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Figure 8

Nat Park, Spokane, WA
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Roller Coaster

Jack Rabbit , Natatorium Park, Spokane, WA

Jack Rabbit profile	Riders on Jack Rabbit
Scenic Railway/Figure 8	Coaster pennant

Natatorium Park ran two coasters, the Scenic Railway (also known as the Figure 8), and the Jack Rabbit. The Scenic Railway, installed by Audley Ingersoll's amusement company, operated between 1905 to 1919 and was considered a "thriller" with a speed of 10mph. The Jack Rabbit, a John Miller design, opened in 1920 and replaced the Scenic Railway coaster. For 10 cents you could have "the ride of your life" on the Jack Rabbit.

Jack Rabbit was described by some fans as Natatorium's best ride. In the book Dear Old Nat..Spokane's Playground, a detailed description of the ride is outlined:

"The ride went something like this:

Thrill seekers enter a building, where they climb into cars set on a metal track - six people to a car, two or three cars to each train. "The brake is released, the car starts rolling, turns left into a tunnel, picks up speed...faster and faster, then bang! It cracks to the left and out of the tunnel!" says Mark Blumhagen. From there, the train engages a chain hoist to begin its tantalizing ascent, followed by the heart-stopping free fall and a series of smaller undulations. The trains pulls into the station one-and-a-half minutes after setting out on it harrowing journey."

Though Jack Rabbit was considered the park's most popular ride and was enjoyed by many patrons, it was also considered unsturdy and unsafe. Some said that the trains reached a speed of 70 miles an hour and was billed as "the fatest racing coaster in the world." Sadly, the coaster was eventually razed and burned on site when the park closed in the spring of 1968.

Before both coasters were built, Natatorium Park (affectionally known as Nat Park) opened in 1889 as Twickenham Park and was owned by Washington Water Power Co. The park's first recreation focused on sports and thus a baseball field was built. As the Spokane area started growing, people wanted more entertainment. Soon Vaudville and a casino came into the scene bringing a rather "rough crowd". In 1893, Natatorium opened its first pool (called a natatorium), and in that year the park renamed itself as Natatorium Park adding amusement rides.

Between 1907 and 1908, Nat was known as the "Coney Island of The Inland Empire" and was leased by Audley Ingersoll. Though Ingersoll was considered young and maybe a bit naive in the business, he did bring some new entertainment to the park. The Pacific Northwest's largest dance hall was built as well as the Shoot-The-Chutes ride and lights were scattered throughout the park adding a night glow. The park became known as a "Modern Fairyland" or as "Ingersoll's Park". But within that year, for reasons unknown, Ingersoll skipped town. Washington Water Power reclaimed the park.

In 1909, the Loof Carousel was built and was considered the "most cherished of all rides" in the park. In 1910, a second pool opened and was known as The Plunge. It contained an olympic size swimming pool, well water, and 300 dressing rooms. The water was kept warm by coals so that people in the community could use it in the winter months.

With the trolley line being a popular way of traveling around, Nat Park remained a successful means of entertainment. Amongst the rides that operated at the park were the: Hammer (Roll-O-Plane), Octopus, Rock-O-Plane, Loof Carousel, Miniature Train, Joy Wheel (later called The Nut House), Dragon Slide, Dodgem Cars, Custer Speedway, Ye Olde Mill (later replaced by the Whip), Pretzel Dark Ride (later called Fun in The Dark), and the Bi-Planes which were later replaced with the Rocket Ships. There was also a zoo and arcade at the park. As the years progressed, Nat was always seeking ways in how to add new things to the park. This seemed to encourage more visitors and keep devoted patrons coming to the park each year.

However, in the early 1960's Nat Park started having problems. The trolley had been demolished in 1936 and people were open to using a new means of transportation - automobiles. With people using their own car, Nat became something old and something they had already experienced, and they were less motivated to visit. Also during this time, the park's attractions were becoming old and unattended to. With the decreasing attendance, operating costs increased, and it was inevitable that Nat would meet its demise. In 1962, Nat was put up for sale and remained closed for the 1963 season. In 1965, the park's manager, Bill Oliver then took care of the park but his ideas on how to keep the park surviving failed, and in 1967 Nat Park saw its last season.

Some of the rides that survived the park's demolition was the Rock-O-Plane, a rocket from the Rocket Ship ride, and the Miniature Train ride. The Rock-O-Plane now operates at Thrill-Ville USA amusement park in Turner, Oregon. The car that remains from the Rocket Ship found a home at the Montessori Early Learning Center in Spokane. And the Miniature Train is owned by Mark Blumhagen an amusement ride owner/operator.

But, probably the most cherished ride that remains of Natatorium Park is the 1909 Charles Looff Carousel. Looff had given the carousel to his daughter Emma and her husband Louis Vogel as a wedding gift. Originally, Looff had hopes that Washington Water Power (owner of Nat Park) would purchase it, but the price ($20,000) was scoffed at by the company and they turned it down. Vogel ended up a Concession Director and later bought the park from Washington Water Power for $127,000 in 1929. Vogel's son, Lloyd proceeded ownership until his death in the mid 1960's.

After the 1974 Spokane Expo, the carousel was moved into a permanent structure at Riverfront Park and was rededicated on May 7, 1975. Bill Oliver (Nat's last owner) helped in the restoration process, participated in the rededication and had the lead horse named after him. The 1909 Loof Carousel is now a National Historic Landmark.

To learn more about Nat Park and its rides and attractions visit NatPark.org.