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Montgomery County, Maryland, circa 1928. "Glen Echo Amusement Co." The Coaster Dips roller coaster at Glen Echo Park outside Washington, D.C. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
Fun is where you find it!
Where do you find it?
Glen Echo Amusement Park!
Coaster Dips terrified me at age 10.
Near the coaster was a .22 rifle shooting range.
Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer circa 1964.
A variation on that jingle here.
Washington Post, July 7, 1929.Glen Echo Park, as a famous radio announcer might describe it: “Well here we are at the park, everybody. You should see the crowds, all having a good time. The music that you hear is coming from the Wurtlizer [sic] organ on the carrousel. Just listen to that roar. It's the coaster dip. The boys and girls are certainly having a good time.
“Whrrrrr, no that's not an airfleet overhead. Its the airplane swing. Sorry I can't take you through the Old Mill, but it doesn't make any noise—just a nice cool boat ride, you know. What's all the fun down at the Midway? Wait a minute. I'll take you down there!
“That shouting and laughing you hear is coming from a group of people in front of those funny mirrors. Well, they are enough to make a monkey laugh.
“Just a minute everybody. I hear [Graham] McWilliams and his boys tuning up in the ballroom. There are quite a few couples on the floor. There he goes. Golly, that sure is peppy music. I am almost tempted to go up there and dance myself.
“You can enjoy the pleasure of the ballroom every week-night from 8:30 until 11:30 o'clock.
“More carloads of fun seekers arriving on the Washington Railway electric cars. They all seem to be as cool as a cucumber, too. Well, you know the line runs along the Potomac. I guess that's the reason. Goodness, my time is up, but I hope you will take the trip to the park soon. You'll enjoy it far more than my meager description.”
"The coaster dip is cool
and the crystal pool
for excitement and fun
in the summer after dark—
Glen Echo Amusement Park!"
In 1968 this coaster was dismantled and burned and the park closed soon after. President Nixon rode this with his two daughters.
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