Vanished Michigan Amusement Park: Jefferson Beach, Macomb County: 1927-1955

Here is still another of Michigan’s lost, abandoned, torn down, and forgotten amusement parks. This time around, it’s the Jefferson Beach Amusement Park, that once graced the shore of Lake St. Clair in Macomb County.

The park was once located at (what is now known as) 24400 Jefferson Avenue in St. Clair Shores (which was the largest village in the United States up to 1951).

Jefferson Park was built in 1927 and proudly contained a dance pavilion, Ferris wheel, game arcade, merry-go-round, and other rides. I should also probably mention that it had the world’s longest roller coaster. When you walked in, flowers graced both sides of the walk, mingled with colorful flags.

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At night, lights illuminated the beach, much to the delight of visitors. The beach, the atmosphere, the rides, the facilities, and the amenities of Jefferson Beach soon caught on by word of mouth and soon thousands of people came...many of them wanting to hang out at the lighted beach at night.

Oh yeah, and the food. They had the usual amusement park fare like candy, soda pop, and hot dogs, but many people fondly remembered the french fries smothered in malt vinegar and salt.

Didn’t care for midway food? Rides make you sick? No matter...people came anyway and enjoyed the picnic area that had swings and slides for the kids (and the squeamish adults).

Then, in 1955, it was the beginning of the end. Most of the amusement park was destroyed by fire with only a few structures left. With the park now closed, the remaining buildings were demolished in 1959, and the land was being prepared for a new marina. It is now the site of the Jefferson Beach Marina.

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