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Forest Park opened in 1903 while Fairmount was in a coma. Located in the Northeast park of KC, south of Independence Avenue and Hardesty, where the old Quartermaster building still stands. Built by Col. Hopkins for $195,000 on farm and orchard land owned by the Michael, Ancel & Mattie Collins family for decades. Distorted mirrors greeted the guests where they entered, a $15,000 English Carousel, Vaudeville, swimming, etc. It was the only park, maybe in the whole world, that had a dress code. But neither Carnival nor Forest lasted long. Carnival closed in 1911 and Forest in 1912, due mainly to 1) Electric and Fairmount Parks' popularity and 2) in 1909 the city doubled in size to 50 or so square miles and land was growing in value.


The impressive entrance to Forest Park at Independence and Hardesty was also the end of the line for Independence Avenue cable cars. The amusement park was privately owned and operated between 1903 and 1912. Col. John D. Hopkins, Lloyd Brown, W. R. Fisher and John D. Tippett were among the managers and lessors.

Attractions included glass blowers, a laughing gallery, scenic railway, Cave of the Winds, pony track, donkeys to ride and a $15,000 English carousel. Lenge's military band played concerts and there was a restaurant, picnic grounds and even a large round well-stocked monkey house.

Today residences and businesses fill the four city blocks the park occupied, with an auto parts store on the corner pictured.



CREDITS: EXCERPTS: Kansas City Library