In the early 20th century, America’s love affair with the amusement park was at its peak – by 1919, there were between 1,500 and 2,000 amusement parks operating across the United States . Pittsburgh was no exception. In fact, Pennsylvania was once home to nearly 150 amusement parks that eventually closed , and the Pittsburgh region alone saw around two dozen parks open between the 1890s and 1950s . These weren’t just fun fairs; they were a vital part of the Steel City’s cultural fabric, offering steel mill workers and their families a joyful escape from the grit and grind of industrial life. From the trolley parks of the trolley-car era to mid-century roadside attractions, Pittsburgh’s amusement parks provided thrills, laughter, and lifelong memories. Today, only a few historic parks like Kennywood (1898) and Idlewild (1878) remain in operation – the rest survive only in photographs, fading landmarks, and the fond recollections of those who visited them. In this article, we explore the general history of Pittsburgh’s lost amusement parks, focusing on notable examples like West View Park, White Swan Park, Luna Park, Dream City, Rainbow Gardens, Eldora Park, and more. Through their opening and closing dates, signature attractions, ownership sagas, and the roles they played in the community, we’ll travel back to a golden age of carousels and roller coasters – and reflect on how these magical places fit into Pittsburgh’s unique industrial identity and national amusement park trends.
The Golden Age of Thrills and Trolley Parks
At the turn of the 20th century, amusement parks were popping up everywhere, often built at the terminus of streetcar lines. In Pittsburgh, trolley companies developed parks as a way to generate evening and weekend traffic on their lines . These venues were known as trolley parks, and they were a different breed from today’s mega-parks. Rather than massive steel roller coasters and high-tech thrill rides, early parks focused on simple pleasures: picnic groves and bandstands, dance halls with live orchestras, gentle boat rides on lakes, and perhaps a wooden Figure Eight coaster or a merry-go-round . They were wholesome places where entire communities would gather for annual picnics and dances. In Pittsburgh, workplaces, churches, and neighborhoods organized large outings by chartering trolleys or even trains to the nearest amusement park . For example, more than 100 community picnics were held at West View Park in its first season alone . The region’s rugged topography of hills and valleys actually helped create demand for these local pleasure grounds – narrow river valleys and the spread-out nature of mill towns made multiple parks viable across Allegheny and surrounding counties . It was said that having so many parks in a single metro area was uncommon and a “testament to the topography and the industrialized nature of the region” .
The golden age of amusement parks roughly spanned from the late 1890s to the late 1920s. In Pittsburgh, an explosion of parks occurred in 1906 alone, when four new amusement parks opened in one year: West View Park, Dreamland (in the city of Pittsburgh), Coney Island (on Neville Island), and Dream City (in Wilkinsburg) . This boom mirrored a national trend – urban and industrial centers all wanted their own “Coney Island”-style park, complete with electric lights and fantastical attractions. Many Pittsburgh parks were developed or run by innovators in the industry. Notably, local ride builder T.M. Harton established West View Park as his company’s showpiece, and Pittsburgh native Frederick Ingersoll launched the first of his famous Luna Parks right in Oakland. As the decades went on, however, economic and social changes took their toll. The Great Depression of the 1930s hit leisure businesses hard, winnowing down the number of parks to just a few survivors (Kennywood, Idlewild, and West View among them) . Later, the rise of the automobile and competition for ever-bigger “thrill rides” meant that many smaller, family-run parks couldn’t keep up . By the 1960s and 1970s, Pittsburgh’s once-grand collection of amusement parks had largely vanished, leaving behind only cherished memories and, in some cases, redeveloped land. Yet the nostalgia for these places remains strong, and their stories continue to be retold as a proud part of Steel City history.
West View Park: The North Hills’ Playground (1906–1977)
West View Park opened on May 23, 1906 in West View Borough, just north of Pittsburgh . It quickly became one of the region’s premier amusement parks and a formidable rival to Kennywood. Founded by the T.M. Harton Company (which had built rides for parks around the country), West View was the company’s first full park of its own . The location – a former picnic grove along Perry Highway (Route 19) – was accessible by trolley, making it an ideal outing for Pittsburgh’s growing suburban population. In its very first season, West View hosted over 100 community picnics, establishing itself as a beloved gathering spot . Over the years it earned a reputation as the North Hills’ favorite playground, where companies and churches held annual summer picnics and families made lasting memories.
