My parents told me all about Riverview amusement park when I was little. Nestled on an island between a streetcar suburb and the Des Moines River on the northeast side, Riverview was the only place around to ride a roller coaster or a speed boat or a tiny train. Adventureland literally swallowed it up in the late 1970s, appropriating several of the rides, and ultimately closing the park to eliminate the competition. For those Des Moinians who grew up spending all their pocket money on ride tickets and skeeball, and those who had their prom, wedding reception, or sock hop at the Riviera Ballroom, no flashy suburban amusement park could ever take the place of the original family entertainment park.
Continue reading ‘Des Moines on the Down Low: Riverview Retro’
