Hold on to Your Hats, Folks! The first dual-rail 'Switch Back' amusement ride appeared along the Oceanfront in 1903.
And it provided an untold number of fond memories to the hundreds of thousands of folks who were lucky to experience a trip to the legendary Seaside Park. For nearly 75 years it served as a catalyst to the growth and development of the resort. Although the park was greatly downsized by the fire, it continued to be a major attraction at the resort and operated until 1986. Amenities included the Peacock Ballroom, Merry-Go-Round (Carousel), but many of the concessions and games survived the blaze. The Restaurant, Bath House and Picnic Pavilion were lost. The Casino is credited with saving the life of the tiny resort town, which had suffered greatly by the loss of the Princess Ann Hotel five years earlier.Ī fire in 1956 destroyed a major portion of the park.
The complex filled up four city blocks and quickly became a legendary amusement destination along the Eastern Seaboard. Built in 1912 by the Norfolk and Western Railroad, the Seaside Park Casino became the draw to crowds of people to the Oceanfront. Seaside Park Casino A Legend Lost in the Passage of Time. Seaside Park Casino, also, The Cavalier Hotel.
