For other amusement parks known by the same name, see Luna Park.
Luna Park was one of several names for an amusement park that existed in Rexford, New York,[1] near Schenectady, from 1901 to 1933. In addition to Luna Park (the name given by developer/entrepreneur Frederick Ingersoll when he added rides and assumed control of Rexford Park in 1906), it was also known as Dolle's Park (named after Fred Dolle, who bought the park from Ingersoll in 1912), Colonnade Park, Palisades Park, and (again) Rexford Park (in 1916) before the rides were dismantled in 1933.[2][3][4][5] Constructed around the Grand View Hotel (built and opened by Jacob Rupert in 1901),[4] the park was similar to Ingersoll's other Luna Parks in which it was a trolley park with roller coasters, picnicpavilions, carousels, a fun house, a roller rink, a concert shell, a dance hall, a midway, a Whip, and a shoot-the-chutes ride which presented itself at the park entrance adjacent to a station of the Van Vrankenelectric trolley line.[2][6][7] Roughly seven decades before the Skycoaster rides that now dot various United States amusement parks, Luna/Rexford Park featured an aerial swing ride.[5]
Aerial view of Rexford, NY showing the location of the Luna Park amusement park
The trolley line charged its passengers five cents each for the trip to the park, but the park did not have an admission charge.[2]
The Schenectady Luna Park lasted longer than most of Ingersoll's Luna Parks. Ingersoll's shaky finances (he was in bankruptcy court twice between 1908 and 1911) forced him to sell the popular park to Dolle in 1912. Four years (and three name changes) later, new management changed its name one last time, to Rexford Park. Unlike most amusement parks of the first decade of the 20th century, Luna/Rexford Park was still standing after the return of the U. S. military from participation in World War I.[5] In 1925, the Grand View Hotel was destroyed by a fire, but the park stayed open for the season. The popularity of the park declined in the face of the onset of the Great Depression, forcing the dismantling of the park's rides in 1933.[2][5]
Some of the pilings for the Saratoga trolley line still remain in the Mohawk River.[8]
Referencesedit
^Some sources state it to be at Clifton Park, New York, a township that actually contains Rexford
^Trolley Stop, Rexford Amusement Park (1920) - Capital District Library Council
^Gino Dicarlo, Trolleys of the Capital District (Arcadia 2009) ISBN0-7385-6261-0
^Rexford Park: Family Funland for Three Decades - Schenectady Gazette
April 17, 2024
luna, park, schenectady, other, amusement, parks, known, same, name, luna, park, luna, park, several, names, amusement, park, that, existed, rexford, york, near, schenectady, from, 1901, 1933, addition, luna, park, name, given, developer, entrepreneur, frederi. For other amusement parks known by the same name see Luna Park Luna Park was one of several names for an amusement park that existed in Rexford New York 1 near Schenectady from 1901 to 1933 In addition to Luna Park the name given by developer entrepreneur Frederick Ingersoll when he added rides and assumed control of Rexford Park in 1906 it was also known as Dolle s Park named after Fred Dolle who bought the park from Ingersoll in 1912 Colonnade Park Palisades Park and again Rexford Park in 1916 before the rides were dismantled in 1933 2 3 4 5 Constructed around the Grand View Hotel built and opened by Jacob Rupert in 1901 4 the park was similar to Ingersoll s other Luna Parks in which it was a trolley park with roller coasters picnic pavilions carousels a fun house a roller rink a concert shell a dance hall a midway a Whip and a shoot the chutes ride which presented itself at the park entrance adjacent to a station of the Van Vranken electric trolley line 2 6 7 Roughly seven decades before the Skycoaster rides that now dot various United States amusement parks Luna Rexford Park featured an aerial swing ride 5 Aerial view of Rexford NY showing the location of the Luna Park amusement parkThe trolley line charged its passengers five cents each for the trip to the park but the park did not have an admission charge 2 The Schenectady Luna Park lasted longer than most of Ingersoll s Luna Parks Ingersoll s shaky finances he was in bankruptcy court twice between 1908 and 1911 forced him to sell the popular park to Dolle in 1912 Four years and three name changes later new management changed its name one last time to Rexford Park Unlike most amusement parks of the first decade of the 20th century Luna Rexford Park was still standing after the return of the U S military from participation in World War I 5 In 1925 the Grand View Hotel was destroyed by a fire but the park stayed open for the season The popularity of the park declined in the face of the onset of the Great Depression forcing the dismantling of the park s rides in 1933 2 5 Some of the pilings for the Saratoga trolley line still remain in the Mohawk River 8 References edit Some sources state it to be at Clifton Park New York a township that actually contains Rexford a b c d Susan Rosenthal Schenectady Arcadia 2000 ISBN 0 7385 0339 8 Description of Luna Park Dolle s Park Capital District Library Council a b Description of Rexford Park s amusement stand Capital District Library Council a b c d John L Scherer Clifton Park Arcadia 1996 ISBN 0 7385 5461 8 Trolley Stop Rexford Amusement Park 1920 Capital District Library Council Gino Dicarlo Trolleys of the Capital District Arcadia 2009 ISBN 0 7385 6261 0 Rexford Park Family Funland for Three Decades Schenectady Gazette Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Luna Park Schenectady amp oldid 1032914076, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
