Ривервью: История Чикагского Парка Развлечений

Former amusement park
the former amusement park in Chicago

Riverview Park was an amusement park in Chicago, Illinois, which operated from 1904 to 1967. It was located on in an area bound on the south by Belmont Avenue, on the east by Western Avenue, on the north by Lane Tech College Prep High School, and on the west by the North Branch of the Chicago River. It was located in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago's North Center community area.

Riverview was established in 1904 by William Schmidt, on the grounds of his private skeet shooting range. The Schmidt family owned and operated the park throughout its lifetime. "Big Bill" Haywood, the Industrial Workers of the World leader, once spoke here to a crowd of almost 80,000 people.

Riverview was most known for The Bobs wooden roller coaster. Other popular coasters were The Comet, The Silver Flash, The Fireball and the Jetstream. Aladdin's Castle was a classic fun house with a collapsing stairway, mazes and turning barrel. Shoot the Chutes, Hades, the Rotor, Tilt a Whirl, Wild Mouse, the Mill on the Floss (Tunnel of Love), and Flying Turns were just a few of the many classic rides. "The Pair O Chutes at Riverview Park'll shake us up all day" is a line from the Beach Boys' song "Amusement Parks U. S. A." from their 1965 album, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!). There were over 120 rides in the park.

Riverview closed in 1967. Urban myths endure, describing the park's "seedy" atmosphere in the 1960s, as it coincidentally became more integrated. Contemporaneous articles in black publications, such as the Chicago Defender, described black patrons being subject to both latent and overt racism; the most overt being a longstanding attraction (not owned by Riverview) but by an outside concessionaire renting space from the park. It was unofficially called "Dunk the Nigger", but officially named "African Dip" and then later renamed "Dip", which the NAACP along with newspaper columnist Mike Royko, successfully lobbied to shut down in the 1950s. DePaul College Prep High School, dental equipment manufacturer Hu Friedy Manufacturing, and Richard Clark Park, part of the Chicago Park District. The south end of Clark Park has a wooded area where many of the Riverview Park foundations are still visible and is currently used as a bicycle dirt jump and pump track park maintained by the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers. A sculpture entitled Riverview by local artist Jerry Peart stands in front of the police station.

Many items from Riverview, as well as many paintings portraying the park, were on display at Riverview Tavern, located on the corner of West Roscoe Street and Damen Avenue from 2005 to 2018. The Riverview Carousel continues to operate at Six Flags Over Georgia. It was the only ride to be saved.

The 1972, Bally Manufacturing Corporation pinball machine Fireball was named after the park's Fireball roller coaster. Also, Bally's Aladdin's Castle amusement arcade division was renamed from Carousel Time to honor the closed Riverview Park and the Aladdin's Castle funhouse. Bally's Aladdin's Castle pinball machine was also inspired by the same funhouse at Riverview. The 1979 Williams Electronics' pinball game Flash as well as their 1985 Comet was named after the park's roller coasters with these names. Bally Manufacturing Corporation and Williams Electronics, Inc. had their headquarters and primary manufacturing facilities just west of Riverview Park during the later years of the park's operating life.

+RideYear builtYear closedManufacturer and ride type ImageDescriptionThe Bobs19241967Wooden Roller CoasterComet1967Roller CoasterSilver Flash1967Roller CoasterFireball1923/19591967Roller CoasterOriginally this was the Blue Streak roller coaster. In 1959 first hill was modified and renamed the Fireball. The ride featured a steep drop that embarked into a tunnel. Jetstream19641967Wooden Roller Coaster
Philadelphia Toboggan CompanyJetstream replaced the ride Greyhound. It was not as popular as some of the more wild rides at the park. Jetstream was demolished before it was paid off. Aladdin's Castle1967Fun houseThe mirrors are reportedly at a dance club in Palatine. Shoot the Chutes1967Water RideOld fashioned water rideHadesFun house The Rotor19521967Orton, Sons & SpoonerThe Rotor was a spinning ride where the floor dropped out from under riders. They were then held to the wall by centripetal force. Tilt a WhirlTilt a WhirlWild mouseWild mouse coasterMill on the Floss 1967Previously named Thousand Islands but later became Mill on the Floss. In 1950, it was renamed to The Tunnel of Love Flying Turns19341967Wooden Bobsled rideWooden bobsled run with steep turns. Moved from the Chicago World's fair in 1934 and opened the following season. Flying Bobs was removed with the park in 1967Pair O Chutes19371967Originally called the Eye Full. Spans added to tower to create the first free fall parachute ride. This ride lifted riders to the top of a tower before dropping carts attached to parachutes Carousel19081967Carousel This 70 horse carousel was built in 1908. It is a PTC carousel and is one of only three remaining five abreast carousels known to exist. In 1967, it was purchased and moved to Six Flags Over Georgia. Coal fired miniature steam engine trainFreak show1950sShowA show that featured Betty Lou Williams, the world's only 4 legged girl, and magician Marshall Brodien who would go on to play Wizzo the Wizard in the famous "Bozo Show"Flying scooterLooks almost like a hang glider BoomerangStrat O StatThe CalypsoFlying Cars19541966Hot Rods19551967Ferris WheelFerris wheelFerris wheelParatrooper1960Space Ride19631967Sky ridea $300,000 sky ride. Bump 'EmBumper CarsGreyhound1964Roller coasterWas replaced by JetstreamThe Tickler1910Expo whirl 1910Witching Waves1910Metrodome1911Velvet Coaster19071919Pikes Peak Scenic Railway1907Racetrack1907