West View Park featured classic amusements that were both built and run by the Harton family. Its signature ride was The Dips, a wooden roller coaster that debuted in 1908 and was the first in Pennsylvania with drops over 50 feet . The park later added the Racing Whippet, a pair of racing roller coasters installed in 1927 to cap off a roaring expansion . Other popular attractions included a carousel, a funhouse, a “Mystic Chute” water boat ride, and Kiddieland rides for the little ones . Beyond rides, West View was especially known for its huge ballroom and dancing pavilion. In the 1920s and 30s, when live music and dancing were all the rage, the park’s ballroom (eventually named Danceland) drew crowds each evening for big band performances . Remarkably, even the Rolling Stones played a concert at West View’s Danceland – their first Pittsburgh show took place there in 1964, when the British band was still on the rise . Throughout the 1960s, teens would flock to Danceland for sock hops and to dance to DJs like the legendary “Mad Mike” . West View’s motto could have been “fun for all ages,” as daytime picnickers gave way to nighttime dancers under the park’s lights.
Unfortunately, the same factors that once made West View thrive eventually contributed to its demise. The decline began in the mid-1960s: Pittsburgh’s trolley service to West View ended in 1965, cutting off a convenient transportation option . In 1966 the park’s longtime owner George M. Harton III passed away, leaving operations to his elderly mother and leading to fewer investments in new rides . Kennywood, meanwhile, was installing modern crowd-pleasers like the Log Jammer in 1975 – big attractions that West View couldn’t afford to match . The breaking point came on October 3, 1973, when a devastating fire burned Danceland to the ground . The beloved dance hall was never rebuilt due to financial strains, and its loss was “the beginning of the end” for the park . West View limped through a few more seasons with declining attendance and aging rides, but ultimately the park closed after Labor Day 1977, ending a 71-year run .
When West View Park shut its gates, it truly marked the end of an era for Pittsburgh’s North Hills. The rides were left standing and silent for a few years – a haunting sight for locals – until they were finally demolished around 1980 . The site was soon redeveloped into a shopping center, aptly named West View Park Plaza, ensuring the park’s name lived on in some form . Even today, if you drive along Perry Highway, you can spot a small tribute: the shopping plaza’s sign is topped by a carousel horse, a nod to the magic that once stood there . Longtime residents still reminisce about “riding the Dips” or twirling on the dance floor at Danceland; the park’s memory remains a sentimental touchstone. As one fan put it when the closure news hit, “West View Park was the place we went forever. It was part of history” . Indeed, West View Park’s legacy of laughter, music, and community spirit continues to echo through Pittsburgh’s collective memory.
White Swan Park: Roadside Wonderland (1955–1989)
White Swan Park was a later addition to the Pittsburgh amusement scene, opening in 1955 – decades after the trolley park era – and carving out its own niche in the age of the automobile . Located on the border of Moon and Findlay Townships near Greater Pittsburgh Airport, White Swan was designed as a roadside attraction right off the brand-new Parkway West expressway . Unlike the old parks built for trolley riders, this one targeted car traffic; in the 1950s, families would drive from miles around just for the novelty of cruising the modern highway on a Sunday drive . Spotting the neon White Swan sign became a sure sign for kids that fun was just ahead. The park was founded and operated by the Kleeman/Todd family, who initially envisioned it as a small children’s park but soon expanded it with bigger rides to attract all ages .
Though modest in size (eventually about 15 rides on 10–15 acres ), White Swan Park packed plenty of fun. It was especially known for its two small roller coasters – a Galaxi coaster and a Mad Mouse – which provided big thrills in compact forms . Children loved the mini Ferris wheel and Kiddieland rides, while families enjoyed the carousel and a large winding slide. Over the years the owners added classic midway games, refreshment stands, and picnic pavilions that made the park feel like a quaint fairground tucked in the woods by the highway. White Swan even drew in some famous faces: celebrities traveling to and from the airport would occasionally stop by for a bit of recreation between flights . And of course, it was a popular venue for local school picnics and birthday parties, fostering a tight-knit, friendly atmosphere. As one former employee fondly recalled, “It was like one big family” working at White Swan Park .
