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The
Washington, DC area was once home to two popular amusement
parks. They were Marshall Hall and Glen Echo, in Maryland.
Glen Echo survives today as a cultural arts park since
being acquired in 1971 by the Federal government and
is now managed by the National Park Service.
The rides were sold off,
but the Dentzel carousel was saved by local fundraising
efforts. Several of the
original stone and art deco buildings have also been
refurbished, recalling the period when the twin brother
entrepreneurs Edwin and Edward Baltzley established
the Glen Echo Chautauqua Assembly there in 1891.
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The
Baltzley brothers planned to sell their real estate
holdings overlooking the Potomac River to people who
would be drawn to their Chautauqua development with
its program of famous speakers and classes in the sciences,
arts, languages and literature, conducted on a campus
of stone buildings and tents amid the natural surroundings.
But setbacks and a lack of patronage led to the failure
of the enterprise, and the brothers struggled to generate
revenue from their property.
Then, just before the
turn of the century, an amusement park was constructed
on the land. Soon afterward, the Washington Railway
and Electric Company purchased the park. Now officially
a "Trolley Park", it was rapidly expanded
with the addition of art deco-style buildings and new
rides, including the Dips coaster, carousel and bumper
cars. The Crystal Pool was one of the nation's largest.
It included a sandy beach for sunbathing and had the
capacity to accomodate 3000 swimmers.
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In 1933, the
Spanish Ballroom opened with a 7,500 square foot maple
floor - room for over 1,500 couples who danced to
many of the popular big bands of the era.
After over 50 years
as one of the Washington area's most popular recreational
spots, Glen Echo fell victim to the changing times
and tastes that caused the demise of so many of America's
amusement parks in the 1950s and 60s. A steady decline
in attendance brought Glen Echo Park's tenure to an
end with the close of the 1968 season.
Today, the park and
the remaining buildings serve as an artistic and educational
resource center. Large seasonal festivals and live
performances are hosted at the park, and weekly dances
are held at the Spanish Ballroom.
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Even
though the rides are long gone, we should not forget
that Glen Echo Park once possessed a superb collection
of funhouse and dark ride attractions.
So, let's have a look...
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