This is my favorite image with the happy worm ride in front and a nice carousel in the background.
A collection of images and other items from Disneyland, theme parks and other amusement parks. Also look for images and items I find interesting, amusing or both.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Unknown Kiddie Land Rides 1950s
A phenomena in the 1950s was for small Kiddie Land parks to open in shopping malls and other areas throughout the United States. Many were found in California and in the Southwest where the weather allowed year round operation. In fact, the Mile High Flea Market in Denver still has a kiddie land type of park that closes in the winter. I believe this park was in Southern California, potentially San Diego as that is where the photos were found. Mom sure liked trying to take a picture of her two boys on the boat ride. You can see a small berm in the background and a parked car in the third image.
I've been reading your blog posts for a short time and find them most entertaining. This post about Kiddie Land rides really hit home. There is an amusement park near Pittsburgh, PA called Kenneywood that has been the source of special memories for all who visit. I am 54 now and my parents and their parents have been enjoying Kenneywood for decades. A huge part of the experience is the large section that they have set aside as Kiddieland. It was a "right of passage" when you graduated from Kiddieland to the bigger rides. It was also hard to leave it behind. Here is the web address:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kennywood.com/
If you enjoy parks with history and heart, Kenneywood is the place you should investigate. It has been featured on the Discovery Channel often. Kenneywood Memmories by Rick Sebak tells the tale the best.
My family has been to Disney World many times over the years and we love it. But, since we've relocated to South Carolina from Pittsburgh 6 years ago, we really miss our yearly trips to Kenneywood, home of the best wooden coasters and cheese fries on the planet. Thanks again for your work. It is appreciated
Wow, this brings me back to when my parents took me as a little kid to the Pike in Long Beach, CA!!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie- I have made the trip to Kennywood and it is fantastic. I also like Knoebells also in Pennsylvania.
ReplyDeleteKenneywood is legendary!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love the kiddieland photos... I have a few that I should post. There is a park in San Jose called "Happy Hollow" that I used to go to with my niece and nephew, it has a lot of similar, old-fashioned kiddy rides, and one of the last surviving "Danny the Dragon" rides.
And in Portland, Oregon we have Oaks Park--for little and big kids since 1905--aka the Coney Island of the Pacific NW! See my flickr stream for pics:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/pfeifferphotos
KiddieLand in Melrose Park, IL still has a boat ride identical to this one in operation in addition to about 20 other vintage kiddie rides. I went there as a kid and took my children as well.
ReplyDeletewww.kiddieland.com
There was a Kiddieland in the northwest San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. I have many photographs from one of my birthday parties there, maybe around the late 1960s early 1970s I think it closed not long after that. Fond memories.
ReplyDelete