When White Bear Lake Was Home to a Roaring Coaster

Dave Kowalski — Columbia Heights
Retired Fridley history teacher, third-generation Northeast, obsessed with the Minneapolis streetcar system and working-class neighborhood history.

It’s July, folks. The sun’s high, the lakes are calling, and if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for ways to beat the heat and have a little fun. Maybe you’re heading out to a beach, or just enjoying a cold drink on a patio somewhere. But here’s the thing: back in the day, if you wanted a thrill, if you wanted to escape the city grind, White Bear Lake had something truly special. Something that most people today, even folks who live right there, don’t even know used to exist.

We’re talking about Wildwood Amusement Park, a sprawling playground that, for decades, was the beating heart of summer entertainment for working families across the Twin Cities. Think about it: before air conditioning was a thing, before everyone had a car and could just zip up to a cabin, where did you go for excitement and a cool breeze? You went to Wildwood.

White Bear Lake: A Vacation Destination Before It Was a Suburb

To understand Wildwood, you gotta understand White Bear Lake itself. What most people don't know is that for a long time, starting in the mid-19th century, White Bear Lake was a premier resort destination. Folks from St. Paul and Minneapolis, and even further afield, would come out to stay at grand hotels like the White Bear Yacht Club, the Wildwood Hotel, or the Manitou Island Hotel. It was a place for society's elite, with sailboats, fancy dinners, and carriage rides.

But then, something changed. The streetcar lines, what they called the ‘Interurban’ lines, started stretching out from the cities. By the late 1880s, you could hop on a streetcar in downtown St. Paul and ride it all the way to White Bear Lake. This was a game-changer. Suddenly, a day trip to the lake wasn’t just for the rich and powerful; it was for everyone. And when you open up a beautiful lake to the working class, well, you gotta give them something to do when they get there, right?

The Birth of Wildwood: A People's Playground

That’s where Wildwood Amusement Park comes in. It officially opened its gates in 1889, right there on the shores of White Bear Lake. The original name of the area was Wildwood, so the name just stuck. It wasn't just a couple of swings; this place was huge. It had everything you could imagine for a good time. A massive swimming beach, picnic grounds for families, a carousel, a penny arcade, and of course, the main attraction: a proper, honest-to-goodness roller coaster.

Riding the Dipsy Doodle and Dancing the Night Away

Oh, that roller coaster! It had a couple of names over the years, but most folks remembered it as the ‘Dipsy Doodle.’ It wasn't the biggest coaster ever built, but for its time, it was a thrill, with its wooden tracks and sudden drops. Imagine the wind in your hair on a hot July afternoon, the screams and laughter echoing across the lake. That was pure joy for a lot of kids and adults who’d spent their week working hard in the factories or offices of the city.

But here’s the thing about Wildwood that truly stands out to me: the dance pavilion. What most people don't know is that the Wildwood Dance Pavilion was, for a good chunk of its life, the largest dance hall in the entire state of Minnesota. This wasn’t just a place for a quick two-step. This was where big bands played, where couples met, where friendships were forged under the glow of a thousand lights. It was a social hub, a place to forget your troubles for an evening and just move your feet.

You’d see families spreading out blankets for picnics, kids splashing in the lake, teenagers flirting by the arcade, and adults cooling off with a lemonade (or maybe something a little stronger in a discreet flask, because you know how it was back then). It was vibrant, it was loud, and it was alive with the spirit of summer.

The Decline and Disappearance of a Landmark

Wildwood thrived through the Roaring Twenties. It was truly Minnesota’s answer to Coney Island, offering accessible entertainment to thousands. But, as with all good things, changes came. The Great Depression hit hard in the 1930s, and suddenly, discretionary income for amusement park tickets became a luxury many couldn't afford.

And here's another big factor: cars. As more and more families bought automobiles, they weren't reliant on the streetcar lines anymore. They could drive directly to other parks, or even more importantly, drive to their own cabins or other destinations around the state. The need for a big, centralized amusement park accessible by public transit started to wane.

So, after years of declining attendance, Wildwood Amusement Park closed its gates for good in 1937. The rides were dismantled, the buildings torn down, and the land eventually sold off for residential development. A true loss for Minnesota’s working-class history.

What's Left Today?

If you go to White Bear Lake today, you can still visit Wildwood Beach, a lovely public beach on the east side of the lake. And if you stand on that sandy shore, gazing out at the water, it’s hard to imagine that this peaceful spot was once home to a roaring roller coaster, a massive dance hall, and the joyful screams of thousands of Minnesotans.

But the memory is there, for those who know where to look. It’s a reminder of a different time, when summer fun looked a little different, but the desire for escape, for thrills, and for community was just as strong as it is today. And that, my friends, is a piece of Twin Cities history worth remembering, especially on a warm July day.

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Photo by Tito Zzzz on Pexels