Lakeside amusement park is a piece of Denver history. This year is Lakeside’s one hundredth year anniversary. Lakeside is a piece of history that just continues. Many people have many memories by attending and riding the rides of Lakeside. On a Friday in July we went to Lakeside for a dinner sponsored by a group my wife and I are members. Lakeside has picnic areas that groups can rent for events. This gave us a chance to reminisce about the many adventures we had at Lakeside and remember things about the Lakeside of the past.
Here are just a few things we remember about Lakeside. The first memory is the fireworks Lakeside had on July 4th. There is a shopping center west of Lakeside and that parking lot would be packed to view the free fireworks. Then somewhere in the late seventy’s or early eighty’s they discontinued the fireworks citing the expense of liability insurance. This was one of the best free displays in the city of Denver.
I remember going swimming in the Lakeside swimming pool in the fifties. I was ten or twelve at that time. The water was freezing cold. I don’t believe the pool was heated at all. I don’t recall when the pool was closed or why. An area in the amusement park I really enjoyed was the fun house. At the entrance was an animated gypsy type woman who would laugh constantly. Inside there was a haunted section. They had funny viewing mirrors. Another section I remember was the rotating barrels. I was never able to get through them without falling. The final event of the summer was “nickel day. All the rides were a nickel and we would spend the entire day there. What a memory!
Ok, enough of memory lane. Now I will cover the present day Lakeside. The place is clean and kept up. However, you know you are in a place with a hundred year history. They have about fifteen of the traditional amusement park rides. Lakeside’s Cyclone Coaster has been ranked as a great classic coaster by ACE (American Coaster enthusiasts). I heard somewhere that this coaster is the last of the wooden structured coasters in the nation. This coaster has the vintage look of yesteryear.
The new Zoom ride offers an incredible drop from the 140 foot tower. I heard many screams that night we were there. The Chipmunk is a steel coaster with many thrills for the thrill seeker. Two steam trains from the 1904 St Louis World’s fair still travel around the lake. The original merry go round still gives joy to the young kids. There is also a kiddie’s playland that satisfies the adventures of the young ones.
Lakeside even if it is old does have a website (link). Their website gives a wealth of information. Unlimited rides and gate admission is $13.75 Monday through Friday and $19.75 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. We did not buy any food that night, so I will not comment on the food. It appeared that they had the traditional amusement park types of food. Finally, the night was enjoyable and worth the time to walk down memory lane in a place that has provided so many memories to so many people.
