History History

History of the Town of Lakeside

The Town of Lakeside may be small in size, but its history is closely connected to more
than a century of growth and change in the Denver metropolitan area.

The Beginning of Lakeside

Lakeside was established in 1907 along the eastern edge of Jefferson County, just west of
Denver. The development was led by the Lakeside Realty and Amusement Company and
prominent Denver businessman and brewer Adolph Zang.

The new community was planned around West Berkeley Lake and an ambitious
amusement resort then under construction. Residents petitioned for incorporation in the
fall of 1907, and the Town of Lakeside was incorporated on November 25, 1907. Marvin
Adams served as the Town's first mayor.

From its beginning, Lakeside was unusual: the development of the Town and the
amusement park were closely intertwined. Its location outside Denver also allowed the
new municipality to establish its own local government and regulations.

Lakeside Amusement Park

Lakeside Amusement Park opened in 1908 and quickly became one of the Denver area's
premier entertainment destinations.

The park was popularly known as the "White City," a name inspired by the brilliantly
illuminated amusement parks of the era. Lakeside reportedly featured approximately
100,000 electric lights, along with elaborate architecture influenced by the City Beautiful
movement and the great expositions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Early attractions included a casino, ballroom, theater, skating rink, swimming facilities,
miniature railroad, Ferris wheel, roller coasters and other amusements. One of the park's
most recognizable landmarks, the Tower of Jewels, welcomed generations of visitors to
Lakeside.

The amusement park changed ownership during the Great Depression. Benjamin Krasner,
who had operated concessions at Lakeside since 1917, acquired the park in the 1930s.
Under the Krasner family's leadership, Lakeside was updated with new attractions and
distinctive Art Deco and Moderne architecture, including designs by architect Richard
Crowther.

Among the additions was the Cyclone roller coaster, which opened in 1940 and became
one of the park's signature attractions.

Lakeside Amusement Park has survived while many amusement parks of its era
disappeared. More than a century after opening, its historic architecture, neon lighting and
classic attractions remain an important part of Lakeside's identity and Colorado's
amusement history.

Lake Rhoda

The lake at the center of the community was originally known as West Berkeley Lake. It was
later renamed Lake Rhoda in honor of Benjamin Krasner's daughter, Rhoda.
The lake remains one of the Town's defining geographic features and an important part of
the landscape surrounding Lakeside Amusement Park.

A Growing Commercial Center

Lakeside's history also includes an important chapter in the development of suburban
retail in the Denver metropolitan area.

The Lakeside Shopping Center opened in 1956 near West 44th Avenue and Harlan Street.
The center attracted shoppers from Denver and the rapidly growing western suburbs and
included major retailers such as Montgomery Ward, Denver Dry Goods and King Soopers.
The shopping center was remodeled over the decades as retail patterns changed
throughout the region. The original center was eventually redeveloped, continuing the
Town's long history as both an entertainment and commercial destination.

A Small Town with a Unique Identity

Despite being surrounded by a growing metropolitan area, Lakeside has remained an
independent municipality for more than a century.

Today, the Town continues to occupy a unique place in Jefferson County and Colorado
history. Its story can be seen in the waters of Lake Rhoda, the historic structures and lights
of Lakeside Amusement Park, its commercial areas, and the municipal government that
has served the community since 1907.

More than a century after its founding, Lakeside remains a distinctive Colorado town where
local government, commerce, recreation and history share a remarkably small corner of
the Denver metropolitan area.