A third "Dragon Gorge" ran for over a decade at Revere Beach, in Massachusetts. However, the Thompson Scenic Railway Company would eventually abandon the amusement over high taxes and low profits. Meanwhile, Coney Island's Gorge would coast on until a tragic, blazing inferno finally brought it down.
In 1911, a second "Dragon Gorge", larger and more ambitious than the Luna original, was built in Ocean Park, California. The ride and surrounding building quickly became an amusement icon, enjoying nearly two full seasons before a fiery tragedy struck.
The Dragon’s Gorge was an indoor, themed roller coaster created for Coney Island’s Luna Park in 1905. This post, the first of three, will explore inventor La Marcus Thompson’s concept behind The Dragon’s Gorge, the ride experience, and its early history at Luna.