Mysterious Sue
Strata Poster
So the topic about the oldest park you've visited got me interested.
Do a little digging and it's obvious that there isn't a definitive list of the world's oldest parks. There appear to be a number of reasons for this. Firstly, RCDB can't list anything before 1753 without going haywire (as described in the entry for Bakken). Here's a link to its list again for completeness:
https://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=3&nm=na&page=1&order=8
Then it depends on if you are looking at the date the park first opened or the date of the first ride addition.
To make things more complicated, some parks have an unsubstantiated opening date or more than one depending on which source you read.
I've done some (minimal) digging and below is a non-exhaustive attempt at a world's oldest list by opening date.
It would be really good if others could critique it and add to it to get some kind of definitive list going. I've left out Williams Grove as it's no longer operating.
Bakken 1583
(http://www.bakken.dk/english/bakken-the-worlds-oldest-amusement-park)
Wiena Prater 1766
(http://www.praterwien.com/en/prater/fun-in-vienna/history/)
Vidámpark/Holnemvolt Park 1838
(RCDB lists it as 1896 but there are several sources suggesting a much earlier date http://www.pureviagem.com.br/noticia/os-10-parques-de-diversoes-mais-antigos-do-mundo_a7845/9)
Blackgang Chine 1843
(http://www.blackgangchine.com/history)
Tivoli Gardens 1843
(http://www.tivoli.dk/en/om/tivolis+historie)
Lake Compounce 1846
(https://www.lakecompounce.com/plan-a-visit/lake-compounce)
Hanayashiki 1853
(http://www.hanayashiki.net/e/)
Jardin d'Acclimatation 1860
(http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71282/Jardin-d-Acclimatation)
Dreamland, Margate 1867?
(RCDB says 1863 for the establishment of Hall by the Sea but the following page suggests that it wasn't rented out by the railway company until 1867:
http://www.margatelocalhistory.co.uk/Pictures/Pictures-Dreamland.html)
Do a little digging and it's obvious that there isn't a definitive list of the world's oldest parks. There appear to be a number of reasons for this. Firstly, RCDB can't list anything before 1753 without going haywire (as described in the entry for Bakken). Here's a link to its list again for completeness:
https://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=3&nm=na&page=1&order=8
Then it depends on if you are looking at the date the park first opened or the date of the first ride addition.
To make things more complicated, some parks have an unsubstantiated opening date or more than one depending on which source you read.
I've done some (minimal) digging and below is a non-exhaustive attempt at a world's oldest list by opening date.
It would be really good if others could critique it and add to it to get some kind of definitive list going. I've left out Williams Grove as it's no longer operating.
Bakken 1583
(http://www.bakken.dk/english/bakken-the-worlds-oldest-amusement-park)
Wiena Prater 1766
(http://www.praterwien.com/en/prater/fun-in-vienna/history/)
Vidámpark/Holnemvolt Park 1838
(RCDB lists it as 1896 but there are several sources suggesting a much earlier date http://www.pureviagem.com.br/noticia/os-10-parques-de-diversoes-mais-antigos-do-mundo_a7845/9)
Blackgang Chine 1843
(http://www.blackgangchine.com/history)
Tivoli Gardens 1843
(http://www.tivoli.dk/en/om/tivolis+historie)
Lake Compounce 1846
(https://www.lakecompounce.com/plan-a-visit/lake-compounce)
Hanayashiki 1853
(http://www.hanayashiki.net/e/)
Jardin d'Acclimatation 1860
(http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71282/Jardin-d-Acclimatation)
Dreamland, Margate 1867?
(RCDB says 1863 for the establishment of Hall by the Sea but the following page suggests that it wasn't rented out by the railway company until 1867:
http://www.margatelocalhistory.co.uk/Pictures/Pictures-Dreamland.html)
Last edited:
