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I first rode the Jack Rabbit with my Grandfather at age five. I remember I kept my head hidden in his lap because as we reached the top of the first rise I decided I didn't want to see any more. Later I rode in a more conventional manner. The biggest thrill ride for me was the Dragon Slide. I was first allowed to ride it when I was about eight years old.

We moved from Spokane to Seattle in 1931 when I was nine years of age. During the next several years my parents sent me to Spokane to my Grandparents each summer so we could have a "vacation" from each other. My Grandparents always arranged for at least one or two visits to my favorite spot, Natatorium Park.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s I had the privilege of taking my pre-teen children to the Nat and watching them enjoy the same rides that had thrilled me as a child. At a recent family gathering, they each reminisced about their experiences on the Jack Rabbit and the carousel. Tossing rings at the clowns head seemed to be a highlight.

When I was a kid growing up on West College on the westside of Spokane, Washington I could not wait for school at Bryant Elementary to get over and summer could begin. I knew once summer arrived my favorite destination every chance I got would be Nat Park.

I loved that place and the times we had there. I started going there with my older brother Curt and neighborhood friends in 1959 and continued to do so till 1963 when my Dad moved us to North Dakota I hated it and one of the things I missed the most and always dreamed of going back to was my beloved Nat Park.

I would daydream about riding the Carousel and trying for the brass ring. then run over to the miniature cars and go round and round on the track, then onto the bumper cars where friends and strangers would have a blast bumping into each other we would run all over that park doing things all day.

Back in them days kids did not seem to have to worry about perverts and pedophiles, I am not saying dangers were not all around but in our neighborhood violence against kids was unheard of. Anyway as I was saying we would run all day in the park knowing in the back of our minds that the last thing we would do before leaving the park was to ride the roller coaster. After the roller coaster ride that is all we could talk about all the way home. The ride on the roller coaster would keep us all charged up till next time we would go to the park.

Yes I sure do miss those times and all the great people who worked at and operated that great facility. Yes even now fifty years later my memories of Nat Park are still vivid in my mind and believe I have many, many memories of that beautiful park and its people and who over the years in my mind I have thanked many times for being some of the best times and memories I have of growing up. And yes I still miss that park with all my heart. But I thank God for having given me that time in my life and for Nat Park.

When I was a kid growing up on West College on the west side of Spokane, Washington I could not wait for school at Bryant Elementary to get over and summer could begin. I knew once summer arrived, my favorite destination every chance I got would be Nat Park.

I loved that place and the times we had there. I started going there with my older brother Curt and neighborhood friends in 1959 and continued to do so till 1963 when my Dad moved us to North Dakota. I hated it and one of the things I missed the most and always dreamed of going back to was my beloved Nat Park.

I would daydream about riding the Carousel and trying for the brass ring. then run over to the miniature cars and go round and round on the track, then onto the bumper cars where friends and strangers would have a blast bumping into each other. We would run all over that park doing things all day.

Back in them days kids did not seem to have to worry about perverts and pedophiles, I am not saying dangers were not all around but in our neighborhood violence against kids was unheard of. Anyway as I was saying we would run all day in the park knowing in the back of our minds that the last thing we would do before leaving the park was to ride the roller coaster. After the roller coaster ride that is all we could talk about all the way home. The ride on the roller coaster would keep us all charged up till next time we would go to the park. Yes I sure do miss those times and all the great people who worked at and operated that great facility.

Yes even now fifty years later my memories of Nat Park are still vivid in my mind and believe I have many, many memories of that beautiful park and its people and who over the years in my mind I have thanked many times for being some of the best times and memories I have of growing up. And yes I still miss that park with all my heart. But I thank God for having given me that time in my life and for Nat Park.

My granddad worked at nat in the early 60s. I spent many summers trhere with my family, such fond memories.

What a wonderful website, FULL of memories. I am 60 years old, went to Nat for many years, and still ride the carrousel. I have an original steel ring on my key chain to this day, and have another which a friend of mine gold plated for me. Thanx again for such a great web site!

I have lived in Spokane most of my life and have never heard of this park. I was born 2 years after it closed. It's very interesting to learn of such an amazing place! Thank you for this great site!

I remember going to Nat on my birthday with my dad and sister. We rode the rides and had lots of fun. One of my best days and still fun remembering.

Even though I never got to see the park, ride the rides or enjoy the food(born in 1973), I have heard a lot of wonderful stories from friends and family about Nat Park. My parents honeymooned there, so obviously it held special memories. Wished it was still there, my family would still be attending...

I loved this park - spent many birthdays there. I wish it was still there for my grandkids. I loved the octopus ride.

Born in Missoula and then moved to Spokane as a youngster. I remember the Looff Carousel, it made for fond memories. In this day and age of home computers and video games, these kids don't know what they are missing. But Grandma takes the opportunity to tell them. Also remember the Barnum and Bailey circus parade through town and to the park.