I was writing about an old amusement park that used to be in my hometown of The Bronx when I remembered a similar attraction in the Hudson Valley. Electric Park, located on Kinderhook Lake in Columbia County, NY, came to mind, and after doing some research, I found it to be an interesting part of niche history.
Electric Park was established by the Albany & Hudson Railroad Company and opened in 1901. It may seem unusual that a railroad and trolley company were involved in the amusement park industry, but this was common at that time. These companies earned most of their profits during weekdays, so they built amusement parks to draw more riders on weekends. The Albany & Hudson Railroad provided a round-trip trolley ride from the train station, park admission, and a free show for forty cents person
Electric Park became a popular destination and was promoted as the largest amusement park between NYC and Montreal. On weekends, crowds of 10,000 people were common. The park offered various attractions, including boating, swimming in the lake, a Chute slide, amusement rides like two Ferris wheels and a roller coaster built over the lake, a giant carousel, picnic areas, a 5-cent power boat ride around the lake, garden-lined strolling paths, games of chance, vaudeville shows, concerts, a dance hall, shooting gallery, bowling alley, a 400-seat theater, tent platforms for extended stays, and a variety of food. The only things missing in all of this were cocktails.
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You see, Electric Park was a family park and therefore “Dry” (meaning no alcohol), but part of Kinderhook Lake was “Wet.” To address this, a clever man named Adam Shaver bought a small island in the “wet” part of the lake and built a two-story building with a dock. Gentlemen, park visitors would row out to the island and enjoy a few drinks in the downstairs bar to relax after the day’s excitement. It is said that the upstairs had rooms where men who overindulged could rest and recover.
As such, Electric Park had a relatively short life. When WWI broke out, Electric Park closed. The exact closing date isn’t clear. The park attempted a few comebacks, but by 1921, it was gone entirely and became just another legend in the Hudson Valley. What remains of the park today? Kinderhook Lake, of course, has a few houses now private residences, and a street called Electric Park.
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