 1960's when it succumbed to Arson.
• Broening Park - Situated where the Harbor Hospital Center stands now was this seasonal attraction, served by cars of both the Curtis Bay Line and the FishHouse Road shuttle to Westport. The operation closed in the 1930's, and all traces have since vanished.

If there's an uglier side to the history of the Amusement parks, it was segregation.  It appears that only Gwynn Oak integrated in it's final years (although Carlin's may have briefly), after a great deal of controversy on the matter, but all other parks were strictly segregated for their entire durations.

GWYNN OAK PARK



Click to see a 1950 map showing the layout of Gwynn Oak Park

Gwynn Oak Park, located on Gwynn Oak Avenue at Gwynndale, was the last of the city's Amusement parks to close, bowing out about 1972.  By this point, the aging amusements were making it difficult for the park to turn a profit.  Flooding in 1972 did not help any, making any full reopening of the park difficult.  By 1974, the amusements were auctioned off, and the parkland itself was left to revert back to nature.  Later, it would be re-landscaped to largely become a picnic grounds, still attracting a healthy following on mild weekends, although the joyous Amusement park atmosphere is long gone, replaced by an easy going and peaceful enjoyment of nature.  Limited artifacts exist, largely in the form of old foundations, and disconnected pathways.  A sample follows:

Perhaps the most substantial relic amidst the park is this staggered stairway leading to the lake.  Most other artifacts are at ground level only. Photo by Ira Wexler	Another view of the same staircase from the other side.
This roadway leading off of Gwynn Oak Avenue leads into the park grounds, but ultimately vanishes under fill.  Photo by Ira Wexler.	Looking back toards the camera position at left as the road vanishes into a hillside.
Most substantial of the old footings is this one located near the Gwynn Oak Park side of the new footbridge.  Photo by Ira Wexler	Photo by Adam Paul.
I had thought that this circular footing was the carousel, but had a couple of site visitors later tell me otherwise.	This old bracket in foundation looks in vain for something to secure.
Closer inspection of this guard rail reveals it to be just that - - - the rail that once carried the #32 line's crowds to the park.

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CARLINS PARK

Another popular leisure destination for riders on Route #32, as well as those on Route #5, was the old Carlin's Amusement Park, located North of Druid Park Drive between Park Circle and Liberty Heights Avenue.  Interestingly, this was the only park lacking natural water amenities.  Regardless, Carlin's was a popular leisure destination until the mid-1950's, when it became a drive-in movie.  Since then, it has been redeveloped into a mixed use industrial center, home to the Palladium, among other establishments.  The only "artifact" of it's origin is a dead end street named after the old park:

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BAY SHORE PARK

While the other parks may have had a loyal local following, perhaps no other destination was as special as Bay Shore.  Served by a seasonal shuttle operation on Route #26 from Sparrows Point, Bay Shore Park was a natural attraction, as it did indeed front directly on the warm waters of the Chesapeake Bay.  Park goers had a roller coaster, swimming pool, pier, ornate fountain, and numerous other attractions to choose from.  Bethlehem Steel purchased the property after the 1947 season as a hunting ground for their executives.  Eventually, the demolition of most of the park's rotted structures would occur by the means of Fire Department Drills, and the region would mostly revert back to nature.  Today, the park stands perserved as a protected wetlands, with a handful of artifacts to give some clue to it's more hectic past:

The ornate fountain still survives, and is in the process of a loving restoration.  It was once the centerpiece of a lovely park!	As seen here, the fountain still looks to be in pretty decent shape despite years of sitting.
Examination of the walkway leading from the Fountain to the Trolley Shed reveals a brick lined gutter.  The Fountain is behind the camera, while the Shed lies ahead.	An octogonical foundation just next to the Trolley Shed reveals what must have once been the footings for a concession stand.
Behind, utility connections still look to give power and water to the long-gone structure	The old Bay Shore pier survives, albeit largely eroded, and shored up.  It is now a popular destination for Fishermen.
Another view of the pier and its shoring,  At one time, this pier was lined with benches, and had a mini "train" running its length.	Bay Shore experienced its share of fires during its active life.  This old hydrant likely saw use decades ago.
It's not exactly certain just what this semicircular platform was used for, but it's the first thing to greet you when entering the trail toward the trolley shed!

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