Shellpot Park was a

trolley park Trolley may refer to: Vehicles and components * Tram, or trolley or streetcar, a rail vehicle that runs on tramway tracks * Trolleybus, or trolley, an electric bus drawing power from overhead wires using trolley poles ** Trolleytruck, a trolley ...

located in

Brandywine Hundred, Delaware Brandywine Hundred (also known as North Wilmington) is an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware. It is located to the north and northeast of the city of Wilmington. Hundreds were once used as a basis for representation in the ...

that operated from 1893 until 1934. The park was developed by the Wilmington City Railway Company after extending the trolley lines to

Shellpot Creek Shellpot Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in northeast New Castle County, Delaware. The stream rises between Grubb Road and Shipley Road, south of Naaman's Road at in Brandywine Hundred and flows southeast for about six miles before ...

near the outskirts of the city. In its early years, Shellpot Park (and the adjacent Malin's Grove) was little more than a wooded lake and a place to picnic. At the peak of its popularity, the park also featured a miniature railroad, carousel, and roller coaster. The carousel, built in 1916 by the

Philadelphia Toboggan Company Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world. Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry Auchey and Chester Albright under the name Philadelphia ...

, had twenty-eight jumping horses, eighteen stationary horses, two chariots, and two

Wurlitzer The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant (Franz) Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments ...

band organs. The roller coaster, also designed by PTC, was added in 1925 and featured a 65-foot vertical drop. (The tallest coaster of its era, at 100 feet, Cyclone, was built the same year at

Revere Beach Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts, located about north of downtown Boston. The beach is over long. In 1875, a rail link was constructed to the beach, leading to its increasing popularity as a summer recreation area, and in ...

.) As interest in the park waned after the 1920s, the park added an open-air arena for boxing events. In 1932, the carousel was sold to

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located between Allentown and Emmaus, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The park features 64 rides, including six roller coasters, other adul ...

; it was subsequently destroyed in a 1983 fire at that park. In 1934, a fire along the railway destroyed most of the remaining attractions, and Shellpot Park closed. The former dance pavilion, converted into a roller rink, was eventually torn down in 1936.

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References

{{reflist Defunct amusement parks in the United States History of Delaware Parks in New Castle County, Delaware 1893 establishments in Delaware 1934 disestablishments in Delaware