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1920 Federal Census After 70 years of operation Bertrand Island Amusement Park was closed in 1983. Louis Kraus and his wife ran Camp Village on Prospect Point before he built the California Lodge at Bertrand's Island. By the early part of the twenties he developed Bertrand's Island Amusement Park. Source: Morris County Heritage Commission | Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, lakes and rivers fueled economic growth. One such body of water--the picturesque Lake Hopatcong--played a vital role in Morris County's industrial history; the lake supplied most of the water for the Morris Canal--the major route for transporting iron produced in Morris County. Originally Hopatcong consisted of two separate lakes, but the Morris Canal Company linked them together to form one large lake--the largest in New Jersey. Later the company increased the lake's size and depth to accommodate the canal's need for water. | With the coming of the railroad, the canal fell into disuse, while the iron industry declined. But the lake remained central to the local economy, attracting vacationers from all over. In fact it became a tourist mecca with over 35 hotels and rooming houses dotting its shores. Until the early 1980s, thousands of people traveled to the lake to spend their summer evenings at Bertrand Island Amusement Park, which earned the nickname "Little Coney Island" as far back as the early 1900s. Source: The New Electric Railway Journal, June 6, 2002. Rail Commentary By Harold Geissenheimer. <http://www.trolleycar.org/observations/geissenheimer020606.htm>. | LAKE HOPATCONG'S BERTRAND ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK NEWS: This park was once one of New Jersey's most popular attractions. Built in the mid-1920's by Louis Kraus, the park included a wooden roller coaster, an aeroplane swing, other amusements, a cafeteria and picnic groves grouped around an attractive bathing beach and boat docks. The park was popular during the depression, World War II and the immediate postwar period. But changing life styles and the construction of super parks closed Bertrand Island in 1983. Since then there have been various proposals to develop the site but it is only now that a successful development has been put together. Now the Bertrand Island Development Co has announced the sale of the property to Kara Homes who plan to build 80 townhouses in 12 buildings. The park has a spot in the hearts of many New Jersey Residents. Martin Kane, President of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Society, authored a book "Greetings from Bertrand Island Amusement Park" in 2000. The society has sponsored programs in nearby Netcong. (Editor: As a child, I visited the park several times each summer. The DL&W operated excursion steam trains over the Boonton Line to the Landing Station at a $1 fare. We took the ferry from 23rd Street Manhattan to Hoboken. Public Service operated connecting route 70 buses to meet the trains and take us to the park. It was an excellent amusement park. People attended from northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. It was a comfortable alternative to the hot weather at the beaches on the New Jersey shore. Time marches on! Source: <http://www.bellingham1.com/news.html>. | Bertrand Island | For many of us summer meant a vacation or at least a day or two at Lake Hopatcong....and of course the amusements at Bertrand Island. Here are some interesting facts about Bertrand island. | While Bertrand Island first opened in the late 1800s, it was only a beach for swimming. Amusements didn't start until 1905. And those amusements were primarily pavilions for dancing and sliding boards into the water. Bertrand Island became a bona fide amusement park in 1920. The attraction that brought Bertrand Island to prominence was the roller coaster built in 1925, it was an all wooden roller coaster as were most built in that time. The cost was over $50,000 and used some 280,000 feet of lumber. During the first weekend of June 1925, 10,000 people crammed the park to test the new amusement. More than one hundred and fifty of them were still in line when the roller coaster closed Saturday at midnight | In the 1920s, Bertrand Island had a parking lot that could accommodate 2500 automobiles. An unheard of number for the time | The roller coaster remained operational until Labor Day of 1983 when the park closed forever. Making this roller coaster the longest operational all wooden roller coaster in the country.( I might add that Ellen and I and our children rode that rollercoaster in 1982, one year before the closing, and it was scary, you could hear and feel those wooden cars bending and creaking) | For its last bit of glory, Bertrand Island and the roller coaster was used by Woody Allen in 1983 for scenes for his movie the" Purple Rose of Cairo". While very little footage of Bertrand Island made it into the final cut, the sequence filmed in the roller coaster starthouse is unmistakable for anyone who remembers the park. | Each concession in Bertrand Island was individually owned. That include rides, games, and food concessions. | Bertrand Island was responsible for extending rail traffic up into Northwest New Jersey. The railroad companies trying to find a way to increase business on weekends ultimately built rail tracts to Bertrand Island, and consequently helped in the development of Northwest New Jersey. | The June Rose ballroom at Bertrand Island was the original dime a dance, customers could pay a dime dance for a few dances than the floor was cleared and you had to cough up another dime, the concept spread across the country during 20s and '30s. But it started in Bertrand Island | The carousel at Bertrand Island was deemed to be one of the most beautiful carousels in the United states. It was created by Marcus C. Illions & Sons, of Coney Island. They were considered one of the master carvers of the time. The carousel was purchased in 1920 for $7,200 and a smaller carousel. It was at Bertrand Island for the next 35 years. It was sold in 1972 to a new amusement park opening in Orlando Florida, Circus World ,for $68,000. Circus world closed two years later (Guess why). the carousel was dismantled and its horses sold for over $100,000 each . | Bertrand Island held many beauty contests, including of course Miss Bertrand Island but the biggest of all was held in 1934 when Bertrand Island was Home to the Miss America Contest. No kidding | During the war years 1941-- 1945 Bertrand Island instituted nickle night. During nickel night all rides were a nickel. They continued this policy until closing the park in 1983 although nickel night became quarter night. I know some of you waited for nickel night and some for quarter night... Coaster Name: Wildcat Park: Bertrand Island Amusement Park Type: Wood Out-and-Back Manufacturer: National Amusement Devices Number of Vehicles: 3 Passengers per Vehicle: 3 References
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