Roeding Park, Amusement park in Fresno, California
Roeding Park is a 90-acre regional park in Fresno, California, with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo occupying about one third of its southern half. The southwest corner holds Storyland, Playland and a lake between them, while the rest has ponds, groves of ash, cedar, pine, eucalyptus, maple and redwood, picnic areas, tennis courts and a Southern Pacific train engine. A Japanese War Memorial also stands in the park.
The children's amusement area was founded in 1955 by local Rotary Clubs as an affordable family destination. The venture proved so successful that construction costs were recovered within just a few years through ticket revenues.
The park serves as a gathering place for families across the region, where multiple generations come together to spend time. You will notice people moving between the different attractions, creating a strong sense of community purpose throughout the grounds.
The grounds are flat and easy to walk, and the train provides convenient transportation between different sections. Wear comfortable shoes and allow several hours to experience everything, as there is much to see across the entire property.
From 1954 to 1996 the park housed the Fort Miller Blockhouse, a structure dating from 1851 and called the oldest in Fresno County; it had been dismantled and moved from the Friant Dam area and served as a museum of early county history. A 2009 survey by Page & Turnbull found the park meets National Register criteria, with 25 contributing resources and a period of significance of 1903–1953.
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