White Swan operated for 34 summer seasons, but its fate was ultimately sealed by the very thing that made it possible: the highway. In the late 1980s, plans were made to further expand and re-route the Parkway West (State Route 60) to improve access to the airport. In 1989, PennDOT acquired the White Swan property via eminent domain to make way for the road project . The state reportedly offered to help relocate the park, but the owners declined, and White Swan Park closed for good rather than move elsewhere . Almost overnight, the cheerful oasis by the road was erased – its rides dismantled and sold off, and its grounds bulldozed for the new highway lanes. “Every time I drive past it, I look up and realize I’m driving over White Swan Park,” said Steve McAteer, a former park maintenance man, decades later . Indeed, today if you travel on I-376 toward Pittsburgh International Airport, you are literally crossing the spot where White Swan’s Mad Mouse once clattered and kids once squealed with delight. There is no trace of the park left in the physical landscape, but for those who grew up in Pittsburgh’s western suburbs, White Swan Park remains a treasured memory of simple, homespun fun on warm summer days – a roadside wonderland now lost to time and progress.
Luna Park: Electric Nights in Oakland (1905–1909)
If any lost Pittsburgh park captures the imagination of history buffs, it’s Luna Park, the short-lived but spectacular venture that lit up Oakland in the early 1900s. Opened in 1905, Luna Park was conceived and built by Frederick Ingersoll, a Pittsburgh-based amusement entrepreneur who would go on to establish an entire chain of “Luna” parks around the world . In fact, Pittsburgh’s Luna Park was the first of 44 Luna Parks that Ingersoll built – making it one of the world’s earliest amusement park chains . The park occupied about 16 acres of hilly terrain at the corner of Craig Street and Baum (then called Atlantic Avenue) in North Oakland . What truly set Luna Park apart was its dazzling use of electric lighting. Billed as the “World’s Brightest Playground,” Luna Park was allegedly the first amusement park ever fully illuminated by electric lights at night – some 67,000 light bulbs bedecked its buildings, rides, and pathways, creating a fairyland effect in an era when electric light was still a novelty .
Luna Park offered a mix of attractions that was equal parts thrilling, bizarre, and enchanting – perfectly capturing the spirit of turn-of-the-century amusement parks. It had all the staples: a roller coaster, a grand carousel, a Ferris wheel, a skating rink, boat rides, a shoot-the-chutes water ride, and of course games and refreshment booths . There were also daily live shows featuring acrobats, musicians, and even animal acts . One famous (or infamous) exhibit at Luna Park was its “Infant Incubator” display – essentially a sideshow where premature babies were cared for in incubators on public view, a strange intersection of education and entertainment not uncommon in 1900s parks . The park’s lush gardens and Japanese lagoon added to its charm, and at night the scene was awe-inspiring under the glow of thousands of bulbs. Pittsburghers had never seen anything quite like it.
Yet for all its wonder, Luna Park’s story was tragically brief. Two major blows struck the park. First, on August 28, 1907, a shocking incident occurred: two lions escaped from an animal act and one attacked a 65-year-old woman on the park grounds . The victim sadly died from her injuries, and police shot the lion; the disturbing event cast a pall over Luna Park’s family-friendly image . Not long after, Frederick Ingersoll’s finances fell apart – the cost of building and maintaining his many Luna Parks was unsustainable, and he declared bankruptcy in 1908 . Pittsburgh’s Luna Park struggled in the wake of these setbacks, compounded by growing competition from Kennywood (just a trolley ride away) which was drawing crowds to its own expanding midway . By 1909, a mere four years after opening, Luna Park closed its gates for good . The electric bulbs went dark, and the enchanted gardens were soon carved up for other development. The site at Craig and Baum was absorbed into the city’s burgeoning “Automobile Row,” with car dealerships and apartment buildings eventually covering every trace of Luna Park .
While Luna Park itself left no physical remnants (and remarkably, not even a historical marker ), its legacy in Pittsburgh lives on in subtle ways. In 1995, Kennywood Park opened “Lost Kennywood,” a themed section of the park that nostalgically recreates the style of old parks. At its entrance stands a smaller-scale replica of Luna Park’s magnificent front gate, complete with the original spelling “Welcome to Luna Park, Pittsburg” (omitting the ‘h’ in Pittsburgh, just as in 1905) . This tribute keeps the memory of Luna Park alive for new generations, reminding us that once upon a time, Oakland nights glittered with thousands of lights and the air rang with music and laughter from a fantastical place called Luna Park – an early jewel in Pittsburgh’s amusement park crown that shone all too briefly.
Dream City: Wilkinsburg’s Forgotten Trolley Park (1906–1916)
In the borough of Wilkinsburg, just east of the Pittsburgh city line, there once was a quaint amusement park ambitiously named Dream City. Opened in the twilight of the trolley park era (circa 1906) by a local entrepreneur named C. A. Hamilton , Dream City was strategically situated where three streetcar lines converged – at the intersection of Laketon Road, Montier Street, and Verona Road. The park’s name evoked a whimsical vision, and for a few years it delivered on that promise as a pleasant little retreat for Wilkinsburg and eastern Pittsburgh residents. Dream City’s main attraction was a large dance hall, which was a staple of parks in those days . Crowds would gather for weekly dances and musical performances, enjoying the cool evenings in an open-air pavilion. The park also featured typical amusements of the 1900s: picnic groves, walking paths, a lake with boating, and a handful of rides (like a carousel and swing rides) for children. Notably, Dream City did not have a roller coaster – a fact lamented by local thrill-seekers at the time . Instead, it was more of a relaxed picnic park where families could spend an afternoon in “tame” leisure.
Despite its lovely name and convenient location, Dream City struggled to survive in the competitive amusement market. It was one of four parks that opened in the boom year of 1906, and being smaller and less extravagant than competitors like West View or Luna Park, Dream City may have found it hard to draw large crowds consistently . The park changed hands a few times and even briefly rebranded as “White City Park” around 1907–1908 (capitalizing on a fad where brightly lit parks were often dubbed “White City”) . But the rebrand didn’t change its fortunes for long. By 1916, roughly a decade after opening, Dream City closed its gates for the last time . The end likely came due to declining trolley ridership and the pull of other attractions; as the 1910s rolled on, the era of the small local trolley park was fading. When Dream City shuttered, it left little behind. Over the ensuing years, Wilkinsburg’s urban growth erased any physical trace of the park – the land was repurposed for other uses and eventually became indistinguishable from the surrounding neighborhood. Today, nothing remains on the site to indicate an amusement park ever stood there . Dream City survives only in a few black-and-white photographs and postcards, showing ladies in long dresses and gentlemen in straw boater hats enjoying a simpler time. While it may be one of the more obscure entries in Pittsburgh’s amusement park history, Dream City is still emblematic of the golden age – a product of its trolley-line community, shining briefly before vanishing into the mists of time.
Rainbow Gardens: A Suburban Oasis (1924–1968)
An aerial view of Rainbow Gardens in the 1960s, showing the large swimming pool (center), amusement rides, and the drive-in movie theater at top. In the post-World War I era, as automobiles became common, new amusement parks sprouted in Pittsburgh’s growing suburbs. One popular example was Rainbow Gardens, located along Lincoln Way in White Oak (just outside McKeesport). Rainbow Gardens got its start in 1924, during the Roaring Twenties, initially as a skating rink and dance hall – it opened with a roller skating rink that quickly became a local hot spot . In 1926 the park expanded by adding a massive filtered swimming pool, one of the biggest in the Pittsburgh area at the time . Throughout the 1930s and ’40s, Rainbow Gardens was primarily a place for dances, swims, and community gatherings. Then, under new ownership in the mid-1940s, the park was “re-booted” with more attractions: classic amusement rides were installed alongside the pool and rink, turning Rainbow Gardens into a full-fledged amusement park by the 1950s . A wooden roller coaster nicknamed “The Bomber” (a nod to post-WWII optimism) became the park’s star thrill ride, and a Schiff Wild Mouse coaster was added later in the 1950s to draw the teenage crowd . There were also kiddie rides, a midway of games, and all the cotton candy and ice cream a kid could want on a summer’s day. In 1947, Rainbow Gardens even ventured into the movie business by opening an adjacent drive-in theater – patrons could catch a movie from their cars at night after spending the day riding rides and swimming . This “amusement triplex” of rink, pool, and drive-in made Rainbow Gardens a true entertainment hub for families in the Mon Valley.
By the 1960s, however, Rainbow Gardens faced challenges. Larger theme parks and modern attractions were emerging, and maintaining an older, smaller park was becoming costly. The park’s fate was ultimately sealed by a highway development. In the late 1960s, Pennsylvania officials planned a new expressway (the Route 48 Expressway) that, in its initial routing, would cut directly through Rainbow Gardens’ property . In 1968, the state condemned the land and bought out the park in preparation for construction . Upon hearing this news, Rainbow Gardens decided not to open for the 1969 season – essentially, 1968 became its final summer. Ironically, the highway project was later canceled or moved, meaning the land wasn’t immediately paved over . But the damage was done; Rainbow Gardens was dismantled. The rides were sold off, and at the end of 1968 the beloved pool was drained and the drive-in went dark . For a few more years, one piece of the park lived on: the roller skating rink continued operating under local management even as the rides outside disappeared. The rink finally closed in 1972, after which the remaining structures were razed (the local fire department burned the empty rink building in a controlled burn exercise) .
