Columbia Gardens, Butte, MT
Roller Coaster - 1906-1974

Council Crest, Portland, OR
Scenic Railway - 1905-1926

gayway park, seaside, OR
Roller Coaster - 1953-1983?
Wild Mouse - 1953?-1983?

gayway/Fun Forest, Seattle, WA
Broadway Trip - 1962-1962
Wild Mouse - 1962-1964
Wild Mouse - 1965-1971

Happyland, Vancouver, BC
Giant Dipper - 1925-1947
Baby Dipper - 1928-1944

Hastings park, Vancouver, BC
Coaster (Dip The Dips) - 1915-1924

Jantzen Beach, Portland, OR
Big Dipper - 1928-1970
Whirlwind - 1929-195?

julia davis fun depot, boise, id
Mad Mouse - 1991-2002

Lotus Isle, Portland, OR
Alpine Scenic Railway - 1930-1931

Luna Park, Seattle, WA
Great Figure 8 - 1905-1913

Nat Park, Spokane, WA
Figure 8/Scenic Railway - 1905-1919
Jack Rabbit - 1920-1968

Oaks Park, Portland, OR
Scenic Railway - 19?-19?
Figure 8 - 1905?-19?
Zip - 1927-1934
Mad Mouse - 1959-1976?
Monster Mouse 1977(?)- 1994

Playland, Coeur d' Alene, ID
Kiddie Coaster - 1942-1974

Playland, Seattle, WA
Dipper - 1930-1961

Playland, Vancouver, BC
Mad Mouse - 1958-1978
Super Big Gulp - 1972-1994
Wild Mouse - 1979-2008

puyallup fair, puyallup, wa
Mad Mouse - 195?-196?
Mad Mouse - 196?-197?
(Both coasters no longer run at fair)

Santafair-Touray, federal way, wa
Mad Mouse - 195?-196?
(Later operated at Puyallup Fair)

Stanley Park , Vancouver, BC
Dips - 1913-1923?

White City, Bellingham, Wa
Roller Coaster - 1906-1912

White City, Seattle, WA
Roller Coaster - 1908-1912

White City, Vancouver, bc
Dips - 1926-19?
(Operated at Hastings Park)

Dipper, Playland, Seattle, WA

Kids having fun on the midway	Train ride in front of Dipper coaster
Aerial view of park	Kids on Dipper

Click here to view more Dipper photos -->

Playland was situated on Bitter Lake in Shoreline, WA, a suburb north of Seattle. The Giant Dipper was a Carl Phare creation and was well loved by enthusiasts. According to the Seattle PI, the park was "amongst Seattle's longstanding attractions that drew crowds to its carousel, roller rink, fun house, log chute and roller coaster, between 1930 and 1961, when the park closed."

Playland had previous owners (The Washington Amusement Company) prior to when Phare purchased the park. Due to the onset of the depression, the park ended up an economic failure. Phare moved from Portland to Seattle to help resuscitate the park. "He took over the lease of the park and operated Playland with a succession of partners for the next 30 years."

After a successful opening year in 1930, Playland became Carl Phare's park. It was his 'baby' so to speak since he and his family owned and maintained it and lived right next to it. He spent much of his time looking after the rides as well as maintaining the park making certain patrons were happy and enjoying themselves. Some days he could be seen operating the Dipper coaster running three trains simultaneously with the coaster's best ride operator. He just simply loved the park.

Though the years brought many happy patrons to the park, the early 1960's initiated the onslaught of suburban growth that threatened Playland's future. The Seattle World's Fair was another threat that ultimately led to the doom of the park due to fear of competition. People in neighboring areas were also complaining about how neglected the park was getting and unsafe the rides were. The park ultimately met its demise after the 1960 season.

Unfortunately, due to illness, Phare was not able to fight for his beloved park and passed away in 1962. Thus, the Dipper became another endangered Pacific Northwest coaster.

What remains now is Bitter Lake Community Center which is located near the site of the Dipper. Though, some locals say that Seattle Center's Fun Forest amusement park now takes the place of Playland, I beg to differ. From all that I have read, seen, and heard about Playland, there is no comparison between the two parks. Fun Forest is a modern day park that originated from the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, whereas, Playland represents not only a totally different era but something special that now only remains in people's memories.