lakeside amusement park
Lakeside Train Station, from Lakeside Amusement Park,
located in the city of Lakeside, CO (right next to Denver).
Why did Lakeside put an Italianate clock tower in their train station,
when Union Station in Denver has no such tower?
Well, Union Station did have a similar clock tower that was removed during the redesign of the station in 1914, so I would guess that this building dates from
between 1908 and 1914.
This minature locomotive is actually a true steam powered engine just like a full size locomotive and has been running here continously since the opening of the park in 1908!
This steam engine is one of two in operation here, nicknamed Puffing Billy and Whistling Tom.
Lakeside also has a minature diesel locomotive, it’s own version of the famous Zephyr, which ran from Chicago to LA, via Denver.
While there is still much of Lakeside that dates back 100 years, the 30s, 40s and 50s eras saw Lakeside updated in various Art Deco and modernist styles.
Many of the Art Deco booths and similar features were designed by Richard Crowther, who brought neon lighting techniques that he had used helping light up San Francisco’s Golden Gate International Exposition Fair.
Later, Richard Crowther would go on to become a world famous Green architect, noted for his use of Passive Solar Heating. His ideas are still taught in architectural schools today.
Many of Crowther’s remarkable building designs have been torn down or otherwise lost, including his grand Cinerama Cooper Theatre on Colorado Blvd.
There are still a few Crowther office buildings and a handfull of his house designs left, including the amazing Crowther House in Cherry Creek.
Lakeside has an elaborately decorated version of the classic bob-sled ride, the Matterhorn.
The 30s-era Lakeside Speedway still stands on it’s original spot,
even though cars haven’t raced here since the 1980s.
Visitors with historical interests are fortunate that Lakeside Amusement Park does not hurry to tear down unused features.
For example, here is the old pier for the long gone Lakeside Speed Boats, with a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains over Lake Rhoda (named for Lakeside owner Rhoda Krasner)
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Thanks for the great pictures, it certainly brings back memories! I grew up in the area, and went to Lakeside in the 50s and 60s. As I write this, the Lakeside Shopping Center is just piles of dirt. Yep, the old racetrack is still sitting there. Looking at the exterior of the Amusement Park, I usually amuse myself by imagining what I could do with a few cans of paint to restore the old glory! I do remember dancing in the Lakeside Ballroom to Stan Kenton and his orchestra in about 1970. Our family in the 60s would always watch them shoot fireworks over Lake Rhoda on the 4th of July. I’ve taken photos of the amusement park being reflected at night over Lake Rhoda — made a great screen-saver for my computer!
HEY!
Neat pics of an old hangout for my fellow greaser buddies and me.
Near the Target store, if you look over the fence toward the back of the Speedway parking lot, the old speed boat carcasses can still be seen.
One had a Y-Block and the other was Hemi powered.
Mark