The Shoot-the-Chutes was the only thing that Thompson and Dundy salvaged from Sea Lion Park.  The ride was simple, a boat was hauled up to the top of the hill, turned around and then splashed down into the lagoon.  Click here for a hi-resolution scan of the daytime postcard and click here for a hi-resolution scan of the nighttime view.

The postcard on the left shows the lift and drop of the Shoot the Chutes.  I do not know what the two tow tracks on the right side were for- perhaps they were used to haul up and store the boats at night.  The boat splashed down through the tunnel and out into the lake.  After the boat slowed the operator steered it over to the dock where the happy Victorian passengers disembarked.

This is a great rendering of the ride by nightfall.  Notice the large amount of space between the two "drop" tracks.

The Dragon's Gorge opened in 1905 and was designed by La Marcus Thompson and John Miller.  According to Coney Island historian Jeffery Stanton "Its tunnels inside featured scenes of the North Pole, Africa, the Grand Canyon and Hades with its River Styx."  There was a large waterfall within the ride's entrance and the exquisite detail amazed its many riders.  The ride remained a popular fixture within the park until 1944 when it caught fire.

The Helter Skelter may not be exciting by today's standards, but for the Victorian women it was quite a thrill to "let loose" down the slide.  Elmer Blaney Harris wrote in "Munsey's Magazine", "The descent itself is about fifty feet, with high side, like a bathtub, and it twists and turns suddenly, a man standing guard at the bottom to pick up passengers."    (Right photo Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

The Front Gate

The Promenades

Luna by Night

Inside the Park

Luna Park

The Park's Animals