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40-522: Like their Luna Park and Electric Park cousins, a typical White City park featured a shoot-the-chutes and lagoon, a roller coaster (usually a figure eight or a mountain railway ), a midway , a Ferris wheel , games, and a pavilion . Some White City parks featured miniature railroads . Many cities had two (or all three) of the Electric Park/Luna Park/White City triumvirate in their vicinity... with each trying to outdo

80-460: A log flume or super flume, which generally seats up to eight passengers, a modern-day shoot-the-chute ride generally has larger boats seating at least four across. The first of this type of amusement ride was built by J.P. Newburg in 1884 down the side of a hill at Watchtower Park in Rock Island, Illinois . The ride traveled along a 500-foot (150 m) greased wooden track, skipping across

120-485: A shoot-the-chutes ride that wasn't present in the Columbian Exposition, but would soon become a staple of amusement parks to come. Paul Boyton's Water Chutes was the first amusement to charge admission when it opened in 1894; inspired by the immediate success of his Chicago park (500,000 people visiting it in its first year of operation), he moved (and expanded) Water Chutes in 1896, a year after he started

160-520: A 131-foot (40 m) drop at a 45' angle that would propel the boat to speeds approaching 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Pilgrims Plunge opened for the 2009 season and was featured on a segment of the Travel Channel 's Extreme series. It was renamed Giraffica for the 2013 season and removed in April 2014 due to downtime and reliability issues. Shoot-the-chutes Shoot the chute

200-537: A 500-foot (150 m) greased wooden track, skipping across the Rock River at the bottom. It was then pulled back to the ramp by an onboard ride attendant. Newburg took this unique ride concept next to Chicago, where more flumes were built and the rides grew in popularity. Paul Boyton opened Paul Boyton's Water Chute, America's first modern amusement park, at 63rd and Drexel in Chicago , on July 4, 1894. Boyton's

240-485: A closed-circuit track. Most modern shoot-the-chute rides usually consist of (though not limited to) an oval-shaped layout or a figure-eight layout. Many shoot-the-chute installations also have an observation platform or bridge so that spectators, in addition to riders, can get wet from the splash created by the boats. Intamin took the shoot-the-chute concept to extremes with the opening of its first Mega Splash, Perilous Plunge at Knott's Berry Farm . At its opening, it

280-407: A figure-eight layout. Many shoot-the-chute installations also have an observation platform or bridge so that spectators, in addition to riders, can get wet from the splash created by the boats. Intamin took the shoot-the-chute concept to extremes with the opening of its first Mega Splash, Perilous Plunge at Knott's Berry Farm . At its opening, it was the tallest and steepest water flume ride in

320-574: A frenetic pace (over a quarter century period, the Ingersoll Construction Company, erected more than eleven roller coasters per year). Railway companies, noticing the popularity of Midway Plaisance of the Columbian Exposition and the lack of railroad ridership on the weekends, constructed trolley parks as an effort to improve their bottom line. Power companies were starting to partner with railroad companies to create electric trolley companies... and construct Electric Parks. As

360-609: A new form of music and instantly became a staple for fairs and carnivals . While the Midway Plaisance became the Exposition's main drawing card, it was not the primary purpose of the World's Fair in the eyes of its founders, who pictured it to be the beginning of a classical renaissance featuring electrically-lit white stucco buildings (collectively known as White City ) occupying the main court. While White City gave

400-421: A section that is now commonly considered the first amusement park : a midway (the mile-long Midway Plaisance ), the world's first Ferris wheel (constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. ), a forerunner of the modern roller coaster (Thomas Rankin's Snow and Ice Railway, later moved to Coney Island ), lighting and attractions powered by alternating current ( Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti had completed

440-465: Is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon . Unlike a log flume or super flume, which generally seats up to eight passengers, a modern-day shoot-the-chute ride generally has larger boats seating at least four across. The first of this type of amusement ride was built by J.P. Newburg in 1884 down the side of a hill at Watchtower Park in Rock Island, Illinois . The ride traveled along

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480-653: Is the boat chute constructed in 1926 and 1927 located at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park in Rossville, Georgia , near Chattanooga, Tennessee . An operating modern reproduction of the Luna Park shoot-the-chute ride of the early 20th century, The Pittsburg Plunge, is currently in operation at Kennywood amusement park in Pennsylvania. Water chutes were also a popular attraction in the United Kingdom in

520-565: The 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis : a smaller version was built and installed in Paul Boyton 's Steeplechase Park instead... along with a sign that stated "On this site will be erected the world's largest Ferris Wheel"). While Steeplechase Park eventually became one of the earliest embodiments of an amusement park, Chicago had one to replace Midway Plaisance a year after the close of the Columbian Exposition, Paul Boyton's Water Chutes , featuring

560-671: The Luna Park shoot-the-chute ride of the early 20th century, The Pittsburg Plunge, is currently in operation at Kennywood amusement park in Pennsylvania. Water chutes were also a popular attraction in the United Kingdom in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, with large multi-chute examples built at Blackpool , the Bradford Exhibition, Earls Court Exhibition Centre , and Southport , all now demolished. Smaller single-chute versions are extant and operating at East Park, Kingston upon Hull , Peasholm Park, Scarborough , and Wicksteed Park, Kettering . A large single chute ride

