Another Michigan Amusement Park That Disappeared: Jenison Electric Park in Holland

It’s always a kick to discover an old Michigan amusement park...especially ones that do not exist anymore. Amusement parks were plentiful 100 years ago, and now we have just a very few.

One of Michigan’s former amusement parks was the Jenison Electric Park near Holland on Lake Macatawa. Before the area became an entertainment source for Michiganders, it was a resort called Shady Side.

Shady Side was sold to Lucius and Luman Jenison in the summer of 1892. They gave the former resort the name ‘Jenison Electric Park’ and was leased for amusement purposes.

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What Amusements Were at Jenison Electric Park?

Although an amusement park, it retained its status as a resort, but with a bountiful bevy of fun for the whole family: Dance hall, Ferris wheels, ‘House of Troubles’, merry-go-rounds, Olympia Stadium (with a market, orchestra and restaurant), picnic area, roller coasters, swing ride, wandering garden, and much more.

Jenison Park celebrated its grand opening in May 1903. Over the next few years, new attractions were added: miniature railroad, updated merry-go-round, electric theater and a colored light fountain.

According to Mlive, in August 1910, with a law stating that amusement parks were to be closed on Sundays, warrants were being issued in order to arrest the park vendors for working on Sunday. This definitely did not help business.

By 1915, customer attendance was severely lacking. When Prohibition began, the bar at the Olympia was closed and in 1918, the Olympia burned down. The park grocery also burned and by 1920, the rides had it. Some were rotting and decaying while others were torn down for lumber.

When Did the Jenison Electric Park Close Down?

When the 1930s rolled around, some of the concessions and games were still operating, as was the merry-go-round. That same decade, most people were arriving for picnicking purposes. And with that, no more ads for Jenison Electric Park showed up in the newspapers.

In 1941, the land was purchased and turned into lots for sale.