From its opening in 1891, the Silver Beach Amusement Park made St. Joseph a prime destination for tourists. Huge crowds enjoyed the park's many attractions, which included a carousel, roller rink, indoor swimming pool, bowling alley, beer garden, and penny arcade. Young couples danced to big bands at the famous Shadowland Ballroom, families crowded the beach, and thrill-seekers rode the "Comet" rollercoaster.

The park prospered through the 1950s, but faltered when attendance fell in the 1960s. A series of financial setbacks silenced Silver Beach in 1971. The Shadowland Ballroom closed soon after. The beach became a public park in 1990, continuing a long tradition of fun by the water.

(Left Photo Caption)
Postcards from the Silver Beach Amusement Park, circa 1909 (top) and 1920 (bottom).
Postcards: The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center

(Right Photo Caption)
The Comet rollercoaster dominates this late 1950s view of Silver Beach on a busy day. The Shadowland Ballroom, lower right, was the frequent site of big band concerts and dance contests.
Photo: The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center

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Show me all markers in:  St Joseph, MI  |  Berrien County  |  49085  |  Michigan  |  United States of America

Eleven Inch Dahlgren
Lighthouses on the Bluff
La Salle Memorial
United States Life Saving Service
Lighthouses on the Pier
St. Joseph Maritime Heritage
Fort Miami
St. Joseph's Firemen
Creating a Harbor
Commercial Fishing

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