This book presents the rich history of the old amusement parks and beach resorts frequented by Baltimoreans beginning in the 1870s and stretching into the late 20th century. Readers may recognize such popular amusement parks as Gwynn Oak, Carlin’s, and Tolchester Beach, and will learn about some of the more obscure places like Frederick Road Park and Hollywood Park. Each of the major parks is documented here, complete with a detailed history of the sites they were built on, the creative owners behind the parks’ inceptions, the individuals and companies who provided the rides and attractions, and, the people that happily traveled by boat, streetcar, train and automobile to reach their favorite park or resort.

John P. Coleman is a senior software engineer living in the Omaha, Nebraska, area. He is a member of the National Amusement Park Historical Association.

John P. Coleman

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 252
Bibliographic Info: 154 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7814-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1648-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1. Bay Ridge 7
2. Bay Shore Park 14
3. Betterton Beach 37
4. Carlin’s Amusement Park 47
5. Carr’s Beach 75
6. Chesapeake Beach/Seaside Park 79
7. Electric Park 100
8. Enchanted Forest 114
9. Frederick Road Park 124
10. Gwynn Oak Amusement Park 132
11. Hollywood Park 158
12. Luna Park/Paragon Park 166
13. River View Amusement Park 170
14. Tolchester Beach 184
Chapter Notes 205
Bibliography 215
Index 231

• “An in-depth, well-researched and annotated book…recommend…fun and informative”—Merry-Go-Roundup
• “Beautifully illustrated…a detailed history”—Park World