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General Info
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Columns
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Resources
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Multimedia
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Drive-In Theaters
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Indoor Theaters
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Parks and Fairs
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Auto Racing
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Boat Racing
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Gas, Food and Lodging
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Cities and Towns
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Recreation and Sports
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Roadside Michigan
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Ramona Park |
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Name: Ramona Park Street: Croswell Street
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City: Grand Rapids County: Kent
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| Open: N/A |
Closed: N/A |
Status: Demolished |
| Web Address: N/A |
| Notes: AKA Reeds Lake |
| Number of visits to this page since February 23, 2007: 16040 |
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Entry Date: - 10/4/2009 - Mary Dersch - Please visit the East Grand Rapids History Room, upper level, East Grand Rapids Library, 746 Lakeside Drive SE. See pictures, read the Remembering Ramona book with lots of memories from the great days of Ramona Park. Displays change on a regular basis. Please leave a memory of Ramona Park or the good ole'' days in EGR.
Questions? Please contact Mary Dersch, Curator, East Grand Rapids History Room, derschmary@netscape.net
Entry Date: - 8/28/2009 - Gail M. Snow - To Linda Phelps and all other folk who loved Ramona Park: I am writing a book about Reed''s Lake and Ramona Park and am looking for stories and photos from people who visited the park or worked there. For more information, see Tom Rademacher''s column in the GR Press from July 4, 2009. My email address is, gmsnow22@hotmail.com
Entry Date: - 8/14/2009 - Linda Phelps - I grew up on Lovett Avenue, across the street for the ''Derby Racer'', which was the name of the roller coaster. The part where the coaster swung up and around was only a few feet away. I remember the noise of the coaster going down the big hill and the screams of the people, and the racketing noise the coaster made as it turned the corner. It lulled me to sleep.
My family and the Glidden family were close friends. The Gliddens owned the train and the bumper cars.
My parents met at the park, and many years later, they married.
I was in the same class as the Delamarter twins, and remember that for our 6th grade celebration, the family opened the park for us.
Of course, I could ride most things for free, since the people who worked at the park knew each other. I was taught always to offer money, but it was never accepted.
What a wonderful Merry-go-round exists in my memory!
I remember Rose''s caramel corn, and the hot air balloons. One such landed on Lovett Avenue after a Sunday ascension, and then, there was the time the donkeys got loose and munched on everyone''s lawns.
Didn''t vaudeville end up in Ramona Park? I know I saw some famous entertainers when I was a child, but then I think the theater was turned into a roller rink.
I am sure I saw Blackstone the Magician there.
There was the fun house and the hall of mirrors, the Tilt-a-Whirl and the caterpillar.
I suppose most of this would seem like slow going to the customers of theme parks, but EGR seems to have lost quite a bit of its character when this landmark was demolished to make room for condos and specialty shops.
Entry Date: - 10/24/2008 - Mary Dersch - Please visit the East Grand Rapids History Room, upper level, East Grand Rapids Library, 746 Lakeside Drive SE. See pictures, read the Remembering Ramona book with lots of memories from the great days of Ramona Park. Currently there is a display on the Fisk Lake Tavern which stood on the corner of Lakeside Drive and Robinson Road from 1838 - 1955. See the History Room''s website for more information:
http://www.eastgr.org/?t=100&c=102
Questions? Please contact Mary Dersch, Curator, East Grand Rapids History Room, derschmary@netscape.net
Entry Date: - 9/24/2008 - ronnie Pierce - My great grand mother Frances Haskins did parachute jumps over Reed Lake at Ramona Park in the late 1930s or 1040 and I am looking for any information from that time as I only a few pictures and a newspaper article written at the time of her death.
I remember in the early 50''s having family Birthday Parties for my Mom on her birthday each year on Memorial Day. The real one May 30th.
Entry Date: - 9/3/2008 - Amy Muilenburg - My Grandma, Verna Jean Jones, hung out at Ramona Park. She died when my Dad was a young boy. I know very little about her. She played in a band, raced cars, and loved Ramona Park. My Dad''s Father was a pinball machine repairman. I wonder if they met at the park? His name was Ronald Benedict. That is all I know about him! It''s a long shot, but if anyone remembers Verna or Ronald I would love to hear from you! Friends of Verna''s that may have hung out at the Park with her were Marge, Nellie, and "Short Dort".
Entry Date: - 5/29/2008 - RoRoger Plafkinooooo - Pleae view Plafkin Farms on Photobucket.com and Webshots.com.
I used to keep a boat with Howard Rose who lived on Reeds Lake. He charged $10.00 per season, and what a bargain that was. Louis Delamarter was a friend of my father and uncle;we also did quite a bit of business with the Grand Rapids Motor Coach. The removal of the rail lines did a diservice to the general public;in this day of high gasoline prices, we all would benefit if the rail system was in place. We also would benefit if we had an amusement park within the city limits.
