Roanoke, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Great Roanoke Fair & Mountain Park
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 29, 2021
1. The Great Roanoke Fair & Mountain Park Marker
The River's Edge area boasts a vibrant history. Beginning in 1902, the city took pride in The Great Roanoke Fair, which took place every September and was promoted as the best of its kind. All neighboring states were represented. Sheep, swine, poultry, pets, agriculture, horticulture, needlework, embroidery, and "household science" were among the many exhibits at the fair.
Inside the fair pamphlet, many local businesses and attractions were advertised. The 40-acre Mountain Park, adjacent to the fairgrounds, was among them. A trolley station at the park brought residents in from the city to enjoy the festivities. The park was full of attractions including the Mill Mountain Incline, dancing pavilion, rollercoaster, casino, arcade, bowling alley, and zoo. The Mill Mountain Incline alone brought 1,500 people its opening day in 1910, each paying only a quarter for the four-minute ride.
The 9,000-square-foot dancing pavilion was another popular attraction. Lit by night, people filled the bleachers and wide, open dance floor surrounding a bandstand. Frequently, fireworks were set off in the background for visitors' pleasure.
Finally, in 1922, the park saw its last day. Attendance dwindled and the land was purchased for $80,000 — 13 times the original purchase price. Some of the structures were moved to what would
this page online
[photo captions]
• An aerial view of the fairgrounds.
• Summer fireworks display, 1912.
• Crowds gather for a parade to the fair.
• The dance pavilion and “Thriller” rollercoaster.
Erected by Roanoke Parks and Recreation; and Kiwanis International.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1902.
Location. 37° 15.185′ N, 79° 56.766′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Virginia. Marker is on Wiley Drive Southwest, 0.3 miles east of Franklin Road (Business U.S. 220), on the left when traveling east. Marker is located on the Roanoke River Greenway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Roanoke VA 24014, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Colonial Ford (approx. ¼ mile away); Big Lick Presbyterian Church (approx. ¼ mile away); History of Evan Mill and Crystal Spring (approx. ¼ mile away); The Virginian Railway Roanoke Passenger Station
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 29, 2021
2. The Great Roanoke Fair & Mountain Park Marker
Also see . . .
1. Roanoke’s First Flight.
The Great Roanoke Fair had started in 1902 and occurred every fall with various exhibits, balloon rides, excursions, horse racing and craft shows. The fair of 1910 was billed to exceed all previous ones. The Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railways had special trains to serve the fair for those attending from central and southwestern Virginia. The fair also boasted “scores of censored sideshows,” and gambling was prohibited. There were premiums and purses totaling $20,000 ($480,000 in today’s dollars). Fair association president James Woods, however, considered the flight of a Curtiss Aeroplane to be the main attraction. Roanokers had never witnessed a powered, heavier-than-air flight before. In fact, there had been only one such flight in Virginia, and that was a flight made by Orville Wright at Langley in 1909. At 5:40 p.m. on September 22nd, Eugene Ely and his Curtiss machine took off from a hill in South Roanoke just northeast of Virginia College as thousands watched from the fairgrounds.(Submitted on January 29, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. First Flight in the Roanoke Valley.
The first flight of an aeroplane in the Roanoke Valley occurred at the Great Roanoke Fair, when aviator Eugene Ely flew his Curtiss Pusher biplane from a hill in South Roanoke. Ely flew across the Roanoke River and circled the fairgrounds, where he landed, having made a half-mile flight.(Submitted on January 29, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 341 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 29, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
