In the summer, the dense greenery along the Potomac River covers houses, streets, and history. We moved to the area in 1966 and slowly discovered some unexpected treasures–the towpath along the abandoned C & O canal, Sycamore Island, the old settlement of Cabin John, the Clara Barton house. The Glen Echo Amusement Park.
In the summer, the dense greenery along the Potomac River covers houses, streets, and history. We moved to the area in 1966 and slowly discovered some unexpected treasures--the towpath along the abandoned C & O canal, Sycamore Island, the old settlement of Cabin John, the Clara Barton house. The Glen Echo Amusement Park.
The Park was within a mile of our house, with a large sign, but it was very quiet. Was it even open? It advertised a “Crystal Pool”, and there was a carousel. A big, rickety wooden roller coaster stood near the edge of the road. It seemed all but abandoned.
Some kids we met from the area confirmed that yes, it was open, but barely. Not kept up. It had been the site of civil rights demonstrations a few years earlier to desegregate the facilities, and also people had died on some of the old rides. Of course that made it more interesting.
One night we went with some other teens to see for ourselves. Were concession stands operating? Bumper cars? I can’t remember now, just the roller coaster. That shaky wooden structure with screams coming from the cars was the big attraction. Not really a thrill-seeker, I was nonetheless talked into going on it.
Our group got loaded into the last car on the roller coaster chain, with a simple bar to hold onto but no seat belts or straps. As we ratcheted up the first hill, a sign warned us to hold on and not stand up. When the car crested rise and then started its plunge, the force of it threw me out of my seat as I held onto the bar with a death grip. This was not a thrill, this was survival. I truly thought I might be the next victim to die on the ride.
When time finally took mercy and moved again, and I escaped from the roller coaster at last, my arms and hands aching from grasping the bar, I was just thankful to have survived. I didn’t mourn when the ride and the entire park closed soon afterwards.
The Park Service later acquired the property, restored some of the buildings and the historic carousel, and turned it into an artist, performance and educational venue, a different sort of hidden gem. The roller coaster was torn down. Good riddance.
Khati Hendry
You survived …
….to tell the tale.
OMG!!!
I have been on other roller coaster-like rides over the years, but this one was truly terrifying. Thought I would be thrown out of the car for sure. Didn’t have any modern safety devices and you get maximum whip action in the last car. Yikes!
Wow, Khati, that is quite a story! I love the way you started with “unexpected treasures,” then “all but abandoned,” and finally your description of the death-defying ride on the roller coaster. I was right there with you – – but I’m glad I wasn’t really!
What was the “Crystal Pool,” did you ever find out?
The Crystal pool was a huge swimming pool that seemed like it was never open, but in any case I never used it. Outdoors—kind of reminds
me of the old Sutro Baths in SF from the days of grand public pools (also closed and gone by the time I learned about them). There is also the dreadful legacy of racism that tanked (so to speak) public pools when facilities were desegregated. There was a struggle to desegregate Glen Echo in the early sixties and the trolley that brought people out the street to the park was also discontinued —both of which likely contributed to its demise. I found an old paper online “Echoes of the past” that gave some interesting history when I was looking up some background info.
I am glad you didn’t feel seduced by the romance of the topic (in many folks’ minds) to sugar coat your own experience! Yes, I can match you with a couple of my own memories of bad amusement park memories. However, I have to admit I totally loved the “horseracing” game with the sort of pinball format, allowing me to win some amazing (cheap) plastic horses!
I’ve never loved amusement parks (or Las Vegas) though some bits can be fun. Years later I went to the Ocean City MD boardwalk with a niece and nephew and we had a good time with Whacamole—though we never won anything. It wasn’t life-threatening either.