It’s about that time of year… The weather’s getting warmer, the sun is… well, it’s shining just about as much as it does usually, but summertime means Oaks Park is open for business! That’s right—today on the podcast, I am talking to Emily Mackay from the Oaks Park team about this incredible Portland staple!
For those of you who don’t know, Oaks Park is this incredible amusement park and attraction here in Portland. It’s been open since 1905 and boasts that they have been open every single season since they’ve opened. Emily calls herself the “party person” at Oaks Park, meaning she takes care of parties, events, and advertising of all kinds. No better person to talk to about Oaks Park!
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The history of Oaks Park. Like I said, it was opened in 1905, but Emily goes on to explain that it was created by the Oregon Power Water Commission to get rich residents of the swanky nearby Oregon City to come into Portland.
- How Oaks Park is run. It was bought by a family called the Ballingers, who owned it until 1985. However, they wanted to make sure Portland would have the park forever, so they turned it into a nonprofit historic site run by a board of directors.
- A variety of the attractions and offerings Oaks Park has. It has one of the largest and best-skating rinks in the country, a variety of amusement park rides, an enormous and busy picnic area, and so much more. Emily and I can barely cover it all!
- Their newest ride, an extreme roller coaster that will be of interest to you thrill seekers out there. As of recording this, the coaster had not been built, but I’m happy to say that Adrenaline Peak is HERE! Emily shares a bit about how it was constructed and brought to Portland in this episode.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
There’s so much Emily and I touch on that I just can’t fit into the show notes, so make sure you listen to the full episode to find out more about this famous Portland attraction!
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