Bay Beach Amusement Park
A municipally owned amusement park on the shore of Green Bay, Wisconsin, offering rides, concessions, events, and family recreation.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Bay Beach Amusement Park is a municipally owned amusement park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It operates as a public recreational attraction rather than as a conventional private amusement-park chain, and is owned by the City of Green Bay. The park occupies a waterfront site beside the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and combines amusement rides, food concessions, public gathering space, and seasonal community entertainment. The attraction developed from Bay View Beach, a private waterfront resort established in the early 1890s by entrepreneur Mitchell Nejedlo. Nejedlo initially acquired the property with the intention of subdividing it for summer cottages, but instead created a leisure resort with a dance hall, bar, bathhouse, and eventually amusement attractions. The site's swampy conditions and mosquito problems limited its early popularity, yet it gained a roller coaster in 1901. In 1908, Captain John Cusick acquired the resort and invested in visitor access, including a long dock and a steamboat connection from the Walnut Street Bridge. He also added a shoot-the-chute water attraction. The property changed hands again in 1911, when Frank Emery Murphy and Fred A. Rahr became its owners. In 1920, they donated the approximately 11-acre park, its buildings, and attractions to the City of Green Bay. It subsequently became Bay Beach Amusement Park, establishing the municipal ownership model that continues today. The former swimming beach eventually closed as pollution affected the bay, but the site remained an important civic and entertainment venue. From the 1930s through the early 1970s, the park pavilion hosted concerts, dances, political rallies, fireworks, and other public events. President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the park in 1934 during Green Bay's tercentennial celebrations. In the twenty-first century, Bay Beach pursued a program of land acquisition, ride modernization, and capacity expansion. In 2006, the city acquired 46 acres west of the existing park boundary, creating room for larger attractions and changes to the train route. A major modernization step followed in 2010, when Green Bay approved the purchase of the Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster, a historic ride that had been left unused in Memphis, Tennessee. The coaster was reconstructed at Bay Beach and opened in May 2011, becoming one of the park's signature attractions. Subsequent additions broadened the park's mix of thrill, family, and children's rides. The Sea Dragon was part of an expansion plan proposed in 2013. The park also extended its train system, adding approximately 3,000 feet of track for the 2015 season after receiving donated trains and cars. Falling Star was introduced in 2017, followed by a 100-foot Ferris wheel in 2019 and the NebulaZ ride in 2023. In 2024, the city announced upgrades to selected attractions, including the bumper cars, and opened an inclusive playground in June. The park later received a grant for shoreline improvements and a wildlife viewing platform, with construction reported as beginning in late 2025. Bay Beach's positioning is centered on affordable, civic-oriented family recreation and regional tourism. Its identity is shaped by municipal stewardship, historic rides, waterfront access, and a broad mix of attractions rather than by a highly commercialized national brand. The park's adjacent wildlife sanctuary and its pavilion programming reinforce its role as part amusement park, part public gathering place, and part Green Bay heritage institution.
History
Bay Beach Amusement Park traces its origins to the early 1890s, when Mitchell Nejedlo acquired waterfront land in Green Bay. The property was initially intended for summer-cottage development, but Nejedlo instead established a leisure resort known as Bay View Beach. Its first facilities included a dance hall, bar, and bathhouse. The area's swampy terrain and mosquito infestation restricted attendance, although the resort still developed amusement infrastructure, including a roller coaster installed in 1901. Captain John Cusick purchased the resort in 1908 and sought to improve transportation and visitor access. He built a dock extending roughly 570 feet into the bay and acquired a steamboat to carry visitors from the Walnut Street Bridge to the resort. During the same period, a shoot-the-chute attraction was installed. The ride used a boat capable of carrying approximately 12 people, which descended a steep ramp into the water. Bay View Beach was sold in 1911 to Frank Emery Murphy and Fred A. Rahr. In 1920, Murphy and Rahr donated the 11-acre property, including its buildings and attractions, to the City of Green Bay for use as a municipal park. The city adopted the name Bay Beach Amusement Park, creating the public ownership structure that remains central to the attraction's identity. The site's swimming function declined after pollution affected the bay and ultimately forced the swimming beach to close. The park nevertheless continued as a civic entertainment venue. From the 1930s through the early 1970s, its pavilion was used for concerts, political gatherings, dances, fireworks, and other events. A notable historical visit occurred on August 9, 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt attended a celebration connected with Green Bay's tercentennial. Expansion and modernization accelerated in the twenty-first century. In 2006, 46 acres west of the existing park were acquired to provide room for improvements and new development. Plans included replacing the original Ferris wheel and extending the train route around the enlarged grounds. In 2010, Green Bay approved the purchase of the Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster from Memphis, Tennessee. The coaster had stood unused for approximately five years. Groundbreaking took place in August 2010, construction began the following month, and the reconstructed ride opened in May 2011. An expansion plan proposed in 2013 included the Sea Dragon and additional train-track work. Donated trains and cars arrived in 2014, and approximately 3,000 feet of track were added for the 2015 season. The park continued to broaden its attraction portfolio with Falling Star in 2017, a 100-foot Ferris wheel in 2019, and NebulaZ in 2023. In 2024, the city announced upgrades to existing attractions, including the bumper cars, while an inclusive playground opened in June. Later in 2024, the park was reported to have received a grant for shoreline improvements and a wildlife viewing platform; construction was scheduled to begin in late 2025. Today, Bay Beach operates as a Green Bay municipal attraction offering rides, concessions, a multi-purpose pavilion, and public recreation. Its location beside the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary links amusement, waterfront, and environmental experiences. The park's historic ownership model, locally accessible character, and combination of classic and newer rides distinguish it from privately operated national amusement-park chains.
