Before cars were the primary mode of transportation for Americans, trains, trolleys, and streetcars got people to their destinations, and trolley companies were always looking for ways to get more people to ride. One of the creative ways to get people on the rails was to get them to travel for recreation and bring their whole families to end-of-the-line Amusement Parks. In the late 19th and early 20th century, these amusement parks numbered in the thousands, featuring carousels, concerts and live entertainment, and picnic grounds near beaches or rivers for boating and water recreation. However, when cars started replacing other forms of transportation, most of these parks closed their gates and disappeared. Oaks Park Amusement Park in Portland is one of the few remaining trolley parks in the country, and it is still thriving.
While Oaks Park is now managed by a non-profit organization originally established by the family that once owned Oaks, the park was built by the Portland Traction Co. at the end of the trolley line on the Willamette River. The park was completed and opened just before the 1905 centennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and drew enormous crowds.
Oak Park’s senior manager explains the appeal of the amusement park for the turn of the century crowd as a combination of technological marvel, social display, and escapism: “It was a tough life then. People worked in factories or agriculture. They would come to the park on the weekend. You could show off your dress or hat on the boardwalk. Oaks Park had electric lights and people didn’t have them in their houses — they called it the Great White City because of the lights.”
The park originally featured an ostrich zoo, John Philip Sousa performances, and the largest roller rink on the West Coast complete with a roller-skating elephant. Live performances and sparkling displays lit up the night sky and could be heard for miles around.
Today, the park gets more than 750,000 visitors a year, and has become a local treasure, though many people don’t know it’s railway history. The park is home to thrill rides for adventure seekers, including the 360 degree loop of the Looping Thunder Roller Coaster, international skating competitions in its huge roller rink, and over 800 corporate picnics are held each year. Due to urban sprawl, Oaks Park may no longer be the end of the line, but it’s still a great place to see a bit of Portland’s early history. If you’re interested in a visit to Oaks Park, you’re in luck – it’s one of the cheapest ways to have fun in Portland, as Parking is free and you pay per ride, and local businesses provide discounts on most weekdays.
Oaks Park is located in Sellwood, one of the most popular places to live in Portland. Sellwood is perfect for raising a family or buying your first home – every neighborhood is within walking distance to great shops, dining, and entertainment. Sellwood has some of the best parks and natural areas in Portland, and many homes have excellent views. Contact the McDonald Group for more information about homes for sale in Sellwood, and get ready to find the house of your dreams at the end-of-the-line on your road map to home.
