3. Ocean View Pavilion Amusement Park

Amusement rides at Jacksonville Beach on July 3, 1949. Photo courtesy of State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, https://floridamemory.com/items/show/67597

In 1925, W. H. Adams, Sr. opened the Ocean View Pavilion amusement park on the former ground of Murray Hall in Jacksonville Beach. Ocean View Pavilion’s feature attraction was a 93-feet high coaster, with cars reaching up to 50 miles per hour. Unfortunately, due to its size and being so close to the beach, the coaster was extremely vulnerable to damage. Eventually, the coaster was deemed unsafe, and was destructed and replaced by a smaller coaster called the “Wild Mouse”. Business declined with the loss of the huge, distinctive coaster. Eventually a fire put an end to Ocean View, during the 1950s. The end of Jacksonville Beach’s amusement park days came with Playland Park, which was located only a few blocks north. Playland Park was similar to most “fairs” we see today: Ferris wheels, bumper cars, Tilt-A-Whirls, etc. There was also a “penny arcade,” with pinball machines and arcade-type games.

2. Oriental Gardens

In 1925, George W. Clark began planting overflow from his botanical collection on a vacant bluff overlooking the St. Johns River, just south of San Marco. Eventually, this 18 acre private estate would open to the public as Oriental Gardens. From 1937 to 1954, Oriental Gardens was well known as a major Jacksonville attraction. During this period, the gardens featured hourly concerts, 500 year old Live Oaks and 100 varieties of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. In 1954, the private estate was purchased by State Investment Company and carved into 33 single family home sites.

1. Riverview Amusement Park

Long before Roses discount store, this site was originally developed into the Riverview Tropical Gardens by Dr. E.H. Armstrong between 1910 and 1920. By the 1950s, it was the site of Sid Walker’s Riverview Amusement Park, which featured a major roller rink called Stake-O-Rama, 10 rides, restaurants, a swimming pool, beach, ballroom and picnic areas. In 1959, a large portion of the site was carved out for the construction of a shopping center that was anchored by K-Mart for a number of years. Although K-Mart closed in May 2010, it was replaced by Roses discount store in September 2011.

In 1979, the City of Jacksonville purchased the northern half of the property from the estate of H.S. Walker to establish Riverview Park. Through the years, the wooded area and river setting, coupled with a playground area for children, continue to make this hidden city park a popular get-a-way spot for families.

Title image of the main entrance to the Florida Ostrich Farm is courtesy of the State Archives of Florida. Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Davis is a certified senior planner and graduate of Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is the co-founder of Metro Jacksonville.com and ModernCities.com — two websites dedicated to promoting fiscally sustainable communities — and Transform Jax, a tactical urbanist group. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com