Springlake Amusement Park
Encyclopedia
Springlake Amusement Park was an amusement park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
. It was originally established in 1922 (some sources say 1924) by Roy Staton about six years after his spring-fed pond at NE 40th and Eastern (now Martin Luther King Blvd) had been open to swimmers and picnicers. Staton expanded the park with the addition of many rides acquired from the defunct Bell Isle Park and construction of a ballroom. In 1929 he added the Big Dipper roller coaster, which would be a fixture in the park for the next fifty years. Admission was free and the rides and pool were pay-as-you-go, so visitors could picnic by the lake at no cost. The park was popular throughout the 1950s and 1960s and it attracted many of the top entertainers of the era, including Johnny Cash
, The Righteous Brothers
, Roy Acuff
and Conway Twitty
. A race riot in 1971, change in ownership, poor maintenance and a devastating fire led to the park's demise. The property was purchased in 1981 by the Oklahoma City Vo-Tech Board and Metro Technology Center
was constructed on the site. Of the original park structures only the amphitheater remains; a car from the Big Dipper and many photos of the park are on display at Metro Tech.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
. It was originally established in 1922 (some sources say 1924) by Roy Staton about six years after his spring-fed pond at NE 40th and Eastern (now Martin Luther King Blvd) had been open to swimmers and picnicers. Staton expanded the park with the addition of many rides acquired from the defunct Bell Isle Park and construction of a ballroom. In 1929 he added the Big Dipper roller coaster, which would be a fixture in the park for the next fifty years. Admission was free and the rides and pool were pay-as-you-go, so visitors could picnic by the lake at no cost. The park was popular throughout the 1950s and 1960s and it attracted many of the top entertainers of the era, including Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers were the musical duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975, and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003...
, Roy Acuff
Roy Acuff
Roy Claxton Acuff was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the King of Country Music, Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful.Acuff...
and Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
. A race riot in 1971, change in ownership, poor maintenance and a devastating fire led to the park's demise. The property was purchased in 1981 by the Oklahoma City Vo-Tech Board and Metro Technology Center
Metro Technology Center
Metro Technology Center is a public career and technology education center located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system.-Springlake Amusement Park:...
was constructed on the site. Of the original park structures only the amphitheater remains; a car from the Big Dipper and many photos of the park are on display at Metro Tech.