Bay Beach Amusement Park is a municipal amusement park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The park contains rides, concessions, and a multi-purpose pavilion. The park is adjacent to the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
Previously known as Bay View Beach (1892–1920) | |
 | |
 Train depot | |
 Interactive map of Bay Beach Amusement Park | |
| Location | 1313 Bay Beach Road, Green Bay, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°31′51.3″N 87°58′51″W / 44.530917°N 87.98083°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1892 |
| Owner | City of Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Operating season | May to September |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 22 |
| Roller coasters | 1 |
| Website | www |
History
editThe park's history dates to the early 1890s when entrepreneur Mitchell Nejedlo purchased the land. Originally intended to be divided and sold for summer cottages, he turned it into Bay View Beach. Bay View Beach had a dance hall, a bar, and a bathhouse, however, because it was swampy and infested with mosquitoes, the park didn't attract many visitors. Despite this, its first roller coaster was installed in 1901.
In 1908, Captain John Cusick bought the resort from Nejedlo. Cusick built an 8-foot dock that extended 570 feet into the bay, then bought a steamboat to transport customers from Walnut Street Bridge to Bay View Beach. That same year, he oversaw the installation of a shoot the chute ride, which featured a boat that could hold 12 people. The boat would slide down a 50-foot ramp and into the water below.
In 1911, Bay View Beach was sold to Frank Emery Murphy and Fred A. Rahr. In 1920, they donated the 11-acre park, along with all its buildings and attractions, to the city of Green Bay to be used as a city park, called Bay Beach Amusement Park.[1]
Pollution of the bay eventually caused the swimming beach to close. From the 1930s to the early 1970s, Bay Beach Amusement Park's pavilion hosted concerts, political rallies, dances, fireworks, and other events. On August 9, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the park in celebration of the city of Green Bay's tercentennial.
In 2006, 46 acres (190,000 m2) of land west of the park boundary was purchased to upgrade and expand the park. Plans included replacing the original Ferris wheel and expanding the tracks of the park's train ride to circle the enlarged acreage. On March 2, 2010, the city of Green Bay approved the purchase of the nearly century-old Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster from Memphis, Tennessee, where it had sat derelict for five years. A groundbreaking took place on August 25, 2010, and construction on Zippin Pippin began in September 2010. Construction was completed in April 2011, and the ride opened a month later in May.
In early 2013, an expansion plan was proposed. Phase 1 included the addition of the Sea Dragon ride and further expansion of the train tracks. Several trains and cars were donated to the park in 2014, with an additional 3,000 feet of track being added to its length for the 2015 season.[2] In 2017, the Falling Star ride was introduced. In 2019, a 100-foot Ferris wheel opened. In 2023, the park added a NebulaZ ride.[3] In early 2024, it was announced that upgrades to several rides were planned, including upgrading the Bumper Cars and the addition of an inclusive playground, the latter of which officially opened in June.[4][5] Later that same year, it was announced that the park had received a grant for shoreline improvements and a wildlife viewing platform. Construction began in late 2025.[6][7]
Current rides
editRoller coasters
edit| Coaster | Opened | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zippin Pippin | 2011 | The Gravity Group | Wooden roller coaster |
Thrill rides
edit| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Beast | 2023 | Moser's Rides | Drop tower (Gravity Tower) |
| NebulaZ | 2023 | Zamperla | NebulaZ |
| Scat | 1985 | Venture Manufacturing | Scat |
| Sea Dragon | 2013 | Chance Morgan | Swinging ship |
| Yo - Yo | 1996 | Chance Rides | Yo-Yo |
Family rides
edit| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Wheel | 2019 | Chance Rides | Ferris wheel |
| Bumper Cars | 1993 | S.D.C. | Bumper cars |
| Ferris Wheel | 1952 | Eli Bridge Company | Big Eli Ferris Wheel |
| Giant Slide | 1971 | Unknown | Fun slide |
| Helicopters | 1964 | Allan Herschell Company | Helicopters |
| Merry - Go - Round | 1971 | Chance Manufacturing | Carousel |
| Rockin’ Tug | 2016 | Zamperla | Rockin’ Tug |
| Scrambler | 1977 | Eli Bridge Company | Scrambler |
| Tilt-a-Whirl | 1982 | Sellner Manufacturing | Tilt-A-Whirl |
| Train | 1956 | Crown Metal Products | Miniature train |
Kiddie rides
edit| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boats | 1972 | Allan Herschell Company | Boats |
| Granny Bugs | 1998 | Zamperla | Jump Around |
| Jeeps | 1972 | Zamperla | Jeeps |
| Lady Bugs | 1977 | Eyerly Aircraft Company | Lady Bugs |
| Race Cars | 1998 | Zamperla | Race Cars |
| Sky Fighters | 1998 | Molina & Son's | Race Cars |
Former rides
editRoller coasters
edit| Name | Opened | Closed | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greyhound | 1929 | 1936 | Breinig Construction Company | Wooden roller coaster |
| Jack Rabbit[8][9] | 1901 | 1928 | Breinig Construction Company | Wooden roller coaster |
Rides
edit| Name | Opened | Closed | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Beast | 2016 | 2021 | Zamperla | Pounce n' Bounce |
| Chairplane | 2013 | 2023 | Smith & Smith | Swing ride |
| Falling Star | 2017 | 2021 | Chance Rides | Falling Star |
| Miniature Train | 1929 | 1954 | Unknown | Miniature train |
Images
edit
Bumper Cars building
The Scat ride
View from the top of the Ferris wheel
References
edit- ↑ Tim Freiss. Haunted Green Bay. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2010.
- ↑ WLUK Fox 11 News "Council to vote on Bay Beach master plan"
- ↑ "'It's my new favorite ride': Bay Beach thrill seekers treated to new attraction". TMJ4 News. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ↑ Kaster, Ashley (2024-06-10). "Green Bay opens new inclusive playground at Bay Beach Amusement Park". FOX 11 News.
- ↑ "Bay Beach to get new inclusive playground & other upgrades this summer". Apr 24, 2024.
- ↑ Steeno, Paul (Sep 25, 2024). "Shoreline improvements likely coming to Bay Beach Amusement Park".
- ↑ Lin, Jesse. "Green Bay Parks Committee divulges details of what $2.4M Bay Beach grant will be spent on, sends plan to City Council". Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- ↑ "Green Bay Parks".
- ↑ "Bay Beach Amusement Park". Roller Coaster Database.
External links
edit
