Columbia Gardens, Butte, MT
Roller Coaster

Council Crest, Portland, OR
Scenic Railway

Fun Forest, Seattle, WA
Galaxy and Wild Mouse

Happyland, Vancouver, BC
Giant Dipper

Jantzen Beach, Portland, OR
Big Dipper

Luna Park, Seattle, WA
Figure 8

Nat Park, Spokane, WA
Scenic Railway & Jack Rabbit

Oaks Park, Portland, OR
Monster Mouse and Zip coaster

Playland, Coeur d' Alene, ID
Playland Pier amusement rides

Playland, Seattle, WA
Giant Dipper

Playland, Vancouver, BC
Super Big Gulp

White City, Bellingham, WA
Roller Coaster

White City, Seattle, WA
Roller Coaster

Monster Mouse & Zip, Oaks Park, Portland, OR

Monster Mouse

Zip

Oaks Park opened on May 30, 1905. The park and skating rink were built by the Oregon Water Power and Railway Company. In the early 1920's, the Railway company sold the park to its manager, John Cordray. In 1925, Cordray died, and Edward Bollinger purchased the park but not the land from Cordray's widow. In 1943, Ed then purchased the land from the Portland Electric Power Company. Edward and his son Robert Bollinger owned the park between 1925-1985 with Robert taking over as owner in 1949.

In 1927, Two years after Ed Bollinger purchased Oaks, a new type of ride was introduced to the park. The coaster, referred to as Zip (pictured above), was a notorious coaster known as a "rib tickler" that had a tendency to crush riders ribs. This was a Harry Traver design that ended up being a compact version similar to the other well known Cyclones he designed such as the Crystal Beach Cyclone and the Revere Beach Lightning. Though Zip was a true thriller for daring fans, it had a short life span due to maintenance and insurance costs. The coaster was extremely rough and intense and lasted for only seven years, 1927-1934.

The Oaks also had another coaster that opened in the early 1900's known as the Scenic Railway. Though its dates of operation are unclear, it may have lasted into the early 1930's after the Depression. This is an educated guess because in 1935 The Bollingers were asked to build a roller coaster for the 1935 Puyallup Fair. I believe they used the trains from the Scenic Railway coaster at Oaks to run on the new Puyallup coaster until 1949 when rebuilt trains from the defunct Giant Dipper at Happyland park in Vancouver were installed.

Throughout the years, Robert Bollinger was referred to lovingly as "Bob" or "Mr Oaks" by employees. He took care of Oaks and invested in it wisely. In 1958, Bollinger founded Burrard Amusements, Ltd., ran Funland Park in Tacoma, WA., owned the Puyallup roller coaster, and also built Playland in Vancouver, BC, including the wooden roller coaster. He seemed to have been everywhere in the Northwest amusement park scene.

In the 1960's, Oaks had many rides circulating the Northwest with FunTastic Rides, Inc. which Bollinger incorporated and co-owned. So, it is not surprising that many of the permanent rides at the park were swapped with other parks such as Playland or the Puyallup Fair. Some of these rides included were portable Wild Mouse or Monster Mouse coasters.

Though there is some speculation as to when the 1970's/80's Monster Mouse (pictured above) actually opened at Oaks Park, some previous visitors do know that it operated throughout the 1980's to 1995. I rode the Monster Mouse at Oaks in July, 1977. It was my first "big" coaster. I remember overhearing that the coaster had just opened and was new that summer. The structure had no rust or wear on it and the brightly colored cars had a fresh new look and smell. But, the mouse was eventually be replaced and in 1995, the portable Looping Thunder coaster took its place.

In 1985, Bollinger donated his beloved Oaks Park to the Oaks Park Association - a nonprofit community resource organization to which he was benefactor. And ever since then, the park has maintained itself well by entertaining the young and old.

In 2004, "Bob" Bollinger passed away. Though he is missed by those who knew him, Oaks continues his life long legacy - simply putting smiles on peoples faces.

To learn more about Robert Bollinger and his family visit Robert Bollinger.com.

To find out information about the Oaks Park Museum visit Oaks Park Museum.com.