INDEX

RIVERVIEW

AN EXAMPLE

A HISTORY

WELCOME

 

 

 

R I V E R V I E W
Gone But Not Forgotten
Title borrowed from a book by Chuck Wlodarczyk

FROM 1904 to 1967, EVERY KID'S DREAM STOOD AT WESTERN AND BELMONT AVENUES. Located in the heart of Chicago this legendary destination was truly a place to "Laugh Your Troubles Away." Riverview Park covered 74 acres in an area bound on the south and east by Belmont and Western Avenues respectively, on the north by Lane Tech High School, and on the west by the north branch of the Chicago River. It was in the North Center Community area and neighborhood on Chicago's north side.
  

Aerial View of Riverview
Tribune Archive Photo 

 

 

Riverview’s season ran from mid-May to mid-September, and ordinary city buses -- or in earlier years, trolleys -- would drop visitors at the patriotic red, white and blue front gates.

 

Riverview's Main Gate
Souvenir Post Card

 

 

Billing itself "the world's largest amusement park," Riverview was a two and a half mile midway lined with 33 rides, game booths, arcades, funhouses, and refreshment stands. Admission to the Park was a mere 10 or 15 cents and that was all you would have to spend to walk the 2 1/2 mile midway concourse.

 

Riverview Map of 1950s

http://www.themeparkbrochures.net/mainmaps.html

 

As for the rides, Riverview was a pay as you go proposition: no expensive entry fee and just 15 cents or a quarter to ride whichever attractions you wished. Each ride had a small ticket booth near the entrance; and when a ride did not have a long waiting line, the operators, as your ride ended, offered you the opportunity to “ride again” for even less money.

 

 
As you enter the Main Gate, the Carousel, or Merry-Go-Round, was ahead and to the left.
Souvenir Postcard

Return To Index

 

 

 

An Example of What Riverview
Meant to Us Kids:
 

A Trip to Riverview with Big Brother - At Night!

A short video made in remembrance of a wonderful evening compliments of a wonderful big brother
by Bert Grimm to Bob Grimm

 

Return To Index

 

 

 

Welcome!

Children from the Immaculate Heart of Mary School rush into the park
as it opened its doors 1130 a.m. May 15, 1957.
Leonard Bartholomew, Chicago Tribune

 

 

If you've been to Riverview, you can relate to the excitement exhibited in the photo above as being what you felt when you walked through Riverview's gate and gained access to the wonders and fun that lay before you. So,we're here -- let's get started!

Return To Index