Lakeside Amusement Park (Salem, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Lakeside Amusement Park was an amusement park
located in Salem, Virginia
at the intersection of U.S. Route 460 (East Main Street in Salem) and State Route 419 (Electric Road in Salem). The park was named after a very large (300 feet long, 125 feet wide) swimming pool which was opened on the site in 1920. The pool was surrounded by a beach and quickly became a favorite summer retreat for residents of Roanoke
and Salem. Amusement park rides were added to the facility within a few years of its opening. There was also a pavilion, which housed concerts. Frequent performers included Tom T. Hall and Conway Twitty.
Nearby Roanoke College also had use of the park when it was closed in the winter as an area for its men's lacrosse team to use for practice.
The pool eventually declined in popularity as home swimming pools became popular and after courts mandated desegregation
. In 1967, the pool was filled in as part of an expansion project whose highlight was a new wooden roller coaster
named the Shooting Star. Lakeside remained a popular destination through the 1970s and early 1980s, though larger parks such as Kings Dominion were beginning to draw away visitors. Nearby Masons Creek inundated the park during the flood of November 1985. Somewhat surprisingly, the park was able to repair the damage and even construct new attractions for the 1986 season. Unfortunately, that year a maintenance worker was struck and killed by the roller coaster due to a miscommunication that left him on the track during a test run. The park's updates had failed to reverse the decline in attendance and revenues. The park also occupied a very valuable parcel of real estate at the intersection of two highways only a mile south of Interstate 81
. Lakeside Amusement Park closed its gates for the last time on October 19, 1986.
Within a few years, the site was the location of a strip mall
, named Lakeside Center, with Kroger
and several other stores and restaurants. This neighborhood of Salem is still commonly referred to as Lakeside and several churches and businesses bear the name.
The closure of Lakeside led to the creation of the Salem Fair in 1988. This event, which has free admission, runs annually for ten days in late June to early July. Estimated attendance in most years averages around 300,000, which makes it the second largest fair
in Virginia, trailing only the State Fair of Virginia in Richmond
.
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Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located in Salem, Virginia
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
at the intersection of U.S. Route 460 (East Main Street in Salem) and State Route 419 (Electric Road in Salem). The park was named after a very large (300 feet long, 125 feet wide) swimming pool which was opened on the site in 1920. The pool was surrounded by a beach and quickly became a favorite summer retreat for residents of Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
and Salem. Amusement park rides were added to the facility within a few years of its opening. There was also a pavilion, which housed concerts. Frequent performers included Tom T. Hall and Conway Twitty.
Nearby Roanoke College also had use of the park when it was closed in the winter as an area for its men's lacrosse team to use for practice.
The pool eventually declined in popularity as home swimming pools became popular and after courts mandated desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
. In 1967, the pool was filled in as part of an expansion project whose highlight was a new wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
named the Shooting Star. Lakeside remained a popular destination through the 1970s and early 1980s, though larger parks such as Kings Dominion were beginning to draw away visitors. Nearby Masons Creek inundated the park during the flood of November 1985. Somewhat surprisingly, the park was able to repair the damage and even construct new attractions for the 1986 season. Unfortunately, that year a maintenance worker was struck and killed by the roller coaster due to a miscommunication that left him on the track during a test run. The park's updates had failed to reverse the decline in attendance and revenues. The park also occupied a very valuable parcel of real estate at the intersection of two highways only a mile south of Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
. Lakeside Amusement Park closed its gates for the last time on October 19, 1986.
Within a few years, the site was the location of a strip mall
Strip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
, named Lakeside Center, with Kroger
Kroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
and several other stores and restaurants. This neighborhood of Salem is still commonly referred to as Lakeside and several churches and businesses bear the name.
The closure of Lakeside led to the creation of the Salem Fair in 1988. This event, which has free admission, runs annually for ten days in late June to early July. Estimated attendance in most years averages around 300,000, which makes it the second largest fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
in Virginia, trailing only the State Fair of Virginia in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
Rides as of 1985
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- Shooting Star - John Allen Out and Back Roller Coaster
- Astro Liner - Motion Simulator
- Ferris wheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
- Eli Bridge Ferris wheel - Western Railroad - Crown Metal Products Steam Train now at Busch GardensBusch GardensBusch Gardens is the name of two amusement parks in the United States, owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of Blackstone Group. One of the parks is in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the other is in Tampa, Florida...
- ParatrooperParatrooperParatroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
- Paratrooper Ride - Monster - Eyerly Monster
- Mini Firetrucks - Kiddie Ride
- Mini Cars - Kiddie Ride
- Horse Carts - Kiddie Ride
- Scooters - Kiddie Ride
- RocketRocketA rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
Ships - Kiddie Ride - CarouselCarouselA carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
- Casino - A Trabant Ride
- Scrambler - Eli Bridge Scrambler
- Tilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-Whirl is one of the best-known flat rides, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing of Faribault, Minnesota...
- Avalanche - Flying Bobs Ride
- Bumper CarBumper carBumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator...
s - Flying Scooters
- Giant Slide
- Paddle BoatPaddle boatPaddle boat may refer to:* Paddle steamer or paddleboat, a boat propelled by a paddle wheel* Pedalo, a boat propelled by pedalling with the feet* A boat which is paddled, such as a canoe or kayak...
s - Junior Ferris wheel
- Skyway
- Spider
- Umbrellas
- The Whip
Former rides as of 1985
{|The Rebel Yell- A mini ride that played the famous Billy Idol song with the same name.|valign="top"|
- Minuature Train (CP Huntington) - Closed 1983
- Cloud Nine - Round Up - Closed 1980
- Flight Thru Space - Dark Ride - Closed 1979 Rep. by Astro Liner
- Wild Cat - Roller Coaster - Closed 1967
- Skylift - went over adjacent highway and returned to park
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