Wonderland Amusement Park (Massachusetts)
| Company type | Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Defunct | 1910 |
| Headquarters | Revere, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Revere Beach area |
The Wonderland Amusement Park was in operation between 1906 and 1910 in Revere, Massachusetts. It showcased cutting-edge rides, attractions, and entertainers, many of which were refreshed each year. The park was accessible via the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad, commonly called the "Narrow Gauge." Presently, the station there is known as Wonderland station and functions as the northern endpoint of the MBTA Blue Line. This station is also referenced in the 1998 movie Next Stop Wonderland.
Bankruptcy
Following the economic crisis during the Panic of 1907, Wonderland filed for bankruptcy after the 1908 season concluded. Although it reopened for the subsequent season, it operated with significant cutbacks, shutting down numerous attractions. The park remained open until late 1910 before closing permanently.
A quarter-century later, the Wonderland Greyhound Park was established across Route 1A but ceased operations in 2009 due to the Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act. Nowadays, the majority of the original Wonderland location is occupied by Wonderland Marketplace Mall along with its parking facilities. The mall's structures correspond closely to many original park buildings, likely because builders drove approximately 60,000 spruce pilings into the marshy terrain to form a stable foundation—these pilings now support the mall complex.
Permanent
- Shoot the Chutes – A water-based ride where a boat slid down a greased ramp into a splash pool. Acquired from the 1904 St. Louis Exposition, it was then recognized as the largest of its kind worldwide.
- Love's Journey – A pioneering "Tunnel of Love" attraction with a patent pending; Wonderland was its first venue.
- Descent into the Hell Gate – A water ride featuring boats spiraling down to an underground cavern setting, culminating in a dramatic scene before Satan’s throne; it was second only to Coney Island’s Luna Park in offering this experience.
- Circle Swing – A rotating tower with six arms suspending "boats" that swung outward through centrifugal force.
- Whirl the Whirl – A vertical rotating shaft with arms carrying cars that climbed in a spiral path; it was only the second installation of this type after Coney Island.
- Infant Incubators – Exhibits highlighting premature infant care presented most seasons by Dr. Martin A. Couney, who helped popularize incubator use nationwide.
- The LaMarcus A. Thompson Scenic Railway – The inaugural scenic railway at Revere Beach featuring gentle rises and falls with dioramas depicting scenes from around the world such as Venice and Mount Vesuvius.
- Restaurant and Ballroom
- Velvet Coaster – A classic roller coaster added beside Shoot the Chutes in 1907 and remained until the park’s closure.
Short duration
Numerous attractions were operational for one to three years, often with their buildings repurposed:
- The Beautiful Orient
- The Flying Horses Carousel
- The Fatal Wedding – a magic illusion show
- William H. Kennedy's Wild West Show and Indian Congress
- The South Before the War
- The Japanese Village
- The Foolish House/The Third Degree/The House that Jack Built – a funhouse attraction
- Hale's Tours/The Rocky Mountain Holdup/The World in Motion – an early form of "virtual reality" ride that later became a motion picture theater
- Willard's Temple of Music
- The Pilgrim's Progress – another funhouse
- Under the Sea – a large glass-walled aquarium featuring swimmers, divers, a "human fish," and an escape artist
- Fire and Flames/Fighting the Flames – a staged urban fire demonstration showcasing firefighting methods and rescue operations
- Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show
- Paradise – The Show Beautiful – a beauty contest combined with talent performances
- Arcus Ring – circus ring equipped with trapeze acts and high-wire performances
- Band Stand
- Wild Animal Shows
- The Human Laundry
- Battle Abbey – historical Civil War paintings narrated by a veteran
- A Balloon Ride
- Skating Rink
- Miniature Railroad
- Palmists and Astrologers
- Florida Alligator Jungle
- Darktown'