600-740: The Moon" in both Buffalo and Steeplechase Park. Thompson and Dundy quickly redesigned Sea Lion Park and redubbed it Luna Park , which quickly added to the legend of Coney Island. In the half decade after the end of the Columbian Exposition, the American concept of the amusement park was starting to take hold, with the increased popularity of shoot-the-chutes rides, roller coasters (with roller coaster designer and entrepreneur Frederick Ingersoll providing many parks - many of long standing - with figure 8 roller coasters and scenic railways long before starting his Luna Park chain in 1905) were being erected in

640-541: The Rock River at the bottom. It was then pulled back to the ramp by an onboard ride attendant. Newburg took this unique ride concept next to Chicago, where more flumes were built and the rides grew in popularity. Paul Boyton opened Paul Boyton's Water Chute, America's first modern amusement park, at 63rd and Drexel in Chicago , on July 4, 1894. Boyton's was the first amusement park to rely solely on mechanical attractions. Paul Boyton and Thomas Polk built another example in 1895 for Sea Lion Park at Coney Island . The ride

680-705: The United States (with Australia and the United Kingdom having namesakes built by the 1910s). Although most White City parks were out of business by the end of the United States involvement in World War I , a few survived into the middle third of the 20th century. The Chicago White City lasted until 1946; the Worcester park survived until 1960. Of the White City amusement parks, only one survives,

720-530: The United States in 1899; the number almost tripled (700) by 1905; and more than doubled again (to 1500) by 1919 - and these latter figures do not include the amusement parks that were opened and permanently closed by then. While the White City in Chicago was not the first one of that name, it was certainly one of the most fondly remembered. Within years of its 1905 founding, dozens of White City parks dotted

760-509: The addition of amusement rides and a midway (Seattle, for example). As the American amusement park was increasing in popularity in the first few years of the 1900s, the success of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition (particularly its "Trip to the Moon" ride, featuring "Luna Park") led to the first Luna Park in Coney Island in 1903... and an explosion of nearly identical amusement parks soon followed. There were roughly 250 amusements operating in

800-488: The crowds at the Midway Plaisance (which essentially was the first modern amusement park with its entertainment, including exhibitions of boxer John L. Sullivan and exotic dancer Little Egypt , its games and its rides) and the architecture of the (far less popular) White City. Much of the Midway Plaisance reappeared in Coney Island's Steeplechase Park by the end of 1897 (but not the Ferris wheel, which had been committed to

840-421: The earliest chute rides, the flat-bottomed boat was pulled up the ramp by cable, sometimes with a turnaround on a small turntable. In the ride at Sea Lion Park, the passengers arrived at the top by elevator . The bottom of the ramp curved upwards, causing the boat to skip across the water until it came to a stop. The boat was guided to a landing by a boatman on board. The oldest ride of this type still in operation

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880-512: The end of the 19th century approached, a few exhibition parks - those inspired by the exhibits and midways of either the Columbian Exposition or the (later) Pan-American Exposition - started to appear. Before the end of the year 1900, White City amusement parks were making their appearance in Philadelphia (1898 - it was also known as Chestnut Hill Park) and Cleveland (1900). Soon, some long-established parks changed their names to White City upon

920-462: The first power plant with AC power in London just the year before), and the debut of several kinds of foods in the United States, including hamburgers , shredded wheat , Cracker Jack , Juicy Fruit chewing gum, and pancakes made using Aunt Jemima pancake mix. The Zoopraxographical Hall was the first commercial theater. Ragtime composed and performed by Scott Joplin exposed millions of people to

960-518: The last exhibition park still standing: Lakeside Amusement Park . Built and opened in 1908 just outside the Denver, Colorado city limits, Lakeside Park was advertised as "Denver's White City" and "The Coney Island of the West" from its inception throughout the 1910s. Although the official use of the White City moniker was largely discontinued by the 1920s, members of the local populace continued to refer to

1000-499: The late-19th and early-20th centuries, with large multi-chute examples built at Blackpool , the Bradford Exhibition, Earls Court Exhibition Centre , and Southport , all now demolished. Smaller single-chute versions are extant and operating at East Park, Kingston upon Hull , Peasholm Park, Scarborough , and Wicksteed Park, Kettering . A large single chute ride was built at the Battersea Park funfair - now demolished - and

1040-537: The others with new attractions. The competition was fierce, often driving the electric parks out of business due to increased cost due to equipment upgrades and upkeep and increasing insurance costs. More than a few succumbed to fire. Only one park that was given the White City name continues to operate today: Lakeside Amusement Park , opened in 1908, was originally advertised and known as Denver's White City . The enormously successful 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago attracted 26 million visitors and featured

1080-411: The park as "White City," and a number of the park's 1908 structures and attractions remain. The following is a list of amusement parks that have had the name White City in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Shoot-the-chutes Shoot the chute is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon . Unlike

