Delmar Garden Amusement Park
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 In Delmar Garden, just outside World's Fair Grounds, c. 1904 | |
| Location | Delmar Boulevard, University City, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°39′25″N 90°18′22″W / 38.657°N 90.306°W |
| Status | Defunct |
| Opened | c. 1900–1905 |
| Closed | c. 1918–1919 |
| Area | ~42 acres[1] |
Delmar Garden Amusement Park was an early 20th‑century amusement park located along Delmar Boulevard in what is now University City, Missouri, at the western edge of St. Louis.[2] It opened before the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and closed in the late 1910s.[3]
Origins and development
Delmar Garden was established between Kingsland and Skinker boulevards along Delmar Boulevard.[4] It opened circa 1900–1905, featuring a carousel, roller coasters, theaters, dance pavilions, beer gardens, picnic areas, baseball diamond, football field, and a lake.[4][5][6][7]
The park was adjacent to the Delmar Race Track and connected directly to the streetcar network.[2][8] The streetcar line looped through the southwest corner of the park before returning downtown St. Louis —hence the name “Delmar Loop”.[2]
Peak years
During its heyday, Delmar Garden was described by the St. Louis Globe‑Democrat as “the most gigantic undertaking” in the city's history.[9] It hosted baseball and football games, live theater, carnival-style attractions (including a “mystic chamber” with harmless electric shocks), and various dining and entertainment venues.[6][9]
Decline and closure
The park's attendance eventually declined and it was determined the land would be more valuable as a residential area.[6][7] The park closed and was dismantled around 1919.[7][10]