Today, the corner where Rainbow Gardens once delighted thousands has been completely transformed. The site is occupied by the Oak Park Mall shopping center (built in the 1990s) and a car dealership, with new roads crisscrossing the area . If you drive by, you might never guess there was once a roller coaster and a huge swimming pool there – unless you’re from an older generation who remembers cooling off at Rainbow Gardens on a hot August afternoon. In local lore, Rainbow Gardens holds a special place as the “little Kennywood” of the McKeesport area, a suburban oasis where many youngsters first learned to skate, swim, or ride a Ferris wheel. Its story also underscores how progress (in the form of highways and development) often came at the expense of these cherished community parks. The colors of Rainbow Gardens have long since faded, but its spirit survives in the happy memories of those who spent their summers under its cheerful neon rainbow arch.
Eldora Park: Trolley Escapes in the Mon Valley (1900s–1930s)
In the early 1900s, the rolling hills along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh were home to Eldora Park, a lesser-known yet fondly remembered trolley park. Eldora Park opened around 1904 (some sources say as early as 1900) in the small village of Eldora, situated between Donora and Charleroi in Washington County . It was established by the Pittsburgh Railways Company as one of several parks meant to boost weekend ridership on its streetcar lines . What Eldora Park lacked in size, it made up for in charm and scenery – it was nestled in a woodsy area that offered a breezy retreat from the smoky mill towns nearby. Visitors would ride the trolley out to Eldora to enjoy fresh air and a day of leisure among the trees. The park’s attractions were typical of the era: a Figure-Eight roller coaster excited thrill-seekers with dips and turns , while a beautiful carousel hand-carved by the Dentzel company gave children their first taste of amusement delight. Eldora also featured an open-air dance pavilion where live bands played, a bandstand for concerts, an “electric theater” (early motion pictures or illuminated shows), and even a unique bamboo slide that added an exotic flair . Picnic groves and walking paths rounded out the experience, making Eldora a perfect spot for a Sunday school picnic or a romantic evening ride on the carousel.
Eldora Park had a successful run in the 1900s and 1910s, but like many trolley parks, it began to decline as the Great Depression approached. By the late 1930s, the park’s parent trolley company (and the trolleys themselves) were struggling financially, and patronage had dwindled. Eldora Park quietly closed before the 1940s arrived . The once-bustling bandstand fell silent, and nature slowly reclaimed the grounds. Because the park was in a fairly remote spot, there was little push to redevelop the land immediately; instead, the old Eldora site became an intriguing ruin, with remnants of foundations and the outlines of the old lake or midway detectable for decades under the brush. In recent years, local history enthusiasts have sought to keep Eldora’s memory alive. The Donora Historical Society even conducts an annual walking tour through the former park site, pointing out where the carousel stood or where the trolley station was, allowing new generations to imagine the laughter and music that once echoed in those woods . Eldora Park may not have the name recognition of West View or Luna Park, but it holds a distinctive place in Pittsburgh’s amusement heritage – a reminder of the many little corners of the region that were once filled with the sounds of tinny calliope music, the smell of popcorn, and the simple joys of a bygone era.
Other Lost Parks in the Pittsburgh Area
The parks highlighted above are just a sampling – the Pittsburgh area had numerous other amusement parks that have since vanished. Here are a few more notable “lost parks” and their fates:
- Oakford Park (Jeannette, Westmoreland County): Completed in 1896 as a trolley park, it was the site of one of the region’s worst park disasters – on July 5, 1903, a dam holding the park’s lake burst after a cloudburst, causing a flash flood that devastated nearby towns and killed dozens . Oakford Park was rebuilt and continued operating for some years after the tragedy, but eventually it closed and faded away by mid-century. Nothing remains of Oakford Park today , though its dramatic flood is still recounted in local history.
