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Electric Park was established in 1902 by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls- and Northern Railroad (WCF&N RR) at the intersection of Westfield Avenue, Conger Street, and Rainbow Drive. Today this is the site of the National Dairy Cattle Congress Grounds. The WCF&N Railroad was owned by the Cass family and during this era it was common practice throughout the country for railroad companies to operate amusement parks to attract passengers to their trains and provide an entertainment center for their employees. Although the Cass family built and then operated Electric Park for its first twenty years of its existence, the park reached its heyday under the leadership and promotion of R. E. Peterson. Eventually, Peterson bought the park in 1922 and ran it as a family business. |  Electric Park |
| The entire park was operated by electricity with the exception of a water-powered Ferris wheel that was believed to have been the only one of its kind in the Midwest, and perhaps the country. The name "Electric Park" itself attracted much attention because electricity was still something of a novelty to many and people were interested and excited about its possible uses. |
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The name Electric Park was spelled out with hundreds of glittering
lights on the entrance sign to the park. Upon entering the main gate, visitors to the park
found themselves in the "Sunken Garden," with its broad lawns, large shade
trees, and huge picnic areas. This part of the park attracted businesses and other
organizations that needed extensive space to host large events. Beyond the "Sunken
Garden," visitors could see the signs glittering in electric lights for the rides
advertising the "Spiral Thriller," "Carry-Us-All," "Dodge-Em
Cars," "Ferris Wheel," and the "Barrel of Fun," among others. |
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Picnic Area |
"Aeroplane" |
"Funhouse" |
"Barrel of Fun" |
"Ferris Wheel" |
