The Lost Amusement Parks of Colorado: Remembering Popular Fun Spots

How many of Colorado's theme parks did you enjoy this past summer? Maybe you spent a day enjoying the view at Glenwood Caverns or riding coasters at Elitch Gardens? If you had to pick one Colorado theme park as your favorite, which would it be?

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Colorado has been enjoying fun at the amusement park since the 1890s when one of the first parks was completed in the Denver area. Keep reading as we take a trip down memory lane for a closer look at the lost amusement parks of Colorado.

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Colorado's Lost Amusement Parks

The Centennial State has been home to several theme parks through the years. Did you have a chance to visit any of the Colorado parks listed below?

• Manhattan Beach in Edgewater, Colorado (1890-1908)
• Luna Park in Denver, Colorado (1908-1914)
• Guyton’s Fun Junction in Grand Junction, Colorado (1954-1999)
• Magic Mountain in Golden, Colorado (1957-1960)
• Buckskin Joe’s in Park County Colorado (1957-2010)

Buckskin Joes Amusement Park

Buckskin Joe, a Wild West theme park in Park County, Colorado, featured an 1860s ghost town experience, live gunfight reenactments, and a scenic location near the Royal Gorge. At its peak, Buckskin Joe attracted around 90,000 visitors annually, making it a cherished destination until its closure in 2010.

Guyton’s Fun Junction

Guyton's Fun Junction in Grand Junction, Colorado, offered go-karts, mini-golf, bumper boats, and arcade games, creating a nostalgic charm for families and thrill-seekers alike. Coloradans cherished it as a hub for affordable, wholesome entertainment in the Western Slope.

Heritage Square

Heritage Square in Golden, Colorado, was a Victorian-style theme park with rides, live entertainment, shops, and dining, making it a hot spot for family entertainment. Coloradans loved its nostalgic charm, scenic mountain backdrop, and unique attractions like the alpine slide. During its peak, the park welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, before its closure in 2018.

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Luna Park – Manhattan Beach

Luna Park, Denver's iconic early 20th-century amusement park, was a favorite for its thrilling rides, and electric nightscapes. At the time there was no place like it in Colorado. Visitors loved it as a fun mountain escape, boasting attractions like the Scenic Railway and carousel. In the 1900s, the park attracted tens of thousands annually, cementing its place in Denver’s history before its closure in 1914.

Magic Mountain – Golden

Magic Mountain in Golden, Colorado, was a short-lived theme park that offered fun rides, fairytale-inspired attractions, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Coloradans loved that this park was a short ride from Denver, making it an ideal day trip destination. Though it operated briefly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, it drew thousands of visitors annually during its peak.