- Burke Glen (Monroeville, Allegheny County): Opened in 1927, Burke Glen Park offered a mix of amusement rides and a large public swimming pool along what is now Route 22 . It managed to survive the Depression, but World War II gas rationing hurt attendance in the 1940s . The final blow came when Route 22 was widened and re-routed, cutting through part of the park’s land . A scaled-down Burke Glen hung on until 1974, when it closed for good . Today, a car dealership (Spitzer Toyota) occupies the spot where laughter once echoed through the trees.
- Coney Island (Neville Island, Allegheny County): Yes, Pittsburgh even had its own “Coney Island.” This was a short-lived park that opened on June 27, 1907, on Neville Island in the Ohio River . It featured a 50-foot boardwalk along the river, a sandy beach, a large bathing pavilion, and a Shoot-the-Chutes water ride for daredevils . Accessible by ferry and streetcar, Neville Island’s Coney Island enjoyed a brief heyday of summertime fun. However, it struggled financially and closed within a few years, leaving very few records behind . Today Neville Island is better known for its industrial facilities, with no hint of the beach resort that once was.
- Cascade Park (New Castle, Lawrence County): Located about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, Cascade Park opened in 1897 as a trolley park and was notable for its natural beauty – it was built around scenic Big Run Creek and even had a waterfall that gave the park its name . In its prime, Cascade Park boasted the largest dance pavilion in Pennsylvania and attracted crowds from New Castle and beyond . The park’s rides operated for many decades (surviving well past World War II), but by the early 1980s the traditional amusements had ceased. Rather than being redeveloped, Cascade Park was turned into a public park and garden, preserving its Victorian-era landscape features . Visitors can still stroll the grounds today and imagine the old roller coasters and carousels that once dotted the hillsides.
(Many other parks could be listed – from Calhoun Park in Lincoln Place (opened 1897) to Mapleview Park in Canonsburg (opened 1928) – underscoring just how rich the Pittsburgh region was in amusement options during the golden age. Nearly all are gone now, existing only in archives and the tales passed down by those who experienced them.)
Conclusion: Legacy of Laughter in the Steel City
Pittsburgh’s lost amusement parks may no longer physically exist, but their spirit undeniably lives on in the city’s cultural memory. These parks were more than just entertainment venues – they were communal gathering spots, escape valves from the pressures of mill schedules and city life, and often the setting for milestones (a first date at Danceland, a first swim in a big pool, a reunion picnic for an entire neighborhood). Each park reflected a slice of Pittsburgh’s identity: industrial enterprise gave birth to many of them (as trolley or railway companies expanded into leisure business), and the city’s tight-knit communities sustained them through annual traditions like company picnics and church outings. In their heydays, places like West View Park and Kennywood were as important to the social life of Pittsburghers as the steel mills were to the economic life. And when those parks closed – whether by fire, financial decline, or the march of “progress” via highways and malls – it felt like the end of a cherished chapter.
Yet, the nostalgia for these parks has only grown with time. History enthusiasts and former park-goers have kept the memories alive through books (for example, Charles J. Jacques Jr.’s heartfelt chronicle “Goodbye, West View Park, Goodbye”), historical societies, and even Facebook groups dedicated to Pittsburgh’s amusement park past. Kennywood Park’s Lost Kennywood attraction is a physical homage that ensures newer generations get a taste of the elegance and wonder of bygone parks . And across the region, you can still find small reminders: a carousel horse atop a shopping center sign, a street name like “Luna Way,” or remnants of an old pavilion hidden in the woods. These echoes of laughter remind us that the joy these parks brought to everyday people is not lost – it reverberates through the decades.
In a broader sense, Pittsburgh’s amusement park golden age mirrors the American experience. The rise and fall of these parks track with our social history – from the optimism and innovation of the early 1900s, through the hardships of the 1930s, to the car-centric mid-century boom and the eventual consolidation of entertainment into larger theme parks. Pittsburgh, with its dozens of parks, was a microcosm of that story. The Steel City might be better known for its bridges and steel mills, but its fun-loving side was just as real and influential in shaping the local culture. As we look back on West View, White Swan, Luna Park, Dream City, Rainbow Gardens, Eldora, and the others, we do so with an engaging and nostalgic lens – celebrating the colorful legacy they left behind. They may be lost amusement parks, but in the hearts of Pittsburghers, they will always be found in memory: a carousel spinning under twinkling lights, the thrilled screams from a coaster echoing over a lake, and the soft glow of a summer evening in a time when simple pleasures reigned supreme in the Steel City.
