20 Beloved Michigan Attractions of Yesteryear We Miss
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The sights and sounds of bygone Michigan attractions and amusements are still vivid in the minds of many Michiganders: the pinging of arcade machines, the clanging of roller coasters, the smell of carnival food, and the sight of innovation.
The rich memories these places helped create for visitors of all ages recall happy, simpler times. Times when the highlight of summer was a ball game at Tiger Stadium, a day spent at an amusement park, or staring wide-eyed at historic museum relics.
These amusement parks and attractions are all closed – some have even been closed for decades – but they remain fun and memorable parts of Michigan’s history.
Ford Rotunda | Dearborn
Constructed in 1933 for the World’s Fair in Chicago, the Ford Rotunda was dismantled and rebuilt in Dearborn. A thousand tons of steel and interior displays were shipped from Chicago and rebuilt on a 13 1/2-acre site.
The Rotunda reopened in 1936 and welcomed almost a million visitors annually until it was closed in 1942. In its heyday, business leaders, celebrities, heads of state, and scores of ordinary people came to learn about the Ford Motor Company.
During WWII, the Rotunda was used in the war effort, serving as an office space and hosting movie screenings for soldiers, press events, and business meetings. The Rotunda re-opened again in 1953, coinciding with the company’s 50th anniversary.
After its reopening, more than a million people visited the Rotunda to see new displays and tour the Rouge to see how a car was designed. It became a popular place to visit year-round before the Rotunda was destroyed by a fire in 1962.
Boblo Island Amusement Park | Detroit
From 1898 to 1993, Boblo Island Amusement Park on Bois Blanc Island, just above the mouth of the Detroit River, was considered Detroit’s Coney Island.
It was established as an entertainment destination in 1898, starting as a picnic spot with bicycle tracks, a carousel, athletic fields, and beaches. In the following years, it became a bigger, more popular venue with dozens of rides and a midway.
Millions of visitors who visited Boblo Island on picture-perfect days no doubt have memories of riding Swan Boats, the Scottaboats, the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Whip, the Wild Mouse, and even the Bob-lo Boat that took visitors on a 20-mile journey to the island.
Competition from larger parks, rising maintenance costs, and financial issues led to the closing of Boblo Island in 1993. Rides were sold off piecemeal, and the site of Boblo Island was roused.
Did You Know? Boblo Island Amusement Park was located on Bois Blanc Island, which is actually part of Canada.
AutoWorld | Flint
AutoWorld (later called SixFlags AutoWorld) was open for just a decade, from 1984 to 1994. It opened to great fanfare on the Fourth of July in 1984, inviting visitors to enjoy what was then called “the largest enclosed theme park in the world.”
Inside AutoWorld’s dome, visitors could enjoy a historic replica of downtown Flint, complete with benches, trees, and a river. Other exhibits included a cabin with a mannequin of Flint founder Jacob Smith. With the push of a button, a video projected onto Smith’s face, welcoming visitors to the park.
Visitors could also enjoy a carousel, a Ferris Wheel, an IMAX theater, shops, restaurants, and a ride through the Humorous History of Automobility.
Of course, Vehicle City‘s attraction wouldn’t be complete without automotive displays. Inside the IMA Auditorium, visitors could see a display depicting the past, present, and future auto assembly, a giant automotive engine display, and a film attraction called The Car of Your Dreams about the history of auto advertising.
AutoWorld closed permanently in 1984 and is now part of the University of Michigan-Flint campus.
Pleasure Island Water Theme Park | Muskegon
This delightful water park operated during the 1980s and 90s in Muskegon on E. Pontaluna Road. With attractions that included more than a dozen water slides, a lazy river, a children’s swim area, and bumper boats, the park was a popular warm-weather destination for visitors of all ages.
The biggest attraction at Pleasure Island was an adventurous water slide called the Black Hole. The Black Hole was built into a hill and started fast with a steep drop, circled the hill, and finished by coming out of the hill into a pool of water.
The addition of WildWater Adventure at Michigan’s Adventure nearby created increased competition, and Pleasure Island closed in 1997.
Memory Lane Arcade | Frankenmuth
Michiganders flock to Frankenmuth for its variety of sights and activities. From 1975 to 2004, Memory Lane Arcade was a favorite for visitors of all ages.
Opened by Dennis Atkinson and his wife Irene in 1975, admission to Memory Lane was free. It was notable for its coin-operated fortune teller machines, roll-playing instruments, and numerous other attractions.
Visitors loved the mix of historical penny arcades and modern attractions such as computer games and 3D movies. Many of the games were inexpensive to play and offered a piece of nostalgia for older visitors and new fun for younger ones.
The arcade permanently closed its doors in 2004.
Prehistoric Forest Amusement Park | Irish Hills
This small, dinosaur-themed amusement park was built in the Irish Hills along US-12. The natural beauty of the Irish Hills made it a popular summer tourist destination, and Prehistoric Forest opened in 1963.
