Floyd H. McCall, The Denver PostPhilip Blea, 10, Francis Vigil, 6, and Junior Vigil, 7, ride a merry-go-round at Elitch Gardens Saturday, June 20, 1953.
Dave Mathias, The Denver PostThe Overland Limited train ride at Elitch Gardens is boarded by a band of "baddies" Douglas Shelton and George Robertson and Buddy Goodheart, Clene McKinney and Spencer Arnold on May 11, 1951.
Al Moldvay, The Denver PostJan Sterling discovers her photograph in the lobby of Elitch Gardens theater April 27, 1953.
Bill Johnson, The Denver PostMore than 400 orphans were guests Saturday at Denver Democratic Club's annual picnic at Elitch Gardens July 22, 1961.
George Crouter, The Denver PostTeenagers dance at a graduation party at Elitch Gardens June 4, 1963.
Bill Peters, The Denver PostJohn M. Gurtler, co-owner of Elitch Gardens, stands beneath roller coaster Mister Twister on May 6, 1966.
Barry Staver, The Denver PostBill Barth, 6, and sister, Jeri, 7, ride mini scooters at the annual Denver Post-Elitch Gardens picnic May 24, 1971.
Barry Staver, The Denver PostJohn Gurtler, one of the owners of Elitch Gardens, reminisces about the days when he worked at the carrousel during the annual Memorial Day Picnic in 1973.
Denver Post fileThe Calypso ride at Elitch Gardens is seen in action May 25, 1973.
Barry Staver, The Denver PostTwo children ride the Elitch Gardens ferris wheel during the annual Memorial Day Picnic in 1973.
Denver Post fileVisitors ride the Mister Twister roller coaster at Elitch Gardens during the Denver Post - Elitch Gardens memorial Day Picnic in 1973.
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostForeign Students try a ride at Elitch Gardens on July 30, 1974. Praphon Jearakul, left, of Thailand, Margaret Ann Hunter of Great Britain and Joost Karel VanWaesberghe, of the Netherlands, are participating in summer intern program sponsored by the Institute of International Education.
John Sunderland, The Denver PostThe Doll House in the refurbished Kiddieland at Elitch Gardens is scaled down for the children in 1977. Even the hanging plants around the structure are slightly smaller than those found throughout the park.
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostVisitors enjoy a ride at Elitch Gardens in May 1979.
John Sunderland, The Denver PostEarly arrivals await the season's opening of Elitch Gardens Amusement Park in May 1978.
Bill Johnson, The Denver PostElitch Gardens in August 1979.
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostElitch Gardens in 1985.
Jim Richardson, The Denver PostAs Denver braces for winter snow while Ken West places biplanes from kiddie rides in the theater at Elitch's Gardens in 1987. The rides are dismantled and many are moved indoors for the winter.
John Prieto, The Denver PostHigh school student Remie Onyshczak, 17, works her summer job at the Elitch Gardens carousel June 8, 1988.
Jerry Cleveland, The Denver PostTimothy Moor points out the details on a model of the new Elitch gardens project Oct. 25, 1994.
Craig F. Walker, The Denver PostArthur Plante of Amusement Limited works on securing a track during construction of the new Boomerang roller coaster at Six Flags Elitch Gardens March 10, 1999.
Karl Gehring, The Denver PostLacinda Lewis, 16, mops the floor of the ice cream parlour after closing time Tuesday night at Six Flags Elitch Gardens June 27, 2000.
Karl Gehring, The Denver PostSix Flags Elitch Gardens general manager Jim Bouy tried his hand on the rising waters game during a late-night party for employees Tuesday, June 27, 2000.
Karl Gehring, The Denver PostArna Miller, 17, of Lakewood carts off a giant stuffed animal after conquering the difficult rope ladder at Six Flags Elitch Gardens June 27, 2000.
Karl Gehring, The Denver PostCrystal Biggers, 14, and Clinton Weaver, 15, found a quiet spot to talk on the top of the ferris wheel at Six Flags Elitch Gardens as the sun set over Denver Tuesday evening June 27, 2000.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver PostApril Schenck, 22, is a student at Penn State University who is working at Six Flags Elitch Gardens May 26, 2000.
Karl Gehring, The Denver PostFoghorn Leghorn and Sylvester the Cat meet and greet visitors at Six Flags Elitch Gardens Thursday afternoon Aug. 3, 2006.
Karl Gehring, The Denver PostTrisha Roybal, 17, sorted stuffed animals at a gift shop at Six Flags Elitch Gardens Wednesday afternoon, April 21, 2004.
Karl Gehring, The Denver PostKris Antolak, 19, hangs stuffed animals in the Cover Spot game at Six Flags Elitch Gardens on Wednesday afternoon, April 21, 2004.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostPeople cool off in the water at Six Flags Elitch Gardens in the Commotion Ocean, a wave pool at the park, Saturday, July 16, 2005.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostThe Historic Elitch Theatre pictured April 14, 2006. The theater, built in 1891 by Mary and John Elitch, was burglarized Monday, July 1, 2024, Denver police said. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)
Joe Amon, The Denver PostArmy Specialist Jose Perez, Sergeant Chris Tolbert, both of whom were injured in Iraq and have served two tours there, and Tiffanie Perez, wife of Jose, ride the Skycoaster at Elitch Gardens that opened its gates to wounded Fort Carson soldiers free of charge Friday, July 17, 2009.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostLogan Miller, 7, with his mother Celeste ride Elitch Gardens Water Park's newest thrill ride, Tube Top, Tuesday, May 22, 2012, during a VIP opening for the ride at the park.
Craig F. Walker, The Denver PostNaturelle Taylor, 8, left, and Aiva Titus, 7, enjoy their ride in the front car of the Blazin’ Buckaroo during media day at Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in Denver on May 3, 2013. The family roller coaster was the park's newest ride.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostElitch Gardens main entrance April 12, 2017 in Denver. A local investment team that bought Elitch Gardens in 2015 is exploring the possibility of developing the amusement park's parking lots.
Steve Nehf, The Denver PostView of downtown Denver skyline with Elitch Gardens theme park in foreground on a sunny summer day.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostElitch Gardens seen from Speer Blvd April 12, 2017 in Denver.
Floyd H. McCall, The Denver Post
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Philip Blea, 10, Francis Vigil, 6, and Junior Vigil, 7, ride a merry-go-round at Elitch Gardens Saturday, June 20, 1953.
ExpandBy The Denver Post | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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Getting your player ready...
A selection of historic photos from Elitch Gardens in Denver.



































