Elitch Gardens
Encyclopedia
Elitch Gardens was a family-owned seasonal amusement park
, theater, and botanic garden in the West Highland neighborhood of Denver
, Colorado
, United States
at 38th and Tennyson streets. For more than a century Elitch's was one of the most popular entertainment destinations in Colorado. It was nationally known for its lush gardens, the Trocadero Ballroom, the Theatre at the Gardens and the premier wooden roller coaster
, Mister Twister. The park moved to downtown Denver in 1994 and later became Six Flags Elitch Gardens (now simply Elitch Gardens once again). The former location has been redeveloped.
Elitch's Zoological Gardens opened May 1, 1890, on 16 acres (6.5 ha) of former farmland bought by John Elitch
and Mary Elitch. It was the first Zoo West of Chicago, IL that offered the Denver community a unique cultural experience.
Mary Elitch Long
managed the park for 26 years following John's death in 1891. Mary Elitch was the First Woman to Own and Manage a Zoo. P. T. Barnum
donated many of the animals. One of the bears was famous for dancing a waltz when the band played.
The Elitch Theatre
(1890) became home to the oldest summer stock
theater in the country starting in 1893 and continuing to entertain until it closed in 1991. The building was site of the first films exhibited in Colorado (1896). Many famous actors and actresses from New York and Hollywood performed on the Elitch Theatre
stage. Offering New York wages the theatre booked big stars for generations. Today the theatre is still standing at the original park site.
The park's first roller coaster, a Toboggan Figure 8
, opened in 1904. The park's original carousel
, built by Philadelphia Toboggan Company
, was added in 1906.
The carousel remains in operation today as the Kit Carson County Carousel
in Burlington, Colorado
.
In 1916, the park was sold to John Mulvihill, with a provision stating the name could never be changed. New attractions appeared, including the fabulous Trocadero Ballroom in 1917, and two Philadelphia Toboggan Company creations: the Wildcat roller coaster — designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck
— in 1922 and a new carousel in 1928. This carousel is still operational at Elitch Gardens. It was during this time the park's enduring slogan was first popularized: "Not to See Elitch's is Not to See Denver."
As floral gardens were expanded and greenhouses built, Elitch's became a commercial florist. Mulvihill died in 1930, and the park's ownership transferred to his son-in-law Arnold Gurtler.
In the mid 1930s, the zoo portion of the park was discontinued, with the space being used for more formal gardens (and rides). A giant floral clock was added and the Trocadero Ballroom became a regular stop for touring big band
s and home to An Evening at the Troc, a weekly radio broadcast. During this classic period of Big Band Jazz and Swing, the Trocadero Ballroom became a famous summertime night spot as its seemingly endless succession of brilliant stars provided countless hours of live national radio broadcasts in an age before television.
In 1945, management was assumed by Gurtler's sons, Jack and Budd. In 1952, a section of the park called Kiddieland, oriented to small children, was opened. At a time when amusement parks catered almost exclusively to adults, Elitch's Kiddieland was an instant hit attraction with the first of many lucky generations of small fry. Lots of fun stuff for tots, like 2-seat rocket planes, open-wheel race cars, real floating "motorboats", a real small-scale car track with gas station, all in Kid Scale. The floral business side of the park was quite successful, becoming the largest supplier of carnations in the country in the early 1950s.
Despite substantial community outcry, the Trocadero Ballroom was torn down by the Gurtlers in 1975, claiming the declining popularity of ballroom dancing, replacing Denver's beloved landmark Old Troc with Skee-Ball and arcade games. The theater, which had switched formats from summer stock to star-centered performances in 1963, closed in 1991.
of Philadelphia Toboggan Company
, and advertisements promoted the fact that it didn't "have a foot of straight track". It was regularly rated as one of the top ten rides in the country until it stopped operating in 1994 when the park was relocated. Twister II
at the new Elitch Gardens is modeled after the original.
