During its heyday between 1923 and 1937, thousands of people came to enjoy the fresh air, amenities, and amusements of Rose Island Amusement Park. It was a recreational area known as Fern Grove in the 1880s and is now abandoned.
Steamboats brought crowds to Rose Island.
Most visitors traveled to Rose Island by steamboat. The steamer Idlewild made the 90-120 minute trip from Louisville every day of the season. Steamers like the Liberty and the Sunshine shuttled . . . — — Map (db m304151) HM
The Dinner Crowd
The Rose Island Restaurant could seat 500 guests at one time. An equal number could be accommodated in the outdoor dining room and in the dance hall, bringing the total seating to more than 1,600.
[Caption]: The outdoor . . . — — Map (db m304127) HM
Creating a Tourist Mecca
David B.G. Rose (below left) bought the acreage in 1923 and renamed it Rose Island. Rose developed the peaceful picnic grounds into Rose Island Amusement Park – a major tourist destination for residents of the river . . . — — Map (db m303868) HM
Nearby is site of former popular Ohio River regional recreation area known from 1880s as Fern Grove. David Rose expanded facilities in 1923 – including an amusement park and a swimming pool – and named it Rose Island. Major access was by car to . . . — — Map (db m206818) HM
Tickets Please
A wooden ticket booth (left) stood near the suspension bridge. Visitors arriving to Rose Island paid their entry fees here, then set off for a day of adventure at the park.
Watch Your Step
Look closely at the . . . — — Map (db m303890) HM
An Adventure to Begin the Day
To get to Rose Island, visitors drove a steep and winding road from Highway 62 to the west side of Fourteen Mile Creek. After parking their cars on the creek’s banks, visitors crossed the creek on a wooden . . . — — Map (db m303889) HM
70% of Louisville was under water
Following weeks of heavy rains, the Ohio River swelled over its banks in the Great Flood of 1937. Ranging from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Ill., the flood is considered one of the most powerful of the 20th . . . — — Map (db m304153) HM
Did You Know?
In the late 1800's there was no television and radio was in an experimental stage. The motion picture industry was still in its infancy. There were no computers, Internet or airplanes. Telephones did exist, but very few people . . . — — Map (db m304124) HM
Catching a Steamer to Rose Island
Families eager to escape the heat in the city looked forward to a trip to Rose Island. They woke early, packed a picnic, and headed to the riverfront to catch a steamer. Jammed with people, the steamboat . . . — — Map (db m304131) HM
All that remains
Building foundations, stone walkways, and the concrete swimming pool are all that remain of Rose Island Amusement Park. The natural succession from resort to field and forest, as well as the forces of the mighty Ohio River, . . . — — Map (db m303866) HM
From the 1880s until the 1930s, a trip to either Fern Grove or Rose Island would not be complete without either a ride on a steamboat or a walk across a suspension bridge, along with a basket of fried chicken and a dance in the dance hall. . . . — — Map (db m206833) HM
From a Child’s Point of View
A day trip to Rose Island Amusement Park was easily the high point of the summer for many children. Decades later, every detail of the adventure is vividly recalled.
Recollection of Louis Deca, Jefferson . . . — — Map (db m304148) HM
A Charming Summer Home
With porches overlooking the Ohio River, 20 quaint cottages were available for rent as summer homes. Set just 100 feet from the river, the four-room bungalows were charming and comfortable, with a fantastic view. . . . — — Map (db m304129) HM
Perfect Ending to a Perfect Day
For guests at the Rose Island resort, an evening in the Dance Hall was the perfect end to a summer day. While live music played, couples waltzed and tangoed across the dance floor. By the late 1920s and early . . . — — Map (db m303893) HM
From the 1880s until the 1930s, the Fern Grove and Rose Island resorts provided good fun and lively entertainment for generations. This trail will lead you down to the form site of these two parks, and take you back to the laughter and noise of a . . . — — Map (db m303860) HM
Breezy river views
Perched at the base of the cliff but well above the high water mark, a quaint hotel offered grand views from its location just north of the Ohio River Gateway. Guests enjoyed cool river breezes from the hotel’s verandas and . . . — — Map (db m304157) HM
Making a Splash!
At a time when homes had no air conditioning, a dip in Rose Island’s swimming pool was the ultimate way to cool off on a hot summer day. Simmers could climb onto a round platform in the pool’s center and spin round and . . . — — Map (db m304122) HM
Animals all around
Zoos and exotic animals were popular amusements in the early 20th century, and Rose Island was part of the trend. Monkeys, raccoons, wolves, a groundhog, and alligators were among the menagerie. The best known resident of . . . — — Map (db m304149) HM
Trace the history of Rose Island through time. As time marches on, so does the history of this former resort. As you explore the park, find the reclamation logo and look around to see how nature is slowly reclaiming the land.
1700
Indian . . . — — Map (db m303869) HM
A Link to the Past
As you tour historic Rose Island, imagine crowds of visitors enjoying this bustling summer playground in the 1920s and 30s. Discover how people traveled to the park, and visit the places where they at, slept, and played. . . . — — Map (db m303863) HM
Steamboats brought the visitors on day trips
Between 1923 and 1937, most visitors came to Rose Island by steamboat for day trips. Others rented cottages or stayed in the grand hotel. Rose Island was the most popular destination for miles . . . — — Map (db m304121) HM
