For many decades, not long ago, many locals didn’t have far to go to experience an amusement park all summer long.
A park was formed on the sandbar separating the lake and the bay, known as the Beach Strip and was governed by the Burlington Beach Commission.
By the 1800s, roller skating had been established and one establishment was the Ocean House Roller Rink at the Ocean House Hotel and resort, which was, sadly, destroyed by fire in late 1890.
As the region grew, H. Knapman saw an opportunity for a recreation area. He formed the Canada Amusement Company and opened the Canal Amusement Park in 1903 with boat and bath houses, swings and slides, snack bars and a funhouse called the 'Crazy House.' In 1912, he added an Eli ferris wheel, and later he purchased a 1914 Herschell carousel, and some other children’s rides. The park was known as Knapman Beach and Canal Amusement Park on the south side of the canal.
By 1910, the Beach had become quite popular, both as a summer resort and a permanent dwelling place. People would come from miles around by Ferry or by Radial Car to spend time at the beach and have fun.
In 1918, Joseph Allen acquired the park, he owned a restaurant next to the park, above which he lived. Allen expanded the operation with an open-air dance floor which also served as a roller rink.
After Mr. Allen purchased the park, presumably, the name was changed to Burlington Beach Amusements. Later other rides came to include a 1912 Tilt-A-Whirl, a 1928 Octopus and a Roll-O-Plane.
In the early 1950s, the Knapp Brothers took over the amusement park. By this time the park had 19 rides including a Wild Mouse, a Scrambler and Bumper cars. There was a small midway with games, and there was the Pier Ballroom with wooden dance floor which featured popular performers.
Traffic increased on the Beach Strip which began as King’s Highway #2 and later as part of the QEW, as the main route between Toronto and Niagara which ran right past the amusement park. There were hotels, taverns, restaurants, a bowling alley and snack bars along with the amusement park for travellers along the route.
In 1957, the Burlington Beach Commission was disbanded, and the City of Hamilton assumed responsibility for that area of the beach. With the opening of the Skyway Bridge in 1958, traffic to the area was greatly decreased.
In 1974, the city didn’t renew the Knapp Brothers long-term land lease and they ran year to year until the lease expired in 1978, and then most items were auctioned off. The wooden Wild Mouse was not sold and was ultimately destroyed by a storm and high winds. The 1914 carousel went into storage for a few years. It was bought in 1982 and can be seen working at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, New York.
What fun it was to have had this amusement park so close to home, sadly, closing after 75 years, leaving us with only the memories.