Knoebels
, in Elysburg
, Pennsylvania
, considered relocating the original Mister Twister but, due to space constraints, built a new version very closely patterned after the original, which they simply called Twister
.
One feature of Mister Twister was that, after ascending the first hill, the rider was within the line of sight of another coaster, Lakeside Amusement Park
's crown jewel 'Cyclone'.
park in 1990. It was built by Arrow Dynamics
in 1980, and is a launched shuttle loop that speeds into a drop, into a vertical loop, up another hill, and then proceeds to run the course backwards. It made the move to the new park, It is one of four Arrow launched loops made by Arrow to still operate today.
cleanup site.
On May 27, 1995, Elitch's opened at its new downtown location with fifteen of its twenty major rides from the old location. The new location sits adjacent to Interstate 25
between INVESCO Field at Mile High
and the Pepsi Center
. It is currently one of the few downtown amusement parks in the United States.
At the old location, separate arson events a day apart in November 1995 destroyed the arcade building and heavily damaged the Splinter water ride and Wildcat roller coaster.
Following two seasons at its new location with attendance of about one million (versus 750,000 for the last season at its old location) and a second season goal of 1.2 million, the park was sold to Premier Parks who subsequently purchased all Six Flags
parks. The park operated as 'Six Flags Elitch Gardens' until 2006. CNL Lifestyle Properties purchased Elitch Gardens from Six Flags in 2007 and leased it back to PARC Management. The park was rebranded simply as 'Elitch Gardens'. In 2011 CNL terminated its lease with PARC Management. Herschend Family Entertainment now operates the park for CNL.
's 2005 Overall Excellence in Smart Growth award for its new urbanism
development of 308 housing units and a variety of office and retail spaces. The site maintained many of the old trees and other park elements, including the historic Elitch Theatre and the structure that once housed the carousel, which is now a picnic structure. The new development exceeded Colorado's Built Green and Energy Star programs and also used recycled construction materials Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wanted to build one of its Neighborhood Market grocery stores at the site, but neighborhood residents protested the store, saying they didn't want a Wal-Mart in the area. In the fall of 2004, Wal-Mart decided not to build it. Sunflower Farmers Market announced they would anchor the center with a grocery store in July 2005. In January 2009 the Sunflower Market retail building at HGV Green Commons was designated as the first LEED core and shell Gold Supermarket in the United States.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
, theater, and botanic garden in the West Highland neighborhood of Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at 38th and Tennyson streets. For more than a century Elitch's was one of the most popular entertainment destinations in Colorado. It was nationally known for its lush gardens, the Trocadero Ballroom, the Theatre at the Gardens and the premier wooden roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, Mister Twister. The park moved to downtown Denver in 1994 and later became Six Flags Elitch Gardens (now simply Elitch Gardens once again). The former location has been redeveloped.
Early history
John Elitch
John Elitch was a restauranteur, businessman, actor, zookeeper, and original owner and namesake of Elitch Gardens and the Elitch Theatre in Denver, CO.- History :...
and Mary Elitch. It was the first Zoo West of Chicago, IL that offered the Denver community a unique cultural experience.
Mary Elitch Long
Mary Elitch Long
Mary Elitch Long was one of the original owners of Elitch Gardens in Denver, CO. She was the first woman to own and manage a zoo, that happened to be the first zoo West of Chicago. She was an author of two childrens books.- History :Opened in 1890, Elitch Zoological Gardens offered a unique...
managed the park for 26 years following John's death in 1891. Mary Elitch was the First Woman to Own and Manage a Zoo. P. T. Barnum
P. T. Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman, businessman, scam artist and entertainer, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the circus that became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus....
donated many of the animals. One of the bears was famous for dancing a waltz when the band played.
The Elitch Theatre
Elitch Theatre
The Historic Elitch Theatre is located at the original Elitch Gardens site in northwest Denver, Colorado. Opened in 1890 it was centerpiece of the park that was the First Zoo West of Chicago. The theatre was home to America's first, and oldest summer-stock theater from 1893 until 1987. The first...
