Just a few miles south of Portland, on the Willamette River, sits the city’s only surviving amusement park, Oaks Park.
It was built by the Oregon Water Power and Railway Company as an incentive to increase weekend ridership [and revenue]. Billed as the ‘Coney Island of the Northwest’, the park opened in 1905.
Last week, on a walk along the river, I took a short detour through the park.
It was one week before the official Spring opening.
The ticket booth was shuttered.
The midway was empty.
None of the rides or carnival games were operating.
On the 1911 Noah’s Ark Carousel, the hand carved giraffe, ostrich, rooster and dragon were still.
All was quiet, except for one place, the roller rink, which is open year round.
The rink was packed with people skating to the music from a live pipe organ.
That’s right, a genuine musician playing a 1926 Wurlitzer pipe organ!
Although at first it felt as though I had stepped back in time to a long lost era where nostalgia reins, I was happy to find that it’s not a lost past. It’s alive and it’s now and is going strong. The good endures.
I always love reading your little stories. Thanks for taking us back. You’re the best writer!
Diana
Thank You Diane! Your comments are appreciated.
I grew up out in the country outside Portland (Scholls) and went to Oaks Park once as a kid with my city cousin who took me roller skating. I loved the roller rink there because it had more to offer than the one in Hillsboro … but I was never good at roller skating myself, so that day at Oaks Park remains one of the most embarrassing memories of my youth, ha! I haven’t been back since that day, so it was fascinating to see these updated pix and learn that the roller rink is still going strong!
It is going strong! So many kids and adults, some flying by, some moving with concentrated care doing their best to stay upright, others skidding to the floor. If you ever have a chance, I definitely recommend stopping by.
I have fun memories of skating at Oaks Park!
Ann, I don’t know if you realize that I live near Oaks Park. We often walk through. It was fun seeing it through your creative eye. Now, you’ll have to come back when the place is packed with people. Fun.
This is an excellent addition to your blog Ann!