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FPHDoug at the Highlands
In 1963, JFK had his plans for the future rifled over the streets of Dallas, Patsy Cline fell to pieces over Tennessee, & Forest Park Highlands (St.Louis' finest amusement park), went up in smoke over the skies of southeast Missouri.
This web site is for those who did not get to" fly the turns" or streak along Oakland Ave. on the Comet--or for those who did and want to relive fond memories of another "Spirit of St.Louis". If you visit once, come back again, as I will be adding new photos & postcards as I find them...and I am ALWAYS looking. My name is Doug Garner & I invite you to as the Highlands' slogan used to say,"Come on over for the time of your life!"
In late March of 2007,I finally got a book proposal accepted by Arcadia Press on,You guessed it, Forest Park Highlands. To celebrate, I decieded it was time to update this site. I hope you like the changes. This first page covers the early years. And this time ,I'll have at least three maybe four more pages/sites on the Highlands.Drop me an e mail at FPHDoug@aol.com.
Check back for new links too.
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Highlands trivia #2: The Dentzel carousel survived the 1963 fire & was later sold to a St.Louis businessman,Howard C. Ohlendorf for only $20,000! It took $250,000 to restore it & is now enjoying a second life at Faust Park in Chesterfield , Mo. on the west side just outside of St.Louis'city limits.
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Highlands trivia #1: The Highlands'owner, Park Curcuit Reality Co. , also owned Fountain Ferry Park in Louisville , KY.
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The postcard below shows the first entrance to the Highlands. It faced NW toward the 1904 Worlds Fair,across the street.This entrance was replaced by a more sustantial one about 1908. Tucked just behind the entrance is the parks' first roller coaster,The Scenic Railway.
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The photo below is of The Scenic Railway, one of the longest at the time. An L-shaped layout, it had a scenic building at the turn around. Its' route headed east along Oakland Ave. , then turned right into the area that would later be home to a Loop the Loop , The Derby Racer, & of course The Comet.
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A Missouri Historical Society photo
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(below) The Highlands Pagoda was recycled after the closing of the 1904 Worlds' Fair across the street..well,almost across the street& just to the west slightly.
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I had been looking for this card for a while & I've finally found one.The Scenic Railways all had breakmen on the cars to slow the cars to prevent derailing. Underwheels had not been invented then.
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The Mountain Ride (above right) could be called an early predecessor of Space Maountain.It was the Highlands' second coaster. The side -friction figure eight layout was enhanced by a faux mtn. facade which was removed years late,leaving the wood supports exposed.
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Go to Highlands' Heydays for the next chapter
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(below) This extremely rare photo shows the Mountain ride sans facade,The Racing Derby to the left& just behind the Racing Derby,the tunnels & remains of the parks' old Scenic Railway.
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(above) This ad for the new bandstand let us know how much the Highlands was willing to spend. $50,000 was a lot of money in the early 1900s. The Pagoda was a huge hit& help ensure the Highlands as a successful amusement center early on. The golden dragons that wrapped around the supports are on display at the Mo. Museum of history.
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