Ralston Valley [e]Xpress Newspaper

The Tower of Jewels is the 150-foot centerpiece of Lakeside.

     Sitting on the edge of the picturesque Lake Rhoda, Denver’s Lakeside Amusement Park is one of the oldest in the country, and the oldest in its original location in Colorado. It opened on May 30^th, 1908, taking up nearly half the town of Lakeside.

     Older park guests will remember the iconic Tower of Jewels, a 150-foot lighthouse of sorts with over 5,000 lights. At one time it was complete with a park casino and casino theater, and was originally one of the tallest buildings in Colorado. Today the tower is used for offices and storage.

     “It was so pretty,” past guest Nancy Mickle, Ralston Valley librarian, recalls. “It was just awesome. It was a landmark that we all used to look for.”

     Still in use at the park is the 70-year-old Cyclone coaster. Standing at an enormous 90 feet tall, it’s covered in chipped white paint and recognized as an American Coaster Enthusiasts “Landmark Coaster”. This past summer, a huge scare involving the Cyclone seriously upset park frequenters—it was shut down for repairs during the winter months and most of the summer season. It didn’t re-open until Labor Day weekend.

     More rides featured at the historic park are the Auto Skooters, Matterhorn, Scrambler, Tilt-A-Whirl, and Wild Chipmunk. A 22-gauge miniature diesel train also loops around the lake, which, aside from the Ferris wheel, offers the best view of the park at night.

     Gussied up in bright neon colors, Lakeside was once called White City because of the 100,000 plus lights that dazzled its spectators. When the dark rolls in, the timeless feeling of a past architectural age reflects flawlessly on the surface of the water, a truly magical sight to behold. It may be that same sight that keeps drawing so many people back.

     “This is better than Six Flags,” said sophomore Jason Heinecke.

     Indeed, going to Lakeside is a great way to spend Friday night with your friends. While it may not be as large as Elitch Gardens, it’s a more cost effective and family-oriented alternative. The older, history-rich park is open during the summer from May to September and unlimited rides cost only $13.75 on weekdays and $19.75 on weekends/holidays.

     The park is located at 4601 Sheridan Boulevard in Denver, Colorado.