A train ride at the park took visitors back in time as they weaved through a forest. Visitors could also take a walking tour to get closer to towering fiberglass dinosaurs and learn more about their habitat and diet. Other attractions included a maze, a man-made volcano, and a train ride called The Land of the Leprechaun.
Tourist traffic along US-12 declined in the 1980s, and the park closed in 1999.
Tiger Stadium | Detroit
The former home of the Detroit Tigers at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood opened in 1912. Then known as Navin Field, it opened on April 20, 1912, the same day as Boston’s Fenway Park.
John Fetzer became Tigers owner in 1961 and renamed the venue Tiger Stadium. Fans no doubt remember the historic venue for its famous overhang in right field, unique double-decker design, the stadium’s blue and orange plastic seats, and its blue interior.
Over the years, Tiger Stadium hosted many events besides baseball games. It was the home of the Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974, hosted a Joe Louis boxing match in 1939, a Notre Dame football night game in 1951, and concerts, including the first date on the KISS reunion tour in 1996.
The Tigers moved from the aging stadium in 1999 and began play at Comerica Park. Demolition was completed in 2009, and the site has been redeveloped as the Corner Ballpark.
Palace of Auburn Hills | Auburn Hills
Michigan residents fondly remember the Palace of Auburn Hills as the home of the Detroit Pistons from 1988-2017. It was also formerly home to the WNBA’s Detroit Shock, the International Hockey League’s Detroit Vipers, and several other sports franchises.
The Palace opened in 1988 and was considered the first modern-style NBA arena. Its design -which included multiple tiers of luxury suites – became the basis of the design of other sports arenas.
The Palace was also a popular concert venue for Michiganders. Sting was the first artist to perform there in 1988, and the venue hosted U2, Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, and Taylor Swift, among many others. Michigan favorite Bob Seger was the last singer to perform there in 2017.
The construction of Little Caesars Arena moved the Pistons to downtown Detroit and the Palace, though it remained in good condition, its demolition was completed in 2020.
Pontiac Silverdome | Pontiac
The former home of the Detroit Lions opened in 1975. Originally known as the Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium, its roof — made up of fiberglass panels and supported by air pressure — gave it its more well-known due to the silver-like reflection caused by the sun. It became known as the Silverdome in 1977.
The Silverdome was the Lions’ home from 1975-2001 and hosted Super Bowl XVI in 1982. It was also home to the Detroit Pistons from 1978-88 and several other franchises.
While it was known as a football venue, it set an indoor attendance record of 93,173 in 1987 during the then-World Wrestling Federation’s Wrestlemania III event. It also hosted early-round games during the 1994 World Cup, college football bowl games, and regional games in the NCAA basketball tournament.
The Lions stopped playing there after the 2001 season and began playing at Ford Field in Detroit in 2002. While it hosted events after the Lions’ departure, it was ultimately demolished by 2018.
Joe Louis Arena | Detroit
Known among Michiganders as The Joe, this longtime home of the Detroit Red Wings was named for former heavyweight boxer Joe Louis. Sitting on the bank of the Detroit River, The Joe opened in 1979 and was once the second-oldest venue in the National Hockey League.
In addition to being the home of the Red Wings, the arena was a major Detroit entertainment venue. It hosted college hockey tournaments, basketball games, pro wrestling events, and concerts.
The Red Wings played their final game there in April 2017 and began play at Little Caesars Arena that fall. The Joe was closed in July 2017 and demolition was completed in 2020.
Cereal City USA | Battle Creek
As the home of the Kellogg Company, Battle Creek has long been known as Cereal City. But Cereal City USA was a unique roadside breakfast food funhouse & museum. After the company stopped tours at its Battle Creek production facility in 1986, the attraction opened at 171 West Michigan Ave in 1998.
Cereal City USA was a two-story, 45,000 structure designed to look like a turn-of-the-century 20-century factory, complete with boxes of Corn Flakes moving along a conveyor belt near the ceiling.
Visitors could learn about the company’s history and products and see representations of Toucan Sam, Tony and Tiger, and other Kellogg’s mascots. They could also enjoy a meal at the Red Onion Grill or a sundae topped with Kellogg cereals at Sullivan’s ice cream parlor.
Tourist numbers were projected to be nearly half a million annually, but visitor numbers peaked in 1998 and declined from there, leading to its closure in 2007.
Michigan Space and Science Center | Jackson
While the Hurst Planetarium opened in 1969 and remains a popular attraction in Jackson, once upon a time, the Michigan Space Center held a place at the center of the nation’s fascination with space.
In 1977, the center opened on the campus of Jackson Community College. During its first three weeks, more than 3,000 people toured the facility.
The center served as a museum, housing artifacts on loan from NASA and the Smithsonian. It also served as an educational facility where visitors learn about space colonization and astronaut life in space. Space camps also allowed kids to learn longer lessons.
Financial difficulties led to the center’s closure in 2003. Nearly all the museum’s artifacts were moved to the Air Zoo near Kalamazoo.
Deer Park Funland | Muskegon
Opened in 1956 in Muskegon, youngsters of all ages delighted in Deer Park’s many attractions, which included a train ride known as the Deer Park Special, a children’s area called Storybook Land, and a petting zoo.