Today, the John Collins Park provides a sanctuary to rest and relax and enjoy an evening of music in the summer. It is a tribute to the community, that the public access to the lake has been kept opened. Roger Plafkin-Plafkin Farms, Ada, Michigan
Entry Date: - 2/10/2007 - Larry Heyns - Ramona Park is the most-remembered feature of the bygone days of East Grand Rapids. The amusement park, owned and operated by the Grand Rapids Street Railway Company, was a destination spot for thousands of families between 1897 and 1955. It was quite common in those days for a public transportation company to own such parks. They were known as trolley parks, and were placed at the end of the line to attract or encourage use of the public transportation system. During the 1920s street railways were a vital industry that provided the bulk of everyday city transportation in the United States. It was also an industry predominently in private hands, an exemplar of American free enterprise. Less than three decades later, it was an industry in ruins, its traditional suppliers' business dying or dead, its operating companies passing to municipal ownership at public expense. The buses which replaced the streetcars came from a handful of non-rail suppliers, among them Twin Coach and Mack, but predominently from General Motors. Were the street railways bowled over by history as the public turned to a better alternative or were they run out of existence by their business rivals?
Entry Date: - 1/26/2007 - Chris Carlisle - Here is some information on the 3 band organs that played on the Carousel at Ramona Park One is now located at The Grand Floridian at the 1900 Park Fare Restaurant, and has been nicknamed "Big Bertha". The other organ named Sadie Mae was also owned at one time by Disney World and later sold to a private collector. The last organ is in my back yard in my shop. I am restoring her. If you visit my website you can see pictures of all three organs..... www.bandorganmusic.com Thanks Chris Carlisle
Entry Date: - 1/13/2007 - Larry Heyns - My dad emails as follows: When I was a boy in the 1920s spending a summer day at Ramona Park on Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids was a great treat. Rides on the Derby Racer roller coaster cost a dime. Then there were the Bumper Cars to drive and try to bump others, the Fun House with it's room of fake doors making it hard to find your way out and the wooden slides which you rode on burlap bags. There was a roller skating rink and many concession stands and food booths. Occasionally a Balloonist would inflate his balloon and take off from the park. There were two small steamers on Reeds Lake which took passengers to Manhattan beach swimming beach at the other end of the lake - a 16 minute ride or you could stay on board for the return trip. The Rampant Theater was also located at the park where traveling stage shows from, Broadway performed. Going to Ramona Park was always lots of fun.
Entry Date: - 1/13/2007 - Larry Heyns - My dad's cousin emailed the following: Hi Larry, I must put my two cents worth in as it also was a favorite spot for my family. My dad went on all the rides with me and I loved the one that went completely upside down, but the derby was terrific too. I have pictures in my album from the picture booth where you could get different backgrounds and they were the brown tint inside of all colors like today. What amazes me is I had a dress and coat on and my dad was in a sport coat. Maygbe they were taken after the Theater performance?? I recall seeing Musicals at the Theatre which was special for those days. This would have been 1943 - 1946. When we compare it to Great America or other amusement parks it seems rinky dink, but certainly was a fun place. Cheryl Thank you for jogging my memory !
Entry Date: - 4/18/2006 - Carol Lee - I remember my father telling me about all the great times that he had at Ramona as a kid growing up in EGR. Daddy was born in 1929, passed away in the mid 1990s. He told stories of roller skating at Romona and swimming in Reeds Lake. I may have a postcard or two to scan of Ramona....taken from his scrapbooks. More posts later....
Entry Date: - 9/7/2005 - Maryann - We just found out that the steam engine and train is operational. It runs on tracks at Burley Park, Howard City, Michigan. It operates only on holidays and for private parties. We were pleased to find this out because we remembered it from our childhood.
Entry Date: - 12/29/2004 - Steve - The Bottom Picture Postcard appears to have been taken from the South East corner of the park, or, perhaps close to Bagley and Wealthy. The First hill ran Parallel to Wealthy street, not far off the roadway. I believe there was a steel picket fence around the park, but it may have been just around the coaster. After the park closed the steam driven train was moved to west of Lowell on the south side of M21 still keeping the name Ramona Railway. I am trying to find out what has happened to this steam train. The train went back to the river, and they also had some small "kiddie" rides inside of the track the last time I was there, in the mid 60s
Entry Date: - 5/25/2004 - Barry Kirsch - There is a newspaper story I read that says the bottom of reads lake is literally covered with ORANGE CRUSH bottles from this period...
Entry Date: - 1/23/2004 - WaterWinterWonderland - At the turn of the century to the mid 1900s Ramona Park, located beside Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids, Michigan was a local amusement and recreation area for the surrounding communities. There was a large amusement park, dance hall, theater and steamboat rides.
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| ROLLER COASTER |
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| OLD POST CARD |
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