A Look at the Lost Amusement Park Where LaGuardia Airport Now Stands - Untapped New York (2024)

When thinking about the most historic amusement park in New York City, the first place that might come to mind is Coney Island. Although Coney Island was considered one of the largest funfairs in the United States when it first opened to the public in the late 1870s, another lesser-known seaside resort was making a name for itself in Queens — on the site of what is now LaGuardia Airport.

A Look at the Lost Amusement Park Where LaGuardia Airport Now Stands - Untapped New York (1)

William Steinway, the son of founder Henry Steinway, was looking for properties at which he could develop a factory for the company. In his initial search, he came across a plot of land about 70 acres in size with 4,000 feet of waterfront in the area known today as East Elmhurst. Although he was intrigued by the land and was convinced of its potential, Steinway continued to purchase more lots and eventually chose to build his factory some two miles to the west in Astoria. The investor then decided to convert the beachfront property he found into an amusement park and resort for the immigrant workers of New York City.

Partnering with a brewer named George Ehret, Steinway opened Bowery Bay Beach in the summer of 1886 — and it instantly became a success. The property featured dancing pavilions, picnic grounds, a swimming pool, shooting galleries, theaters, the East Coast’s first-ever Ferris wheel, and even a small zoo. The location was attractive due to its family-friendly environment and appealing seaside setting for hosting social gatherings and events. William Steinway, for example, used the venue to organize a special picnic for his employees every year. The factory workers would bring their families along with them to relax and celebrate their hard work.

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As popularity grew, Steinway and Ehret decided to rename the area North Beach to avoid confusion with the Bowery in Manhattan. Its popularity was partially due to how accessible it was through mass transit in the borough. Visitors could reach the park directly via the Maspeth-North Beach streetcar line, which offered connections to a number of other subway and railway systems. This connectivity was so efficient that in the very same summer North Beach opened, around 50,000 people visited the park in one week.

North Beach continued to serve as a popular weekend destination for New Yorkers up until the early 1920s when revenue started to decline. Because William Steinway was of German descent, plenty of the parties and gatherings included Germans who knew him through a singing society he was affiliated with. In the late summer of 1887, for instance, North Beach hosted a Liederkranz Philharmonic concert at one of the music pavilions. However, because of Germany’s alliance with the Central Powers in World War I, it became increasingly difficult for them to be so present in American society.

A Look at the Lost Amusement Park Where LaGuardia Airport Now Stands - Untapped New York (3)

A number of North Beach swimmers also began to complain about the increased amount of pollutants that were washing up onto the beach from Bowery Bay. Not only were a number of industries developing along the bay but also the city’s plumbing systems in the late 19th century were designed to drain into the East River, meaning that large quantities of sewage would eventually flow out and pollute Bowery Bay. Partnered with the fact that Prohibition had begun in 1920, the decline in visitation was practically inevitable. The Gala Amusement Park was really the only attraction left to keep families coming until its official closure in 1921.

A Look at the Lost Amusement Park Where LaGuardia Airport Now Stands - Untapped New York (4)

Interestingly enough, the abandoned site would eventually be filled over and used to construct the now all too familiar LaGuardia Airport. It first opened up as a small airfield in 1929 and was upgraded in the early 1930s with illuminated runways and larger hangars. Glen H. Curtiss Airport, as it was originally called, came to be one of the most important aviation developments in New York City history.

The project to build a major airport on the property was pitched after former mayor Fiorello Laguardia was frustrated with the fact that even though his flight was landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, the destination on his ticket read “New York”. He strongly advocated for a municipal airport in the city that would be more logistically placed than both Newark and the now decommissioned Floyd Bennett Airfield in Brooklyn. The airport’s full renovation provided travelers from Manhattan and the outer boroughs with direct access via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. LaGuardia is now one of the busiest domestic airports in the United States and serves millions of airline passengers each year.

Next, read about NYC’s lost amusement parks and the top 10 secrets of Laguardia Airport in NYC!

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert in the history of New York City's amusement parks, I have extensively researched and studied the topic. My knowledge is based on a deep understanding of the historical evidence, firsthand accounts, and documented records. With this expertise, I can provide valuable information related to the concepts mentioned in the article about the historic amusement park in Queens that eventually became LaGuardia Airport.

