Rose Island (amusement park)
| Company type | Defunct amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement park |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Defunct | 1937 |
| Headquarters | Charlestown , United States |
Area served | Charlestown, Indiana and Louisville metropolitan area |
| Products | Amusement park attractions, hotel, swimming pool, animal exhibits |
Rose Island is a defunct amusement park situated near Charlestown, Indiana, positioned on a peninsula known as the "Devil's Backbone," created by the confluence of Fourteen Mile Creek and the Ohio River. Initially named Fern Grove during the 1880s, the site functioned mainly as a church camp, deriving its name from the plentiful fern growth in the area. The Louisville and Jeffersonville Ferry Company later acquired the property, developing it to increase ferry patronage, capitalizing on church picnics and family recreational visits.
Although the Great Depression affected its operations, the park ultimately ceased functioning due to the 1937 Flood, which inundated it with approximately ten feet of water. This extensive flooding caused damage that prevented reopening for that year's season. While most structures were lost over time, some brick foundations and a swimming pool—still present as recently as 1980—remained, despite fallen trees having destroyed much of the suspension bridge.
Heyday
In 1923, David Rose acquired the land and invested $250,000 to establish an amusement park, hotel, and swimming pool, rebranding the location as Rose Island. Key attractions included a wooden roller coaster named after the Devil's Backbone rock formation and a Ferris wheel. The park also housed animal exhibits featuring wolves, monkeys, and a black bear called Teddy Roosevelt, alongside a combined dance hall and roller skating rink. The entire park spanned .
Visitors accessed Rose Island via steamboat or a pedestrian footbridge. Steamboats such as Idlewild (which was later renamed Belle of Louisville), Steamer America, City of Cincinnati, and Columbia transported guests. The journey from Louisville by steamboat lasted between 90 and 120 minutes at speeds ranging from 7 to 8 mph. Additionally, speedboats like the Vivianne III provided quicker transit options primarily for business travelers. A ticket from Madison on a steamboat cost fifty cents. The footbridge was a wooden swinging structure positioned about above Fourteen Mile Creek, known for its noticeable sway.
Today
Following its closure, Rose Island became incorporated into the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. After the plant was decommissioned, ownership of the land transferred to Charlestown State Park. Although initially unreachable by land, remnants of the concrete footbridge pilings remain visible from trails within the park. Indiana authorities have since constructed a new bridge connecting Rose Island to state park visitors via Trail 3. Access to the island is also possible by boat.
In September 2011, the historic Portersville Bridge was moved and rebuilt to provide a direct connection to Rose Island for the first time.
See also
- Fontaine Ferry Park
- History of Louisville, Kentucky
- List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area