- 2024
Inclusive playground opens
[1]An inclusive playground opened in June as part of broader facility improvements.
- 2023
NebulaZ added
[1]The park introduced the NebulaZ ride.
- 2019
100-foot Ferris wheel opens
[1]A large Ferris wheel became part of the park's modern attraction lineup.
- 2015
Train route expanded
[1]The park added approximately 3,000 feet to its train track system.
- 2011
Zippin Pippin opens
[1]The reconstructed historic wooden roller coaster opened at Bay Beach in May.
- 2006
Expansion land acquired
[1]The city acquired 46 acres west of the existing boundary for future park expansion.
- 1934
Presidential visit
[1]Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the park during Green Bay's tercentennial celebrations.
- 1920
Park donated to Green Bay
[1]Frank Emery Murphy and Fred A. Rahr donated the property and its attractions to the City of Green Bay.
- 1908
Transportation and water attraction improvements
[1]John Cusick added a long bay dock, a steamboat connection, and a shoot-the-chute ride.
- 1901
First roller coaster installed
[1]Bay View Beach added its first recorded roller coaster.
Products and positioning
A municipally owned, family-oriented waterfront amusement park focused on accessible recreation, historic attractions, community events, and regional tourism.
Roller coaster · 2011
Zippin Pippin
A historic wooden roller coaster acquired from Memphis and reconstructed at Bay Beach. It opened in 2011 and serves as one of the park's principal signature attractions, linking the modern park to the heritage of classic American wooden coasters.
Family ride
Bay Beach train
A park railway offering a sightseeing and family ride around the grounds. Its route was expanded for the 2015 season after donated trains and cars were added and approximately 3,000 feet of track were installed.
Family ride · 2019
Ferris wheel
A 100-foot Ferris wheel opened in 2019, providing elevated views over the park and surrounding waterfront area.
Thrill ride · 2017
Falling Star
A thrill attraction introduced in 2017 as part of the park's ongoing effort to supplement its traditional family rides with newer high-intensity experiences.
Thrill ride · 2023
NebulaZ
A ride added in 2023, expanding Bay Beach's contemporary thrill-ride selection.
Thrill ride
Sea Dragon
A ride included in the expansion program proposed in 2013. It represents the park's continuing development beyond its historic rides and basic family attractions.
Children's recreation · 2024
Inclusive playground
An inclusive play facility opened in June 2024, extending the park's offer beyond mechanical rides and providing a more accessible recreational space for children.
Event venue
Multi-purpose pavilion
A public gathering and event facility used historically for concerts, dances, political rallies, fireworks, and other community programming.
Brand decisions
2024
Improve accessibility and site infrastructureStrategyBackground
The park sought to update selected rides while strengthening its broader public-recreation role.
Action taken
The city announced bumper-car upgrades, opened an inclusive playground, and reported grant support for shoreline work and a wildlife viewing platform.
Aftermath
The playground opened in June, while shoreline and viewing-platform construction was reported to begin in late 2025.
2013
Broaden the park through phased expansionStrategyBackground
After acquiring additional land in 2006, the park developed plans to add attractions and extend the train route.
Action taken
The proposed first phase included the Sea Dragon and further train-track expansion; later track work and donated rolling stock supported the 2015 season.
Aftermath
Bay Beach continued adding attractions and infrastructure, including Falling Star, the large Ferris wheel, and NebulaZ.
2010
Acquire and reconstruct the Zippin PippinProduct launchBackground
The historic wooden coaster had been standing unused in Memphis for several years, while Bay Beach was pursuing expansion and attraction modernization.
Action taken
Green Bay approved the purchase, and the coaster was reconstructed at Bay Beach after groundbreaking in August 2010.
Aftermath
The ride opened in May 2011 and became a central signature attraction for the municipal park.
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