The park was rebranded as Deer Park Funland in 1972, and rides including a Merry-Go-Round and a Ferris Wheel, were added. Later additions included a Corkscrew coaster, Logger’s Run, and the Sea Dragon.
The park became known as Michigan’s Adventure in 1988, which is now part of Cedar Fair’s lineup of amusement parks and continues to be a popular attraction for visitors of all ages each year.
Pennywhistle Place | Flint
Kids growing up around Flint between 1984 and 2000 loved visiting Pennywhistle Place. The site was a self-contained playground that entertained kids with a ball crawl, a music machine, slides, and more.
Pennywhistle Place closed partially due to the popularity of free indoor playgrounds at fast food establishments. It’s since been demolished, but visiting Bluebell Beach still allows kids to enjoy a splash pad and a playground.
Edgewater Park | Detroit
Opened in 1927 on Detroit’s west side, Edgewater Park enjoyed immense popularity during the Great Depression as an inexpensive place to have fun.
The park included attractions like a 110-foot Ferris Wheel, a hall of mirrors, and a wooden roller coaster known as the Wild Beast. The park continued to be a popular spot into the 1960s and 1970s and was a frequent performance venue for Motown artists.
Increased competition from venues like Bob-lo Island led to the park’s closure in 1981. The park site is now home to the Greater Grace Temple.
House of David Park | Benton Harbor
For Michiganders of a certain age, no summer was complete without a trip to this unique park. It was founded in 1908 in Benton Harbor by members of the religious group Israelite House of David.
The park featured a zoo, goldfish ponds, an outside dance floor, an arcade, food stands, and even a baseball team. The park’s coal-powered miniature trains were one of the most popular attractions, and generations of visitors can still hear the shriek of trains passing on a track around Eden Springs Park & Zoo.
The park closed in the 1970s, but Eden Springs Park still operates seasonal train rides.
Splash Family Waterpark | Kentwood
This Kentwood attraction opened in 1982 as Arne’s Funland, but it was also known as Splash Family Waterpark and AJ’s Family Fun Center (not the same as the one in Comstock Park) before it closed in the late 1990s.
Visitors drove from miles around to spend a day having fun here. The park included a 400-foot waterslide, a high-speed slide called the Kamikaze, and a thrilling coaster known as Rampage.
After getting their fill of water rides, visitors could test their skills on an 18-hole mini golf course, play over 60 games in a fun arcade, or enjoy tasty refreshments.
Silver Beach Amusement Park | St Joseph
Nestled in St. Joseph, the Silver Beach Amusement Park operated from 1891 to 1971 as a favorite of Chicago residents who came by ferry and thousands of Michigan residents.
For less than $2, families could enjoy a roller rink, a boxing ring, a dance hall, and exciting rides like Chase Through the Clouds.
A visit to Silver Beach meant something special for every visitor. Some came to be entertained by games of chance and carnival rides. Some came to enjoy a swim in the lake or a family picnic. Others came to walk the boardwalk and enjoy carnival food.
A Silver Beach Carousel, a volunteer-run carousel, was built in 2010 at the Silver Beach Center to honor its history. The center also houses the Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum, which includes interactive exhibits and memorabilia.
Toledo Beach Amusement Park | Monroe County
Opened in 1907, the Toledo Beach Amusement Park in La Salle Township was accessible by a trolley from Toledo on the Toledo, Ottawa Beach, and Northern Railway.
In its heyday, Toledo Beach was advertised as a getaway from Toledo’s industrial waterfront. A magnificent Toledo Beach Dance Hall was built in 1905 and served as a skating rink for the park. A giant water slide, a midway of games, and carnival rides were among other attractions.
Today, the park is the site of the Toledo Beach Marina and has a LaSalle Township address.
Walled Lake Park and Dance Hall
Between 1919 and 1968, Walled Lake Park and Dance Hall was a beloved amusement park that drew both locals and visitors to its rides, live shows, and vibrant atmosphere. Initially founded as a bathhouse and dance hall, it quickly became a hotspot, hosting up to 1,000 guests nightly eager to enjoy the era’s prominent big bands.
Over time, the park expanded to include not just the dance hall, now known as the Walled Lake Casino Pavilion, but also an amusement park and a beach equipped with wooden slides. The pavilion played a significant role in cementing Walled Lake’s status as a leading entertainment destination in the Midwest.
It was during the height of the big band era that music legends such as Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong graced its stage. The venue’s prominence was further boosted by national radio broadcasts featuring stars like Lawrence Welk. As rock and roll began to dominate the music scene, icons like Stevie Wonder and Chuck Berry performed there, leaving an indelible mark on its legacy.
Today, the park is fondly remembered as a cherished part of Walled Lake‘s history.
Gone But Not Forgotten Michigan Attractions
From sports stadiums and water parks to space centers and arcades, Michigan has had beloved attractions through the years. While these bygone attractions are relics of simpler times, the fun they provided is still etched in the minds and hearts of Michiganders.
