Riverview Park
Encyclopedia
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Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in Chicago, Illinois which operated from 1904 to 1967. It was located on 74 acres (0.3 km²) in an area bound on the south and east by Belmont
Belmont Avenue (Chicago)
Belmont Avenue is a major east-west street on the North Side of Chicago. Belmont is a central commercial street in Lakeview and, west of the North Branch of the Chicago River, Avondale...
and Western
Western Avenue (Chicago)
Western Avenue is the longest continuous street within the city of Chicago at in length. Western Avenue extends south as a continuous road to the Dixie Highway at Sibley Boulevard in Dixmoor, giving the road a total length of . However, Western Avenue extends intermittently through the...
Avenues respectively, on the north by Lane Tech High School, and on the west by the north branch of the Chicago River
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of the same name, including its center . Though not especially long, the river is notable for being the reason why Chicago became an important location, as the link between the Great Lakes and...
. It was in the North Center
North Center, Chicago
North Center is one of the 77 community area of the Chicago, Illinois, located in the city's North Side. North Center is bordered on the north by Montrose Avenue, on the south by Diversey Parkway, on the west by the Chicago River and on the east by Ravenswood Avenue; it includes the neighborhoods...
community area
Community areas of Chicago
Community areas in Chicago refers to the work of the Social Science Research Committee at University of Chicago which has unofficially divided the City of Chicago into 77 community areas. These areas are well-defined and static...
and neighborhood on Chicago's north side.
Riverview was most known for The Bobs
The Bobs (roller coaster)
The Bobs at Riverview Park in Chicago, Illinois is considered by some roller coaster enthusiasts to have been the ultimate wooden roller coaster. It was built in 1924 and was demolished with the rest of the park in 1967. The Bobs was built by Frank Prior and Fredrick Church at a cost of $80,000...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
. Other popular coasters were The Comet, The Silver Flash, and the Jetstream
Jetstream (roller coaster)
The Jetstream was the last roller coaster to be built at Chicago's Riverview Park. It was built in 1965 and met its unfortunate end in 1968 when the park was demolished. The Jetstream, which was built to replace the park's aging Greyhound roller coaster, was not yet paid off when demolished. The...
. Aladdin's Castle was a classic fun house with a collapsing stairway, mazes and turning barrel. Shoot the Chutes, Hades, the Rotor, Tilt-a-Whirl, Wild Mouse and Tunnel of Love were just a few of the many classic rides. "The Pair-O-Chutes at Riverview Park'll shake us up all day" is a line from the Beach Boys' song "Amusement Parks U.S.A." from their 1965 album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
- Singles :* "Help Me, Rhonda" b/w "Kiss Me Baby" , 5 April 1965 US #1; UK #27* "California Girls" b/w "Let Him Run Wild" , 12 July 1965 US #3; UK #26- References :...
.
The former grounds are now home to Riverview Plaza shopping center, the Belmont District Police Station, DeVry University
DeVry University
DeVry University and DeVry Institute of Technology are divisions of DeVry Inc , a proprietary, for-profit higher education organization that is also the parent organization for Keller Graduate School of Management, Ross University, American University of the Caribbean, Apollo College, Western...
, a manufacturing company and Richard Clark Park, part of the Chicago Park District. The south end of Clark Park has a wooded area where many of the Riverview Park foundations are still visible and is currently used as a bicycle dirt jump
Dirt Jumping
Dirt jumping is one of the names given to the practice of riding bikes over cement type jumps of dirt or soil and becoming airborne. The idea is that after riding over the 'take off' the rider will become momentarily airborne, and aim to land on the 'landing'.Dirt jumping can be done on almost...
and pump track park maintained by the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers. A sculpture entitled Riverview by local artist Jerry Peart stands in front of the police station.
"Big Bill" Haywood
Bill Haywood
William Dudley Haywood , better known as "Big Bill" Haywood, was a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World , and a member of the Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of America...
, the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
leader, once spoke here to a crowd of almost 80,000 people.
As with any memorabilia, items from the park are now quite valuable. Many items from the old park, as well as many paintings portraying Riverview in its glory days, are on display at its namesake, Riverview Tavern, on the corner of West Roscoe Street and Damen Avenue.
The Riverview Carousel continues to operate at Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas....
. It and the Rotor were the only rides to be saved. The Rotor
Cajun Cliffhanger
The Cajun Cliffhanger was a rotor-type amusement ride at Six Flags Great America. It began as "The Rotor" at Chicago's famous Riverview Park and was one of the earliest Chance Industries Rotors produced. Following Riverview's sudden closure, the ride was purchased by Six Flags, but mysteriously...
was scrapped in 2000 after an accident at its newer home.