Opened July 4, 1895, Sea Lion Park is often considered the “predecessor to all modern enclosed parks.” What is meant by this is that back then rides and attractions were paid for on a ride-by-ride basis. One could not pay a single fee to access a park or a few rides. Sea Lion Park changed all that.
Captain Paul Boyton was a renown aquatic daredevil and showman. He loved spending his money and he loved entertaining and amusing the public. He initially had this enclosed theme park idea abroad while attending a circus. He tested out his idea first in 1894 in Chicago’s World Fair. His ride was called Paul Boyton’s Water Chutes Park. After seeing potential, Boyton brought his idea to completion at Coney Island with Sea Lion Park.
Opening on July 4, 1895, right behind the infamous Elephant Hotel, the park’s first couple days were not fruitful ones. Boyton sent out invites all over the world to prominent folks and performers and royalty, as he was after all a world-famous aquatic man (he has completed a multitude of bewildering stunts prior). However, his grand opening was greeted with showers. So the next day Boyton did the same, sent out invites all over, only to be greeted with torrential downpour yet again. It wasn’t until Sunday, July 6 that the small crowds were replaced with masses upon masses of people.
Boyton purchased and installed Lina Beecher’s Flip-Flap Railway—the first looping coaster America has seen. Due to the high speed and intensities people were not only throwing up but passing out. But that was not even the slightest derailment. There was always something unusual happening at the park, something exciting and something fun. Boyton had a sea lion show, performers, a display and show of all his inventions. The press always had something to report about; Boyton loved the publicity. The following season were probably the best ones—the sun was strong and the thirst for fun was even stronger. The parks were so crowded and the pools so populated, that Boyton could not even wash or dry the swimsuits in between rentals; people were renting swimsuits right off of other peoples’ bodies! And his first and most famous ride, the lagoon waterslide Chute the Shoots, was working overtime, carrying thousands of riders throughout the day. These were the glory day of Sea Lion Park. However, by 1901 it went downhill.
In 1897 George Tilyou’s Steeplechase Park opened, and for a while Boyton was able to compete. But the truth of the matter was that Boyton’s park was on the less preferable side of Coney Island, was on the opposite side of the Brewery, and was not such a family-friendly atmosphere. At the time, most of the parks and areas of Coney Island had that sleazy saloon-feel. Sea Lion Park became more of a destination than attracting on-foot traffic. Eventually Thompson and Dundy bought out Boyton’s park and made it their Luna and Dreamland Parks (see other sections for more). They even bought Boyton’s famous elephant Topsy! Luckily, the legendary Chute the Shoots survived the next 40 years until the park burned down.
The reason for Sea Lion Park’s often neglect is that is predated easily accessible and portable cameras. Additionally, it missed the postcard craze of the early 1900s, which largely contributes to the historical record of the other three Coney Island parks, Steeplechase Park, Luna Park, and Dreamland.
