Fort George Amusement Park
| Company type | Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1894 |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City , United States |
Area served | Washington Heights and Inwood, Upper Manhattan, New York City |
| Products | Amusement rides, entertainment venues, social venues |
Fort George Amusement Park functioned as both a trolley park and amusement park during the late 1800s and early 1900s, situated in the Washington Heights and Inwood areas of Upper Manhattan, New York City. Its grounds extended between 190th and 192nd Streets, just east of Amsterdam Avenue, within what is now part of Highbridge Park.
History
The park was named after Fort George, notable for General George Washington’s military engagements in the American Revolutionary War. It emerged around 1894 as a trolley park at the terminus of the Third Avenue trolley line (currently served by the M101 bus). Quickly earning the moniker "Harlem's Coney Island" in reference to Brooklyn’s famed amusement district, the area originally comprised a collection of attractions largely managed by German operators who had relocated from Jones's Wood park on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Among its features were John F. Schultheis’s hotel and casino established in 1899, alongside the adjacent Harlem River Speedway, now designated as a state parkway.
In 1905, Russian immigrant entrepreneurs Joseph and Nicholas Schenck launched the Old Barrel beer hall at Fort George. Their ambition to broaden entertainment options led them to collaborate with theater impresario Marcus Loew. By 1906, the venue was rebranded as Paradise Park, incorporating a vaudeville stage and various amusement rides, with admission priced at ten cents. Although access was somewhat restricted by a flight of 56 steps, Paradise Park drew crowds through novel attractions such as a 30-foot slide, a Ferris wheel featuring sixteen buckets, and improved illumination. Plans to introduce a "Vanity Fair" ride—conceived by Elmer "Skip" Dundy and Frederic Thompson of Luna Park fame—were abandoned following Dundy’s death in 1907.
While initially stimulating economic activity in the neighborhood, Paradise Park soon encountered opposition due to concerns about crime and noise disturbances. In response, New York City Police Commissioner William McAdoo implemented foot patrols and mandated an 8 p.m. closing time starting September 1908; nonetheless, grievances from residents persisted. By 1910, local advocates led by Reginald Pelham Bolton campaigned for the park’s shutdown. That same year marked the Schencks’ sale of Fort George Amusement Park as they redirected investments toward Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey. Concurrently, real estate developers began expressing interest in redeveloping the site.
After suffering damage from arson in 1911, Paradise Park was reconstructed; notably, its skating rink was repurposed by the Queen Aeroplane Company for airplane assembly. However, a devastating fire in 1913 destroyed much of the complex, sparing only the Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel Number 15 with minimal harm. Despite Joseph Schenck’s assurances to restore the park, growing opposition coupled with lease expirations in 1914 resulted in the dismantling of most attractions, though some concessions remained operational for a time. Eventually, in 1928, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation incorporated the land into Highbridge Park. The remaining area was developed into George Washington High School. Today, no physical remnants of the amusement park exist on site; however, Carousel No. 15 was relocated to Palisades Center mall located in West Nyack, New York.
Attractions
During its heyday, Fort George Amusement Park boasted an array of attractions, including three carousels, a pair of Ferris wheels, a boat ride, a toboggan coaster, and three additional roller coasters. Among these rides were two coasters—the Rough Rider and the Tickler—crafted by the renowned Coney Island amusement designer William F. Mangels. These features placed the park in the same league as notable trolley parks such as Luna Park and Steeplechase Park at Coney Island.
The park's offerings extended beyond rides to include social venues like a casino intended for gathering rather than gambling, hotels, and a pony racing track. Visitors could enjoy four music halls—the Trocadero, Star, Paradise Park Music Hall, and Curve—along with five saloons and nine shooting galleries. The park also showcased various sideshows reminiscent of those found in Coney Island. For younger guests, Paradise Park provided play areas comparable to contemporary playgrounds. Additional attractions featured the Fort George Scenic Railroad and a seasonal ice-skating rink. Dining options were plentiful, with numerous food concessions including a popcorn and candy stand operated by Mary Gish, mother to actors Dorothy and Lillian Gish, as well as establishments like the Fort Wendel Hotel and Cafe.