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♪♪

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The Bitter Lake neighborhood
in northwest Seattle

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has seen many transformations
over the years: a pristine

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lake frequented by local
tribes, a small sawmill

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and a once popular amusement
park called Playland.

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In the late 1920s, Leo F. Smith

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president of the Washington

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amusement company,
and co investor W.A.

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Logus, decided

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that the time was ripe
for Seattle

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to have an exciting
new amusement park.

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For its location,

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they chose the shores
of Bitter Lake,

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and after seven months
of construction

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at a cost of $750,000,
Playland opened on May 24th,

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1930, just months
after the stock market crash.

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(carnival sounds)

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Amidst an economic depression,

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the owners urged
thrill seekers to visit

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a place where they could
"banish jaded nerves,

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nagging thoughts and worries,

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and to apply instead wholesome
recreation and relaxation."

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The most impressive ride
at the park was The Dipper,

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the massive roller coaster
that cost $75,000 to build.

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For the more adventurous,

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there was the Giant Whirl,
with its 85-foot steel chains

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connecting 30 cars
to a giant maypole.

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Other popular rides included
The Phantom, the Funhouse,

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a merry-go-round, a miniature
scenic railroad and more.

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(train whistles)

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Visitors loved Playland, but

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the Washington
amusement company

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had sunk so much money
into the operation,

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there was little way to make
a return on their investment.

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They sold the lease to Carl
Phare, designer of the park's

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roller coaster,

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who then operated Playland

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with a succession of partners
for the next 30 years.

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Phare had worked
at various amusement

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parks and expositions
since he was a child

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and knew how to attract fun
seekers.

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The entrance fee at Playland
was a dime for anyone over 12.

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Rides were ten cents each.

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To entice return visitors,

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Phare held
numerous promotions,

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including flagpole
sitters, dance

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marathons and special days

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for children,
for city workers,

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and for employees
of various businesses.

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In 1933,
Playland Stadium opened just

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east of the park with an oval
track for dog racing.

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But the state

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quickly stepped in
and shut it down for betting.

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In 1941,

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the oval was widened
to accommodate

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midget racers, small
but high-powered sedans,

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which proved to be
quite popular.

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Unfortunately,
the races were soon

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put on hiatus due to World War
II gas rationing

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and rubber shortages.

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But the races returned
to an eager audience in 1946.

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(fire truck siren blares)

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In 1950,
the stadium grandstand

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burned down in a fire.

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It was rebuilt.

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But then in 1953,

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Playland itself was hit
by a giant blaze which damaged

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many of the rides

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and destroyed the concession
building and Phare's office,

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which contained

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business records
and the archives of the park.

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(carnival sounds)

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The rides were repaired,
but the novelty of Playland

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was beginning to fade.

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In 1954,

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Bitter Lake

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and the surrounding

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neighborhood
was annexed to Seattle,

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which brought new
infrastructure and more homes.

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By the end of the decade,
the park and school boards

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had acquired most of the land
where Playland was located,

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and the amusement park
was officially condemned.

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At the end of 1961,
the last traces of Playland

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were dismantled
to make way for a school,

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a community
center and a play field.

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♪♪