Bay Beach Amusement Park is a municipal amusement park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The park contains rides, concessions, and a multi-purpose pavilion. The park is adjacent to the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
History The park's history dates to the early 1890s when entrepreneur Mitchell Nejedlo purchased the land. Originally intended to be divided and sold for summer cottages, he turned it into Bay View Beach. Bay View Beach had a dance hall, a bar, and a bathhouse, however, because it was swampy and infested with mosquitoes, the park didn't attract many visitors. Despite this, its first roller coaster was installed in 1901.
In 1908, Captain John Cusick bought the resort from Nejedlo. Cusick built an 8-foot dock that extended 570 feet into the bay, then bought a steamboat to transport customers from Walnut Street Bridge to Bay View Beach. That same year, he oversaw the installation of a shoot the chute ride, which featured a boat that could hold 12 people. The boat would slide down a 50-foot ramp and into the water below.
In 1911, Bay View Beach was sold to Frank Emery Murphy and Fred A. Rahr. In 1920, they donated the 11-acre park, along with all its buildings and attractions, to the city of Green Bay to be used as a city park, called Bay Beach Amusement Park.Tim Freiss. Haunted Green Bay. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2010.
Pollution of the bay eventually caused the swimming beach to close. From the 1930s to the early 1970s, Bay Beach Amusement Park's pavilion hosted concerts, political rallies, dances, fireworks, and other events. On August 9, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the park in celebration of the city of Green Bay's tercentennial. In 2006, of land west of the park boundary was purchased to upgrade and expand the park. Plans included replacing the original Ferris wheel and expanding the tracks of the park's train ride to circle the enlarged acreage. On March 2, 2010, the city of Green Bay approved the purchase of the nearly century-old Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster from Memphis, Tennessee, where it had sat derelict for five years. A groundbreaking took place on August 25, 2010, and construction on Zippin Pippin began in September 2010. Construction was completed in April 2011, and the ride opened a month later in May.
In early 2013, an expansion plan was proposed. Phase 1 included the addition of the Sea Dragon ride and further expansion of the train tracks. Several trains and cars were donated to the park in 2014, with an additional 3,000 feet of track being added to its length for the 2015 season.WLUK Fox 11 News In 2017, the Falling Star ride was introduced. In 2019, a 100-foot Ferris wheel opened. In 2023, the park added a NebulaZ ride. In early 2024, it was announced that upgrades to several rides were planned, including upgrading the Bumper Cars and the addition of an inclusive playground, the latter of which officially opened in June. Later that same year, it was announced that the park had received a grant for shoreline improvements and a wildlife viewing platform. Construction began in late 2025. Current rides Roller coasters
CoasterOpenedManufacturerTypeZippin Pippin2011The Gravity GroupWooden roller coaster
Thrill rides
NameOpenedManufacturerTypeBay Beast2023Moser's RidesDrop tower (Gravity Tower)NebulaZ2023ZamperlaNebulaZScat1985Venture ManufacturingScatSea Dragon2013Chance MorganSwinging shipYo - Yo1996Chance RidesYo-Yo
Family rides
NameOpenedManufacturerTypeBig Wheel2019Chance RidesFerris wheelBumper Cars1993S.D.C.Bumper carsFerris Wheel1952Eli Bridge CompanyBig Eli Ferris WheelGiant Slide1971UnknownFun slideHelicopters1964Allan Herschell CompanyHelicoptersMerry-Go-Round1971Chance RidesCarouselRockin’ Tug2016ZamperlaRockin’ TugScrambler1977Eli Bridge CompanyScramblerTilt-a-Whirl1982Sellner ManufacturingTilt-A-WhirlTrain1956Crown Metal ProductsMiniature train
Kiddie rides
NameOpenedManufacturerTypeBoats1972Allan Herschell CompanyBoatsGranny Bugs1998ZamperlaJump AroundJeeps1972ZamperlaJeepsLady Bugs1977Eyerly Aircraft CompanyLady BugsRace Cars1998ZamperlaRace CarsSky Fighters1998Molina & Son'sRace Cars
Former rides
Roller coasters NameOpenedClosedManufacturerTypeGreyhound19291936Breinig Construction CompanyWooden roller coasterJack Rabbit19011928Breinig Construction CompanyWooden roller coaster
Rides NameOpenedClosedManufacturerTypeBay Beast20162021ZamperlaPounce n' BounceChairplane20132023Smith & SmithSwing rideFalling Star20172021Chance RidesFalling StarMiniature Train19291954UnknownMiniature train
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External links