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Jantzen Beach Amusement Park was heralded as Portland’s Million Dollar Playground. When it opened on May 26, 1928, Jantzen Beach was the largest amusement park in the nation. The park sprawled over 123 acres at Hayden Island at the northern tip of Portland.

Ad for Opening Day on May 26, 1928.

Aerial view of Jantzen Beach in the early 1940s.

There was the huge Big Dipper Roller Coaster, the thrill rides, the Midway games and the midget auto racing. There was the Golden-Canopied Ballroom, which attracted big name bands, and people from all over the world came to compete in the dance competitions, which were complete with orchestras.

View of the swimming pools looking northwest. Behind the swimming pool, you can see the Bathhouse, the Skooters, the Midway, the Golden-Canopied Dance Pavilion and the Ferris Wheel.

Lasting for over four decades, the Dipper was the source of many happy memories for millions of Amusement Park enthusiasts.

The Fun House was a popular attraction where you could see the laughing lady and the hall of mirrors. There were air jets in the floor with animated ghosts and goblins. There was also a swinging bridge and a turntable.

Park Employee Jerry Campbell escorts the Hoke Twins, Janet and Jean, on a day of fun at Jantzen Beach on July 30, 1950.

The exit from the Fun House was made of a giant slide that featured a magic carpet that went out from underneath you, sending you over some rollers and out the door.

This view shows the West Prom with the Old Dutch Mill and the Fun House, which were lost to a fire on March 29, 1960.

The Elbow Room Restaurant opened at Jantzen Beach on May 7, 1937.

From the magazine “Goin Places” from August 1944.

Jantzen Beach survived the Vanport flood in 1948, but the people who survived moved away. The loss of people in the immediate vicinity led to the loss of patrons to the park and attendance never did reach pre-flood levels.

To help with increasing traffic flows going north and south on the Interstate Bridge, the Highway Division built a matching span to separate the northbound traffic from the southbound traffic in 1958. For about 25 years, tolls were collected to pay for construction costs.

After years of dwindling revenues, the park closed on Labor Day in 1970 and the rides were sold and dismantled. The wood from The Dipper was salvaged and was first used following the dismantling of The Dipper to build a small warehouse on SE 22nd and Division where Mr. T's Bakery is located and there are now new condos. A developer tore down the warehouse and sent the wood to the Rebuilding Center where Ken Forkish acquired it about 4 years ago for building booths, tables and chairs for Ken's Artisan Pizza at 304 SE 28th Avenue near Pine Street.

Buildings at Jantzen Beach were razed to build a shopping center. The Pumping System from the swimming pools is used to pump drinking water to residents of Hayden Island. The C.W. Parker Carousel survives today at the Jantzen Beach Shopping Center. Legend has it that there are a couple ghost children in the center of the carousel.

“Have you seen the children? It is a boy and a girl. They play in the center of the merry-go-round.... inside, behind the door. They seem happy and full of spirit but every so often they turn and gaze, as if looking for their mother. Have you seen them?”

This quote comes from a web site about ghosts in Portland. I was at Jantzen Beach recently and noticed that the small door was open. There were teenagers standing up in there. I think they were employees. But it was kind of strange to see people standing up under the Carousel. I had been there several times before and the door was never open. It didn’t really look as if it would open. Next time you’re there take a look for yourself.

Last updated 07-29-10

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