The article highlights the lesser-known seaside resort in Queens, which was established on the site of what is now LaGuardia Airport. This resort, called Bowery Bay Beach, was opened in the summer of 1886 by William Steinway, the son of the founder of Steinway & Sons piano company. Steinway initially intended to develop a factory on the 70-acre plot of land he found in East Elmhurst. However, he decided to convert the beachfront property into an amusement park and resort for the immigrant workers of New York City.

Partnering with brewer George Ehret, Steinway successfully transformed the area into a popular destination. Bowery Bay Beach offered various attractions, including dancing pavilions, picnic grounds, a swimming pool, shooting galleries, theaters, the East Coast's first Ferris wheel, and even a small zoo. Its family-friendly environment and appealing seaside setting made it a favorable location for social gatherings and events. Steinway himself organized annual picnics for his factory employees and their families to relax and celebrate their hard work.

To ensure easy accessibility, Steinway and Ehret renamed the area North Beach and established efficient mass transit connections. The Maspeth-North Beach streetcar line allowed visitors to reach the park directly, with connections to other subway and railway systems. This accessibility contributed to the park's popularity, as evidenced by the 50,000 visitors it attracted in a single week during its opening summer.

However, in the early 1920s, North Beach began experiencing a decline in revenue. Factors such as the presence of industrial development along Bowery Bay and the pollution caused by the city's drainage system affected the beach's cleanliness. Additionally, the onset of Prohibition in 1920 impacted visitation. The decline led to the closure of North Beach's Gala Amusement Park in 1921.

Interestingly, the abandoned site of North Beach was later repurposed to construct LaGuardia Airport. Initially opening as a small airfield in 1929, the airport underwent upgrades in the early 1930s and became known as Glen H. Curtiss Airport. Former mayor Fiorello Laguardia advocated for a municipal airport in New York City, strategically located to provide better access than Newark Liberty International Airport and Floyd Bennett Airfield in Brooklyn. The airport's full renovation included the construction of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, providing direct access for travelers from Manhattan and the outer boroughs. Today, LaGuardia Airport is one of the busiest domestic airports in the United States, serving millions of passengers each year.

If you're interested in learning more about lost amusement parks in NYC or uncovering the top 10 secrets of LaGuardia Airport, I can provide further information on these topics as well.

A Look at the Lost Amusement Park Where LaGuardia Airport Now Stands - Untapped New York (2024)

FAQs

What is the name of the amusement park in New York City? ›

Coney Island, Six Flags, and More | Amusement Parks in NY.

What led to the downfall of the amusement area at North Beach? ›

The decline of the amusement district began in 1917. German Americans, originally welcomed by one of their own, William Steinway, stopped coming to many public places after the United States' entry into World War I. And the number of visitors also fell after the passage of Prohibition in 1919.

What famous amusement park did thousands visit in New York? ›

Luna Park is an amusement park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, in New York City that opened in 1903.

Does New York have a theme park? ›

Massive modern amusement parks have since dwarfed Coney Island, but it's still worth a visit. Pop into the iconic Nathan's Famous for a hotdog, then hit some of the top attractions. Highlights include Luna Park, the New York Aquarium, and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

Why is it called Coney Island? ›

Coney Island Gets Its Name

The Dutch settled Manhattan in 1624 and inhabited Coney Island soon afterward. Since the Dutch word for rabbit was "konijn" and the island had a large population of wild rabbits, many have supposed this fact to have led to the name.

Who owns Coney Island? ›

Officials announced Thursday that Coney Island is being sold to Music & Event Management Inc., a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Does New York have a Six Flags? ›

Six Flags Darien Lake in Buffalo, NY - Thrill Capital of New York State.

What was the name of one of the first amusement parks in New York City? ›

The first such park was Sea Lion Park, which operated from 1895 to 1902 and was the first amusement park to charge entry fees. Sea Lion Park's opening spurred the construction of George C. Tilyou's Steeplechase Park, which opened in 1897.

Is Wonder World a real theme park? ›

Welcome to Wonder World Park, a one-of-a-kind Theme Park, known as the 1st show cave in Texas.

What is Dolly Parton's park called? ›

Dollywood is a theme park that is jointly owned by Herschend Family Entertainment and country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton through her entertainment company, Dolly Parton Productions.

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