Michigan’s landscape once buzzed with the sounds of roller coasters and carnival music at beloved amusement parks. Today, these parks exist only in photographs and the memories of those who experienced their magic firsthand.
From island getaways to roadside attractions with prehistoric themes, these entertainment venues shaped countless childhood summers for generations of Michiganders before closing their gates forever.
1. Edgewater Park
Nestled on Detroit’s west side near Grand River Avenue, Edgewater Park thrilled visitors from 1927 until its final season in 1981. The Wild Mouse roller coaster struck fear into young hearts with its sharp turns and sudden drops, while the Tilt-A-Whirl and bumper cars provided gentler thrills for families seeking weekend entertainment.
Summer evenings at Edgewater meant colorful lights reflecting across the midway as teenagers gathered to show off and families enjoyed cotton candy under the Michigan sky. The park’s distinctive red and white entrance arch became an iconic landmark for generations of Detroiters.
Rising insurance costs, changing entertainment preferences, and neighborhood decline eventually forced Edgewater to close. A shopping center later occupied the site, erasing nearly all physical traces of this beloved attraction.
2. Boblo Island Amusement Park
The SS Columbia and SS Ste. Claire ferries transported excited families across the Detroit River to this magical island playground for nearly a century. Operating from 1898 until its closure in 1993, Boblo Island offered a distinctive cross-border experience between Michigan and Ontario that created lasting memories for generations.
The Sky Tower, Wild Mouse roller coaster, and Falling Star ride ranked among visitor favorites. Dance halls featuring big bands drew young couples seeking romance under summer skies.
Financial troubles and competition from larger theme parks eventually forced Boblo’s closure. Today, preservation efforts continue for the historic ferries while the island itself has been redeveloped for residential use, though concrete foundations and occasional ride remnants still whisper of its carnival past.
3. Deer Forest Fun Park
A charming roadside attraction in Coloma, Deer Forest combined gentle amusement rides with the simple joy of feeding friendly deer by hand. From 1949 until its final closure in 2015, this family-owned park offered an alternative to massive commercial theme parks with its intimate setting and connection to nature.
Children delighted in the deer train that wound through wooded areas where tame deer approached for food pellets purchased at the entrance. The modest collection of kiddie rides, including a small Ferris wheel and carousel, complemented the animal encounters.
Multiple ownership changes in its final decades signaled trouble for this southwestern Michigan gem. Animal welfare concerns, deferred maintenance, and changing vacation patterns contributed to its ultimate demise, though former visitors still trade memories of deer eating right from their palms.
4. Prehistoric Forest
Life-sized fiberglass dinosaurs once lurked among the trees of this quirky Irish Hills attraction, surprising visitors who ventured along its nature trails. Operating from 1963 until the early 2000s, Prehistoric Forest combined science education with roadside kitsch in a uniquely Michigan way.
Families would pile into station wagons and later minivans to see the towering brontosaurus visible from US-12. Inside, a miniature golf course, safari train, and water slide complemented the main attraction: dozens of prehistoric creatures frozen in dramatic poses.
Changing entertainment expectations and the decline of the Irish Hills tourism corridor spelled extinction for this beloved attraction. Today, the weathered dinosaurs occasionally appear in social media posts from urban explorers, standing as silent sentinels among increasingly overgrown surroundings – modern fossils of Michigan’s roadside attraction heyday.
5. Lake Lansing Amusement Park
Summer weekends meant one destination for mid-Michigan families from 1906 until 1974: Lake Lansing Amusement Park in Haslett. The Cyclone roller coaster’s wooden framework dominated the landscape, while the park’s ballroom hosted famous bands including Tommy Dorsey and Guy Lombardo during its heyday.
Visitors arrived by interurban railway in the early years, transitioning to automobiles as times changed. The beach and swimming area provided relief on hot summer days before or after enjoying rides like the Flying Scooters and Tilt-A-Whirl.
Racial tensions, declining attendance, and a devastating fire contributed to the park’s closure. Today, Lake Lansing Park North occupies the former amusement area, with hiking trails where roller coaster tracks once stood. Only a historical marker and a carefully preserved carousel (relocated to nearby Meridian Mall) remain as tangible connections to this vanished summer paradise.
6. Playland Park
Just across the Michigan border in South Bend, Indiana, Playland Park drew Michigan families from Niles, Buchanan, and beyond from 1925 until 1961. The wooden Figure-8 roller coaster, built in 1927, became the park’s signature attraction, visible for miles around with its distinctive rising and falling track configuration.
Saturday nights at Playland meant big band performances and dancing at the massive roller rink that continued operating even after the rides closed. The penny arcade, shooting gallery, and carnival games separated children from their allowance money while creating lasting memories.
A catastrophic fire in 1954 damaged many attractions, beginning a decline the park never recovered from. Today, Indiana University South Bend occupies the former grounds, with nothing remaining of the once-beloved entertainment destination except photographs and the occasional piece of ride memorabilia treasured by collectors.
7. Potter Park Rides
While Potter Park Zoo continues to thrive in Lansing, many residents remember when a small amusement section occupied the park grounds from the 1920s through the 1970s. The miniature train that circled the property remains operational today, but once it was joined by a modest collection of kiddie rides that made Potter Park a complete family destination.
A vintage carousel with hand-carved horses, a small Ferris wheel, and playground equipment provided entertainment between animal exhibits. For many Lansing children, Potter Park represented their first amusement ride experience, creating a stepping stone to larger parks they would visit later.
Changing zoo philosophies focusing on conservation and animal welfare gradually phased out the amusement section. The train survived as an educational tool to transport visitors around the expanded zoo grounds, while the other rides disappeared one by one, living on only in family photo albums and the memories of longtime Lansing residents.
8. Irish Hills Fun Center
Located along US-12 in the heart of the Irish Hills tourism district, this modest attraction combined go-karts, miniature golf, and small amusement rides from the 1960s until the early 2000s. Sandwiched between the more famous Mystery Hill and Prehistoric Forest, the Fun Center completed the trinity of family entertainment that made the area a mandatory stop during Michigan road trips.
The winding go-kart track featured just enough hills and turns to thrill young drivers experiencing momentary freedom behind the wheel. Batting cages, an arcade, and a refreshment stand rounded out the offerings at this unpretentious roadside attraction.
The decline of the entire Irish Hills tourism corridor affected all attractions along the route. Today, empty concrete pads mark where rides once stood, with nature gradually reclaiming the property as travelers speed past on US-12, most unaware of the family memories once created on this quiet patch of Michigan soil.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