(1890) became home to the oldest summer stock
Summer stock theatre
Summer stock theatre is any theatre that presents stage productions only in the summer within the United States. The name combines both the seasonal time of year with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes...
theater in the country starting in 1893 and continuing to entertain until it closed in 1991. The building was site of the first films exhibited in Colorado (1896). Many famous actors and actresses from New York and Hollywood performed on the Elitch Theatre
Elitch Theatre
The Historic Elitch Theatre is located at the original Elitch Gardens site in northwest Denver, Colorado. Opened in 1890 it was centerpiece of the park that was the First Zoo West of Chicago. The theatre was home to America's first, and oldest summer-stock theater from 1893 until 1987. The first...
stage. Offering New York wages the theatre booked big stars for generations. Today the theatre is still standing at the original park site.
The park's first roller coaster, a Toboggan Figure 8
Figure 8 roller coaster
A Figure 8 roller coaster is the generic name given to any roller coaster where the train runs through a figure 8 shaped course before returning to the boarding station. This design was one of the first designs to be featured in roller coaster design, along with the out and back roller coaster...
, opened in 1904. The park's original carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, built by Philadelphia Toboggan Company
Philadelphia Toboggan Company
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B...
, was added in 1906.
The carousel remains in operation today as the Kit Carson County Carousel
Elitch Gardens Carousel
Elitch Gardens Carousel, also known as Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6 or as the Kit Carson County Carousel, is a 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel located in Burlington, Colorado.-History:...
in Burlington, Colorado
Burlington, Colorado
Burlington is a Home Rule Municipality, county seat, most populous place and only city in Kit Carson County, Colorado, United States. Its population was 4191 at the U.S. Census 2010...
.
Mulvihill/Gurtler ownership
Herbert Paul Schmeck
Herbert Paul Schmeck was an American roller coaster designer. From 1923 to 1955, Schmeck designed 84 coasters for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company...
— in 1922 and a new carousel in 1928. This carousel is still operational at Elitch Gardens. It was during this time the park's enduring slogan was first popularized: "Not to See Elitch's is Not to See Denver."
As floral gardens were expanded and greenhouses built, Elitch's became a commercial florist. Mulvihill died in 1930, and the park's ownership transferred to his son-in-law Arnold Gurtler.
In the mid 1930s, the zoo portion of the park was discontinued, with the space being used for more formal gardens (and rides). A giant floral clock was added and the Trocadero Ballroom became a regular stop for touring big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s and home to An Evening at the Troc, a weekly radio broadcast. During this classic period of Big Band Jazz and Swing, the Trocadero Ballroom became a famous summertime night spot as its seemingly endless succession of brilliant stars provided countless hours of live national radio broadcasts in an age before television.
In 1945, management was assumed by Gurtler's sons, Jack and Budd. In 1952, a section of the park called Kiddieland, oriented to small children, was opened. At a time when amusement parks catered almost exclusively to adults, Elitch's Kiddieland was an instant hit attraction with the first of many lucky generations of small fry. Lots of fun stuff for tots, like 2-seat rocket planes, open-wheel race cars, real floating "motorboats", a real small-scale car track with gas station, all in Kid Scale. The floral business side of the park was quite successful, becoming the largest supplier of carnations in the country in the early 1950s.
Despite substantial community outcry, the Trocadero Ballroom was torn down by the Gurtlers in 1975, claiming the declining popularity of ballroom dancing, replacing Denver's beloved landmark Old Troc with Skee-Ball and arcade games. The theater, which had switched formats from summer stock to star-centered performances in 1963, closed in 1991.
Mister Twister
Mister Twister opened in 1964. It was a 96 feet (29.3 m) wooden coaster, designed by John AllenJohn C. Allen
John C. Allen was a roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters which began in the 1970s. He attended Temple University. He started working for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1934 as a coaster operator and rose to become president of the company by...
of Philadelphia Toboggan Company
Philadelphia Toboggan Company
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B...
, and advertisements promoted the fact that it didn't "have a foot of straight track". It was regularly rated as one of the top ten rides in the country until it stopped operating in 1994 when the park was relocated. Twister II
Twister II
Twister II is a wooden roller coaster located at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.This is a custom built wooden coaster based upon the original coaster Mr. Twister that was at Elitch Gardens before the park was moved to its new location in 1995. The roller coaster was designed by John Pierce, who...
at the new Elitch Gardens is modeled after the original.
Knoebels
Knoebels
Knoebels Amusement Resort is a family-owned and -operated amusement park, picnic grove and campground in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1926, the park has more than 57 rides, free admission, two wooden roller coasters, a 1913 carousel and a haunted house dark ride that was featured on the...
, in Elysburg
Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Elysburg is a census-designated place in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,067 at the 2000 census. The area's biggest attraction is Knoebels Amusement Park, which has two wooden roller coasters.-Demographics:...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, considered relocating the original Mister Twister but, due to space constraints, built a new version very closely patterned after the original, which they simply called Twister
Twister (roller coaster)
The Twister is a wooden roller coaster located at the Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. It is a recreation of the famous "Mister Twister," a 1964 John C. Allen design.- History :...
.
One feature of Mister Twister was that, after ascending the first hill, the rider was within the line of sight of another coaster, Lakeside Amusement Park
Lakeside Amusement Park
Lakeside Amusement Park is a family-owned amusement park in Lakeside, Colorado near Denver. Originally named White City, it was opened in 1908 as a popular amusement resort adjacent to Lake Rhoda spearheaded by prominent Denver brewer Adolph Zang...
's crown jewel 'Cyclone'.
Wildcat
The Wildcat was Colorado's first roller coaster and was the oldest of the coasters in the park when it closed in 1995. It was an out-and-back design by Herbert Schmeck of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, and like Mr. Twister, did not make the move to downtown Denver. It has since been demolished to make room for residential purposes.Sidewinder
The Sidewinder was Colorado's first looping coaster, and arrived from Magic Springs and Crystal FallsMagic Springs and Crystal Falls
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls is an amusement park and water park located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 50 miles from Little Rock. A single price admission includes all day use of the rides and attractions in both parks. The park is open weekends from April through October and daily late-May...
park in 1990. It was built by Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
in 1980, and is a launched shuttle loop that speeds into a drop, into a vertical loop, up another hill, and then proceeds to run the course backwards. It made the move to the new park, It is one of four Arrow launched loops made by Arrow to still operate today.
Ride List
- Twister (1964 John C. AllenJohn C. AllenJohn C. Allen was a roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters which began in the 1970s. He attended Temple University. He started working for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1934 as a coaster operator and rose to become president of the company by...
wooden twister coaster) - Sidewinder (1980 Arrow DynamicsArrow DynamicsArrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
launched shuttle loop, debuted 1990) - Wildcat (1927 Herbert Schmeck wooden out-and-back coaster)
- Splinter (Intamin log flumeLog flume (attraction)Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats...
, debuted 1977) - Rainbow (Huss Rainbow, debuted 1985)
- Troika (Huss Troika (ride)Troika (ride)The Troika is an amusement park ride, designed and manufactured by HUSS Maschinenfabrik in the mid-1970s. The ride is available in both transportable and permanent forms, although due to the total weight and size of the ride , transportable Troikas are unpopular and uncommon...
, debuted 1977) - Paradise (Huss BreakdanceBreakdance (ride)The Breakdance is an amusement park and fairground ride, designed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik in 1985. Upon release, the ride design proved to be an instant hit, with HUSS now producing four varying designs, all of which can be acquired in transportable, semi-permanent, or permanent forms.-Design and...
, debuted 1987) - Holland Express (Mack Zugspitz, debuted 1966)
- Casino (Chance Wipeout/Trabant (Ride)Wipeout/Trabant (Ride)The Wipeout is a newer form of the Trabant. The rides are very similar as they both were made by Chance-Morgan. They each spin horizontally, and then start fluctuating in a wavelike manner. There is a motor underneath the ride that makes both of these rides raise up and down...