1120-416: The park its visual identity, the throngs who attended the Columbian Exposition tended to collect at the Midway Plaisance (and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show , which set up shop just outside the park grounds after the fair's founders rejected Buffalo Bill Cody 's attempt to become an official Columbian Exhibition exhibitor). The World's Fair was destined to be remembered primarily for two ironic visions, that of

1160-521: The public. It was demolished in March 2020. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana , built an even larger shoot-the-chute ride named Pilgrims Plunge. Designed and built by Intamin and dubbed a Hyper Splash, it was, at its opening, the world's tallest water ride, with a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Pilgrims Plunge featured a 135-foot open elevator lift leading to

1200-410: The public. It was demolished in March 2020. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana , built an even larger shoot-the-chute ride named Pilgrims Plunge. Designed and built by Intamin and dubbed a Hyper Splash, it was, at its opening, the world's tallest water ride, with a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Pilgrims Plunge featured a 135-foot open elevator lift leading to

1240-473: The ride at Sea Lion Park, the passengers arrived at the top by elevator . The bottom of the ramp curved upwards, causing the boat to skip across the water until it came to a stop. The boat was guided to a landing by a boatman on board. The oldest ride of this type still in operation is the boat chute constructed in 1926 and 1927 located at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park in Rossville, Georgia , near Chattanooga, Tennessee . An operating modern reproduction of

White City (amusement parks) - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-702: The similar Sea Lion Park in Coney Island . Foretelling a fate similar to most amusement parks that followed, Paul Boyton's Water Chutes went out of business in 1908, in the face of increasing competition, mainly exhibition parks inspired by the Columbian Exposition in Chicago ("White City") and the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo (" Luna Park ") and the emergence of trolley parks owned and operated by railroads and electric companies (" Electric Park "). In 1901, Boyton sold Sea Lion Park to Frederic Thompson and Elmer "Skip" Dundy , who operated "A Trip to

1320-592: The volume of the splash. A similar ride, Hydro, was later constructed at Oakwood Theme Park in Wales, UK. Perilous Plunge was removed from the park in 2012. Schlitterbahn in Corpus Christi, Texas , opened "Padre Plunge" in May 2017. This ride previously stood at Alabama Splash Adventure where it was known as "Buzzsaw Falls". It was damaged by Hurricane Harvey three months later and the ride permanently closed to

1360-428: The volume of the splash. A similar ride, Hydro, was later constructed at Oakwood Theme Park in Wales, UK. Perilous Plunge was removed from the park in 2012. Schlitterbahn in Corpus Christi, Texas , opened "Padre Plunge" in May 2017. This ride previously stood at Alabama Splash Adventure where it was known as "Buzzsaw Falls". It was damaged by Hurricane Harvey three months later and the ride permanently closed to

1400-420: The world. Three seven-ton 24-passenger boats would climb a 121-foot (36.8 m) lift-hill, round a curve and descend a 115-foot (35 m) water chute at a 77.8-degree slope. Upon landing in the lagoon below, the boats created a 45-foot (13.7 m) high splash that drenched riders as well as spectators standing on an observation bridge overlooking the ride. The ride used an adjustable electromagnetic braking system to control

1440-477: Was an integral park of a chase sequence in the 1959 Dial 999 episode "Inside Job". The shoot-the-chute concept has evolved over time in the amusement park industry. All modern shoot-the-chute rides feature a guide track after the descent down the chute into the pool of water that allows the boats to return to the loading platform—completing a closed-circuit track. Most modern shoot-the-chute rides usually consist of (though not limited to) an oval-shaped layout or

1480-415: Was built at the Battersea Park funfair - now demolished - and was an integral park of a chase sequence in the 1959 Dial 999 episode "Inside Job". The shoot-the-chute concept has evolved over time in the amusement park industry. All modern shoot-the-chute rides feature a guide track after the descent down the chute into the pool of water that allows the boats to return to the loading platform—completing

1520-450: Was the first amusement park to rely solely on mechanical attractions. Paul Boyton and Thomas Polk built another example in 1895 for Sea Lion Park at Coney Island . The ride was widely copied and "chute" rides were found at many amusement parks throughout the United States, and even became the name of several amusement parks . While the original form of the ride is largely obsolete, modern log flume rides work on similar principles. On

1560-469: Was the tallest and steepest water flume ride in the world. Three seven-ton 24-passenger boats would climb a 121-foot (36.8 m) lift-hill, round a curve and descend a 115-foot (35 m) water chute at a 77.8-degree slope. Upon landing in the lagoon below, the boats created a 45-foot (13.7 m) high splash that drenched riders as well as spectators standing on an observation bridge overlooking the ride. The ride used an adjustable electromagnetic braking system to control

1600-406: Was widely copied and "chute" rides were found at many amusement parks throughout the United States, and even became the name of several amusement parks . While the original form of the ride is largely obsolete, modern log flume rides work on similar principles. On the earliest chute rides, the flat-bottomed boat was pulled up the ramp by cable, sometimes with a turnaround on a small turntable. In

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