Remembering Missouri's Best Amusement Parks That No Longer Exist

By Riverfront Times on Fri, Jul 21, 2023 at 3:23 pm

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun — and now we miss those days.

Take a look back at all of the summer fun provided by Missouri amusement parks that are now sadly lost to history. They had roller coasters, they had dancing pavilions, they had theatre, they had ... "girl" shows? Oh, my.

These vintage spots sure knew how to entertain.

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COURTESY OF MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES

Forest Park Highlands
St. Louis, MO
(1896 – 1963)
Among the highlights at Forest Park Highlands in its heyday: The Comet roller coaster, photographed approximately 1955.

photo courtesy of the State Historical Society of Missouri

Forest Park Highlands
St. Louis, MO
(1896 – 1963)
Located where St. Louis Community College now stands, Forest Park Highlands provided decades of fun for adventurous St. Louisans before it was lost to an uncontrollable fire July 19, 1963.

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COURTESY OF MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES

Montesano Springs Park
Kimmswick, MO
(Closed in 1918)
Built near famed mineral springs, this park boasted a hotel and restaurant, a dance pavilion, a lake, a merry-go-round, and more. According to the state archives, "Kids line up for donkey rides at Montesano Park, an early theme park in Missouri. The Switchback gravity-powered roller coaster is visible in the background."

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COURTESY OF MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES

Montesano Springs Park
Kimmswick, MO
(Closed in 1918)
Montesano Park boasted an open-air parlor with a wood floor and roof. According to the state archives, "Ice cream is 15 cents and ice cream cones are 10 cents. Montesano Park was an early theme park in Missouri."

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Springfield News Leader / Newspapers.com

Branson USA
Branson, MO
(1999 – 2001)
Built by wealthy businessman Bob Wehr, Branson USA was a massive undertaking that failed after just a few years, but the site later became the Celebration City amusement park.

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St. Louis Globe-Democrat / newspapers.com

Delmar Garden
St. Louis, MO
(1908 - 1919)
It was billed as one of St. Louis’ first “out-of-door” amusement areas, and — according to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in 1915 — the Delmar Boulevard site “marked the first move of amusements from downtown to the suburbs.”

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COURTESY MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Sauter's Amusement Park, later the Down's Amusement Park
St. Louis, MO
(1925 – 1953)
If you squint, you can see Sauter's Amusement Park across the River Des Peres. This photo was taken in 1931 when owner Gus Sauter tried to spruce the park up with additional rides such as a roller caster named The Flash, and a Herschell Company carousel.

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Kansas City Star / Newspapers.com

Forest Park
Kansas City, MO
(1903 – 1912)
Forest Park wasn’t just a big deal in St. Louis, for a while they had lots of entertainment at Forest Park in Kansas City, too. Claiming to offer an “abundance of pleasure for the masses,” the park had daily shows and performers like “The Flying Dunbars - Wonders of the Air.”

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By Branson03 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Celebration City
Branson, MO
(2003 – 2008)
Celebration City took over the former Branson USA space and was described by the Springfield News-Leader as a “45-acre movie set that perfectly re-creates another time and place.” The Victorian-style setting impressed visitors who enjoyed entertainment like roller coasters, go carts, mini golf and boardwalk games.

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch / Newspapers.com

Holiday Hill
St. Louis, MO
(1955 - 1975)
Holiday Hill, located off Natural Bridge Road, was open for 20 years and made generations of kids feel like they could fly.

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St. Joseph News-Press, Newspapers.com

Lake Contrary Amusement Park
St. Joseph, MO
(1890 – 1960)
A flood tried to take out this fun park in St. Joseph, but she survived. She lived longer than most people at the time, too: From 1890 all the way through 1960. Good for her.

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Mississippi Blätter / Newspapers.com

Mannion's Park
St. Louis, MO
(1899 - 1947)
The Eclipse Garden in Mannion’s Park was the place to see vaudeville back in the day. There were all manner of singing and dancing musical acts there, in fact, and they drew a crowd for almost 50 years.

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St. Louis Star and Times / Newspapers.com

West End Heights
St. Louis, MO
(1904 - 1912)
Described as “that cozy little garden at the end of the Market Street car line,” West End Heights offered theatrical shows, a “scenic railway,” live music and a dancing pavilion.

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The Springfield News-Leader, Newspapers.com

White City Amusement Park
Springfield, MO
(1907 - 1912)
The Moose Lodge was always poppin’ at White City Amusement Park in Springfield, where revelers would enjoy Wild West shows, a roulette wheel and a “girl” show. My, my.

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Belleville Daily Advocate

Priester’s Park
St Louis, MO
(unknown: around 1907)
Described as a “pleasure resort,” Priester’s Park was originally under country club control, but opened to the public in 1907 so everyone could enjoy horse racing, baseball, music and dancing.

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Westlake Amusement Park
St. Louis, MO
(1924 - 1955)
Hosting all types of events like Speed Derby and Walkathons, Westlake Park was a St. Louis gathering place for 30 years.

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COURTESY MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM

Chain of Rocks Amusement Park

St. Louis, MO
(1927 – 1978)
The Chain of Rocks Amusement Park was along the former Route 66 at the western entrance of Chain of Rocks Bridge. It featured classic amusement rides including a haunted house, a Whip, a Tilt-O-Whirl, and a Sky-Lift, which offered a wonderful view of the mighty Mississippi.

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Chain of Rocks Amusement Park

St. Louis, MO
(1927 – 1978)
Ask your elders if they remember the park's famous Ferris wheel, “The Swooper.”

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Wikipedia/YAXY2011

Electric Park
Kansas City, MO
(1899–1906, 1907–1925)
A place to catch a band or visit an exposition, Electric Park was definitely the hot spot if you were looking for events like a Corn Carnival.

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