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Riverview Park - Chicago’s Lost Wonderland.
Once nestled along the banks of the Chicago River, Riverview Park was more than an amusement park—it was a rite of passage, a cultural touchstone, and a kaleidoscope of thrills that defined generations of Chicagoans.
From its humble beginnings in 1904 as a skeet-shooting range to its transformation into the world's largest amusement park, Riverview embodied the spirit of a city that knew how to laugh its troubles away. With over 120 rides, including the legendary Bob's roller coaster, Aladdin’s Castle funhouse, and the daring Pair-O-Chutes, Riverview offered a dizzying array of experiences that ranged from whimsical to wild.
It was a place where families gathered, sweethearts swooned, and children dared each other to brave the Rotor or Shoot the Chutes. The park’s slogan—“Laugh Your Troubles Away”—wasn’t just marketing; it was a promise fulfilled for millions who passed through its castle-like gates.
Yet Riverview’s story is also one of complexity. As the social fabric of Chicago shifted in the 1960s, the park became a mirror reflecting the broader tensions of the era. Accounts of racism, urban myths, and white flight contributed to its decline, culminating in its closure in 1967.
Today, remnants of Riverview live on in scattered memorabilia, including a carousel that still spins in Georgia, and the vivid memories of those who once called it their playground.
This collection of articles invites you to step back into the midway—to hear the laughter, feel the rush of the coasters, and explore the legacy of a park that shaped Chicago’s identity.
Riverview may be gone, but its echoes still ripple through the city’s history, reminding us that joy, spectacle, and community once converged on 74 magical acres in Roscoe Village.
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| The Face of Riverview. Aladdin's Castle was a fun house built in 1932. |
The fun began when girls and women would enter Aladdin's Castle and have a big puff of air blow their skirts up high.
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| Paying Homage to Marlyn Monroe. A New Take on a Well-Known Photograph. |
Aladdin's Castle was a large walk-through with many rooms, including a collapsing stairway, two maze rooms with floors at approximately a 20% angle, and a turning barrel that needed to be traversed to exit.
RIVERVIEW PARK NAME HISTORY
1879-1903; Schuetzen Park (aka Sharpshooter Park)
1904-1908; Riverview Sharpshooter Park.
1909-1912; Riverview Exposition Park.
1913-1967; Riverview Park.
1904-1908; Riverview Sharpshooter Park.
1909-1912; Riverview Exposition Park.
1913-1967; Riverview Park.
Riverview Amusement Park Supporting Articles
