Digging further, I found listings and photos for a total of nine defunct amusement parks across the state. I'm sure there are plenty of others. If you have information or photos, send to kkazek@al.com.
9 defunct Alabama amusement parks
Canyon Land, Fort Payne
Canyon Land Park near Fort Payne opened in 1970 with amusement park rides and a chairlift that guests could take into Little River Canyon. At the bottom, guests could swim and picnic. It closed about seven years later.
East Lake Park, Birmingham
East Lake Park, a private recreation area, opened in 1886 off First Avenue North featuring a lake, hotel, dance pavilion, boat docks, a Ferris wheel and shooting gallery and theater, according to BhamWiki.com.
The city of Birmingham bought the property in 1917 and added a "caterpillar mini bumper cars, seaplane, 'The Whip,' the 'Rolling Mill' and the 'Old Mill' along with a riding academy, pleasure boats, playground, barbecue stand and other food and drink vendors," BhamWiki.com wrote. The park was refurbished in 1923 with $40,000 in new attractions, including what was then the longest roller coaster in the South, and again in the 1970s. Today, the park offers the lake and swimming pool but no amusement bumper cars for sale cheap.
Kiddie rides, Gulf Shores
For years, families vacationing at Gulf Shores would bring their children to a kiddie amusement park on the beach road. But in September 2004, the surge from Hurricane Ivan destroyed many businesses along the beach road, and left the vintage rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, scrambler and plane ride in twisted heaps. The park did not re-open.
Idle Hour Amusement Park, Phenix City
Idle Hour Park, which included a zoo and amusement rides and games, was open from 1938 to the early 1960s. It was a popular recreation spot for soldiers at fort Benning. Not much evidence of the park remains and now the site of Idle Hour Park and Moon Lake constitute one of popular bird-watching locations in Phenix City.
Kiddieland Park, state fairgrounds, Birmingham
The old Alabama State Fairgrounds in Birmingham once included Birmingham International Raceway as well as the popular Kiddieland Amusement Park. A state fair was held on the grounds annually until the facilities began to decline, according to BhamWiki.com.
The fair authority was dissolved in about 2001. Kiddie Land amusement park is gone and several fair buildings and the grand stand at the race track were demolished as part of a plan to refurbish Fair Park.Check out this post.
Pickett Springs, Montgomery
Pickett Springs was built by Western Railroad of Alabama in the 1880s on Wetumpka Road as a place for people to escape the city to relax. In an article in September 1886, The Montgomery Advertiser called Pickett Springs the "best public resort."
It included a dance pavilion, bowling alley, shooting gallery, carousel, swings and a roller coaster. In her book "Slow Travels: Alabama," Lyn Wilkerson wrote: "During summers of early 20th century, Salvation Army conducted fresh-air camps for indigent people. By World War I, Pickett Springs had lost much of its aura as automobiles and movies offered their diversions."
Sertoma Playland, Huntsville
The Sertoma Club of Huntsville placed amusement park rides in Big Spring Park in the 1960s before moving the rides to Brahan Spring Park. It was called Sertoma Playland. Until the park's closure in 1998, thousands of local children rode the train, rollercoaster, Ferris wheel and other kiddie rides. Eight of the 18 rides were sold to Southern Adventures in south Huntsville.
Washington Park, Montgomery
During segregation, Washington Park opened to provide amusement for black residents. It was open at the turn of the 20th century and photos show it was open in 1926 but little is known about the types of attractions at the park.
Join al.com reporter Kelly Kazek on her weekly journey through Alabama to record the region's quirky history, strange roadside attractions and tales of colorful characters. Find her on Facebook or follow her Odd Travels and Real Alabama boards on Pinterest.
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