Luna Park, Pittsburgh
| Company type | Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Frederick Ingersoll |
| Defunct | 1909 |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Products | Amusement rides and attractions |
Luna Park was an amusement park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that operated between 1905 and 1909. Developed and owned by Frederick Ingersoll, the park spanned a 16-acre[1] hilly tract bordered by Atlantic Avenue (currently Baum Boulevard) and Craig Street,[2] offering a variety of rides and attractions.
History
Pittsburgh’s Luna Park was Ingersoll’s inaugural park among the 44 he established, constructed with an investment of $375,000. It was notable for being the first amusement park extensively illuminated by electricity, boasting 67,000 light bulbs.[3]
Alongside its counterpart in Cleveland, it initiated the world’s earliest amusement park chain. By 1929, two years following Ingersoll’s passing, there were 44 Luna Parks worldwide, with some still operational today in locations such as Mexico City, Athens, and Melbourne.[4]
The park’s lineup of attractions included roller coasters, picnic shelters, a carousel, a fun house, a Ferris wheel, roller skating rink, shoot-the-chutes ride, bumper cars, a concert shell, dance hall, and even a baby incubator exhibit. Entertainment offerings featured performances by bands, acrobats, animal acts, equestrian displays, and aerial artists.[3]
On August 28, 1907, an incident occurred when two lions escaped near the Mystic River ride, resulting in the death of a 65-year-old woman. Following the event, police fatally shot one lion and detained a park employee.[5]
Financial difficulties stemming from upkeep and improvements led Ingersoll to declare bankruptcy in 1908.[3] Consequently, several parks were sold off; Pittsburgh’s Luna Park ceased operations in 1909 due to competition from the nearby trolley park Kennywood Park and repercussions from the lion attack.
In 1995, Kennywood expanded its property by creating Lost Kennywood, which drew inspiration from Luna Park. This section included a shoot-the-chutes ride along with a scaled-down one-third replica of Luna Park’s original entrance serving as the gateway.[6][3]
Beyond this homage at Kennywood, no physical artifacts or commemorative markers remain to recognize Pittsburgh’s Luna Park. The former site has since been developed into a mixed-use area comprising residential and commercial properties.
References
- ↑ Kinnear v. Scenic Railways Company of America appellate court decision dated January 4, 1909, published in The Atlantic Reporter (Annotated), volume 72 (West Publishing Company 1909)
- ↑ Atlas of Greater Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins Co. 1910. Plate 8, Plate 9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Jim Futrell, Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania (Flagpole Books, 2002) ISBN 0-8117-2671-1
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpost-gazette.com - ↑ "Two Lions Made Escape; Woman Victim is Dead". Pittsburgh Daily Post. 29 August 1907. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ↑ History of Kennywood Park Archived 2010-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
- Event venues inaugurated in 1905
- Structures and buildings in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Establishments founded in Pennsylvania in 1905
- Disestablishments in Pennsylvania in 1909
- Amusement parks launched in 1905
- Amusement parks that ceased operations in 1909
- Former amusement parks in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh historical sites
- Amusement parks closed in 1909