Luna Park, Berlin
| Company type | Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Defunct | 1933 |
| Headquarters | Berlin , Germany |
Area served | Europe |
| Products | Amusement rides, entertainment shows, dining |
Luna Park, situated in Berlin's Halensee district in Germany, was in operation from 1909 until 1933 and held the distinction of being the largest amusement park in Europe during that period. The park ceased operations throughout World War I but resumed activity following the Armistice, ultimately closing its doors for good in October 1933.
Beginnings
At the turn of the 20th century, entrepreneur Saeger managed the Wirtshaus am Halensee, a guesthouse located near the well-frequented outdoor swimming area on the eastern shore of Halensee Lake. At that time, Kurfürstendamm was merely a wooded trail where families enjoyed carriage rides from Grunewald station, now known as Halensee. The premises of the inn featured a fairground equipped with a carousel, dice-shooting games, vendor stalls, and a water slide that utilized a pontoon-like barge descending into the lake.
Establishment and Peak
On 14 May 1909, culinary expert August Aschinger alongside former Kempinski chef Bernd Hoffmann inaugurated the terraces at Halensee, rebranding the site as Luna Park within that year. The park boasted a contemporary fairy-tale palace design, characterized by imposing towers and an expansive staircase leading down to the lake.
Among its attractions were classic amusement rides such as a water slide terminating in the lake, including a distinctive water chute famously called the "tart aquarium," which displayed women dressed in fashionable swimwear to an audience of seated gentlemen. Additional highlights included a loose staircase known as the "Shimmy-Treppe," where fans lifted ladies' skirts, a mountain train ride, and a hippodrome. Drawing inspiration from Coney Island, Luna Park combined excitement, adventure, and cutting-edge technological displays.
The venue also featured ethnographic human exhibitions ("Völkerschauen"), one of Germany’s earliest escalators, nightly fireworks shows, theatrical performances, revues, jazz music, cabaret acts, dance contests, and boxing events—most notably where Max Schmeling earned his inaugural title in 1926. Dining facilities catered to up to 16,000 visitors simultaneously and included a Bavarian-style village with flowing beer taps alongside the elegant Luna Palace. In its early years, daily attendance reached as high as 50,000 people and peaked further on weekends; by 1910, Luna Park had welcomed its millionth guest.
Downturn
The outbreak of World War I followed by the severe hyperinflation during Germany’s Weimar era caused a decline in patronage and led to deterioration of park facilities. After undergoing extensive refurbishment, Luna Park reopened on May 9, 1929. Despite this revival proving somewhat successful, it never fully restored its previous level of fame.
Final Closure
In October 1933, Luna Park was permanently shut down and subsequently demolished in 1934. During this period, puppeteer Alfredo Bannenberg briefly sought refuge within the defunct grounds while escaping Nazi persecution.
The Nazi regime considered the amusement park an eyesore and cleared its site to build Halenseestraße—a major thoroughfare inaugurated for the 1936 Summer Olympics designed to connect key venues including the Olympic Stadium, Deutschlandhalle, Berliner Funkturm, and southern competition locations.
References
- Notes
- Claudia Puttkammer and Sacha Szabo: Gruß aus dem Luna-Park. Eine Archäologie des Vergnügens. Freizeit- und Vergnügungsparks Anfang des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts. WVB, Berlin, 2007, .
External links
- Spiegel einestages Article and photos of Luna Park from Spiegel Online
- khd-Research Lunapark Personal website with additional information and pictures