"Amusement Parks"
Photos by Ira Wexler and Adam Paul
with Thanks to Daniel Gibbs for Information
CLICK ON ANY OUTLINED PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Long before the days when a trip to an amusement park meant packing into a car and heading off on the Interstate for Largo's Adventure World or Virginia's King's Dominion, Pennsylvania's Hershey Park, or even Florida's Walt Disney World, there was a time when amusement was far more convenient.  All it took was a jaunt onto a Streetcar or two, and you were there, as numerous parks awaited all within an easy trip of Central Baltimore.

While three main amusement parks are the ones most remembered by elder Baltimoreans' around today, there were others that have long since vanished into obscurity, with no ghosts to tell of their existence.  Still, their names certainly bear mentioning:

Most Amusement Park recollections among Baltimoreans are among three parks in particular: Gwynn Oak Park, Carlin's Park, and Bay Shore Park, all of which were situated in close proximity to the car lines.

If there's an uglier side to the history of the Amusement parks, it was segregation.  It appears that only Gwynn Oak integrated in it's final years (although Carlin's may have briefly), after a great deal of controversy on the matter, but all other parks were strictly segregated for their entire durations.

Gwynn Oak Park

Gwynn Oak Park, located on Gwynn Oak Avenue at Gwynndale, was the last of the city's Amusement parks to close, bowing out about 1972.  By this point, the aging amusements were making it difficult for the park to turn a profit.  Flooding in 1972 did not help any, making any full reopening of the park difficult.  By 1974, the amusements were auctioned off, and the parkland itself was left to revert back to nature.  Later, it would be re-landscaped to largely become a picnic grounds, still attracting a healthy following on mild weekends, although the joyous Amusement park atmosphere is long gone, replaced by an easy going and peaceful enjoyment of nature.  Limited artifacts exist, largely in the form of old foundations, and disconnected pathways.  A sample follows:


Perhaps the most substantial relic amidst the park is this staggered stairway leading to the lake.  Most other artifacts are at ground level only.


This roadway leading off of Gwynn Oak Avenue leads into the park grounds, but ultimately vanishes under fill.


Most substantial of the old footings is this one located near the Gwynn Oak Park side of the new footbridge.


This circular foudation is obviously the spot where the Carousel once stood.  Now it occupies the Mall in Washington DC.


This old bracket in foundation looks in vain for something to secure.


Closer inspection of this guard rail reveals it to be just that - - - the rail that once carried the #32 line's crowds to the park.

Carlin's Park

Another popular leisure destination for riders on Route #32, as well as those on Route #5, was the old Carlin's Amusement Park, located North of Druid Park Drive between Park Circle and Liberty Heights Avenue.  Interestingly, this was the only park lacking natural water amenities.  Regardless, Carlin's was a popular leisure destination until the mid-1950's, when it became a drive-in movie.  Since then, it has been redeveloped into a mixed use industrial center, home to the Palladium, among other establishments.  The only "artifact" of it's origin is a dead end street named after the old park:

Bay Shore Park

While the other parks may have had a loyal local following, perhaps no other destination was as special as Bay Shore.  Served by a seasonal shuttle operation on Route #26 from Sparrows Point, Bay Shore Park was a natural attraction, as it did indeed front directly on the warm waters of the Chesapeake Bay.  Park goers had a roller coaster, swimming pool, pier, ornate fountain, and numerous other attractions to choose from.  Bethlehem Steel purchased the property after the 1947 season as a hunting ground for their executives.  Eventually, the demolition of most of the park's rotted structures would occur by the means of Fire Department Drills, and the region would mostly revert back to nature.  Today, the park stands perserved as a protected wetlands, with a handful of artifacts to give some clue to it's more hectic past:


The ornate fountain still survives, and is in the process of a loving restoration.  It was once the centerpiece of a lovely park!


As seen here, the fountain still looks to be in pretty decent shape despite years of sitting.


Examination of the walkway leading from the Fountain to the Trolley Shed reveals a brick lined gutter.  The Fountain is behind the camera, while the Shed lies ahead.


An octogonical foundation just next to the Trolley Shed reveals what must have once been the footings for a concession stand.  Behind, utility connections still look to give power and water to the long-gone structure.


The old Bay Shore pier survives, albeit largely eroded, and shored up.  It is now a popular destination for Fishermen.


Recalling a busier time is this old Fire Hydrant next to the Trolley Shed.


It's not exactly certain just what this semicircular platform was used for, but it's the first thing to greet you when entering the trail toward the trolley shed!


So with all this talk of the Trolley Shed, where's a photo of it?!? CLICK HERE to head to the Bay Shore Streetcars Page.

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