, debuted 1965) - Mine Shaft (Chance RotorRotor (ride)The Rotor is an amusement park ride, designed by German engineer Ernst Hoffmeister in the late 1940s. The ride was first demonstrated at Oktoberfest 1949, and was exhibited at fairs and events throughout Europe during the 1950s and 1960s...
, debuted 1991) - Round Up (Hrubetz Round Up, debuted 1963)
- Thing-A-Ma-Jig (Heintz-Fahtze Twister, debuted 1985)
- Spider (Eyerly Spider, debuted 1969)
- Swing Ride (Zierer Wave Swinger, debuted 1969)
- Wild Mouse (Miller wooden wild mouse, debuted 1960)
- Bumper Cars (Reverchon Dodgems, debuted 1955)
- Illuminator (Chance Skydiver, debuted in 1992)
- CarouselCarouselA carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
(Philadelphia Toboggan Company 1936 model) - Big Wheel (Chance Giant Wheel, debuted 1975)
- Sea Dragon (Chance Sea Dragon, debuted 1981)
- Sky Ride (Watkins chairlift, debuted 1969)
- Battle Zone (Intamin boat tag, debuted 1987)
- Tilt-A-Whirl (Sellner Tilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-Whirl is one of the best-known flat rides, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing of Faribault, Minnesota...
, debuted 1957) - Calypso
Move to new location
In 1985, management and ownership of the park was assumed by Budd Gurtler's son, Sandy Gurtler. At its historic location the park had no expansion space, and the family had long planned to relocate to a larger location. The city of Denver provided a location in the Central Platte River Valley, an area that was once a SuperfundSuperfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
cleanup site.
On May 27, 1995, Elitch's opened at its new downtown location with fifteen of its twenty major rides from the old location. The new location sits adjacent to Interstate 25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
between INVESCO Field at Mile High
INVESCO Field at Mile High
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
and the Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
. It is currently one of the few downtown amusement parks in the United States.
At the old location, separate arson events a day apart in November 1995 destroyed the arcade building and heavily damaged the Splinter water ride and Wildcat roller coaster.
Following two seasons at its new location with attendance of about one million (versus 750,000 for the last season at its old location) and a second season goal of 1.2 million, the park was sold to Premier Parks who subsequently purchased all Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
parks. The park operated as 'Six Flags Elitch Gardens' until 2006. CNL Lifestyle Properties purchased Elitch Gardens from Six Flags in 2007 and leased it back to PARC Management. The park was rebranded simply as 'Elitch Gardens'. In 2011 CNL terminated its lease with PARC Management. Herschend Family Entertainment now operates the park for CNL.
Redevelopment
The 28 acres (11.3 ha) site of the former amusement park has undergone redevelopment as Highlands' Garden Village. The site won the Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
's 2005 Overall Excellence in Smart Growth award for its new urbanism
New urbanism
New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually continued to reform many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use...
development of 308 housing units and a variety of office and retail spaces. The site maintained many of the old trees and other park elements, including the historic Elitch Theatre and the structure that once housed the carousel, which is now a picnic structure. The new development exceeded Colorado's Built Green and Energy Star programs and also used recycled construction materials Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wanted to build one of its Neighborhood Market grocery stores at the site, but neighborhood residents protested the store, saying they didn't want a Wal-Mart in the area. In the fall of 2004, Wal-Mart decided not to build it. Sunflower Farmers Market announced they would anchor the center with a grocery store in July 2005. In January 2009 the Sunflower Market retail building at HGV Green Commons was designated as the first LEED core and shell Gold Supermarket in the United States.
External links
- The Historic Elitch Theatre Foundation
- Highlands' Garden Village
- The Original Elitch Gardens Single page photoessay at Colorado Magazine
- Elitch Gardens Official Website