An Overview of Selected Sky Slides from the Past

From the early wooden slides of the 1900s to the more modern fiberglass ones of the late 1960s and 1970s, Sky Slides carved out a unique chapter in American recreation.

The towering multi-lane attractions—ridden on simple burlap bags and defined by their waive-like humps—offered families a thrilling blend of speed, spectacle, and summertime adventure.

Whether they were located in parking lots some of which were close to shopping centers or in amusement parks, these thrilling rides were novelties for their time drawing crowds with their colorful lanes, dizzying heights, and the irresistible promise of a fast, laughter-filled descent.

The focus of this article is on the history and examples of some of the types of the slides. The emphasis is on those that opened in the late 1960s and 1970s. This article traces their roots and highlights memorable examples—from Spokane’s Shadle Shopping Center and the Northtown slides to some of those in the Seattle area, California, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia—capturing both the excitement they inspired and the eras they defined.

History of Wooden Slides

Slides first appeared as attractions in the early 1900s funhouses and amusement parks. Coney Island’s Steeplechase Park’s Panama Slide along with the Spokane Natatorium Park Dragon Slide and other parks featured tall wooden slides often multiple stories in height. The early slides only had a few lanes compared to others that came later.

By the mid-20th century, many amusement parks added similar wooden slides as standalone attractions which was a precursor to the modern multi-lane slides.

The early slides were typically smooth, highly polished in hardwood. Riders used burlap mats or bags (gunny sacks) to protect themselves from friction burns when sliding down the slides. Burlap continued to be used through the years on modern slides as well.

Post-War Era Slides (1950s-1970s)

In the post-war period, the classic carnival “fun slide” became a popular attraction at state fairs and local amusement parks. In 1965, a carnival worker named Fred Pittroff saw a 20-foot slide at Santa Cruz, California, and built a 40-foot version using corrugated steel with grooves (rather than ridges) so riders could glide safely. He and his wife, Beverly, went on to build over 40 such slides in the United States and one in Australia.

State fairs adopted slides as well (e.g. Wisconsin’s state fair). The post-war slides generally had three to six lanes, made of plywood or steel troughs, some painted in bright colors, and used burlap or later felt mats to reduce friction when sliding down.

In addition to Fred and Beverly Pittroff, Sky-Slide International, Inc., in California manufactured early fiberglass slides. They were known for producing commercial fiberglass “fun slides” in the 1960s and 1970s. The slides were supported by steel with a steel and concrete base. They were built of waxed fiberglass and were able to withstand heat and cold which was an important consideration in parts of the country with cold winters and hot summers.

The slides varied in terms of the number of levels or wave-like humps, as they called them. It was common to see three waive-like humps on a slide. The larger slides had four and five of them. The slides varied in the number of lanes they had with a rider per lane riding on top of a burlap bag over the waive-like humps.

At the height of their popularity, there were approximately 70 slides in operation throughout the United States. In researching this article, examples were found of slides either still in existence in their original state, rebuilt, or torn down.

Sky Slides of the 1960s and 1970s

The Shadle Shopping Center Sky Slide in Spokane, Washington

The Shadle Shopping Center Sky Slide opened on July 18, 1968. It was referred to as a giant slide that was three and a half stories in height (approximately 35 to 45 feet tall) and 165 feet long with stairs on either side.

The Ideal Location for the Shadle Shopping Center Sky Slide

The Sky Slide was located in a parking lot adjacent to the east side of Shadle Shopping Center which faced W. Wellesley Avenue. It was a large, open area that could accommodate the slide as well as plenty of parking around it.

The View from Above and the Ride Experience on the Shadle Sky Slide

It was quite a climb up the three and a half stories to the top of the slide. Once on top, riders could take a few minutes to catch their breaths and admire the view of the surrounding Shadle Park area before sliding down. Looking down the slide right before sliding down was a bit scary. For some riders, they had to summon their courage to slide down it.

The slide had three wave-like humps. Riders speeding down the slide could reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. It was possible sliding off the mid-level hump to literally become airborne for a few seconds! At the end of the slide, there was a flat surface that would slow riders to a stop right before the bottom of it.

The Shadle Sky Slide – A Source for Marketing the Shopping Center

The Sky Slide was purchased by the Shadle Shopping Center for $60,000 and it became a popular attraction when it was opened on July 18, 1968. It was cleverly used as a marketing tool to entice the public to come shopping and at the same time experience a thrilling ride.

There were ads by the Shadle Shopping Center advertising the Sky Slide as well as newspaper articles by the Spokane Parks Department that included it. The articles listed fun activities for kids to do during the summer months when they were out of school.

A Happy Ending and a New Home for the Shadle Sky Slide

In doing research for this article, the last reference found on the Shadle Sky Slide was in an article in The Spokesman-Review by the Spokane Parks Department on August 2, 1971.

Information was obtained that Riverview Bible Camp, Riverview Main Campus, acquired the Sky Slide. The bible camp is located in Cusick, Washington.

There are nine lanes on the slide now which are fewer than the 15 on the original slide. They call it their “gunny sack slide”. The slide is used in marketing the bible camp on their website which indicates they are the only camp with such a slide.

The Northtown Sky Slide

The Shadle Shopping Center Sky Slide was not the only one of its kind in Spokane. Northtown also had a slide that was approximately 100 feet long which was shorter than the Shadle Sky Slide that was 165 feet long. The Northtown slide was advertised as having four waive-like humps as opposed to three at Shadle.

The slide was located in one of the parking lots. For example, a parking lot adjacent to Albertson’s and W.T. Grant stores was used for carnival-type rides for such events as the Lilac Festival.

The earliest advertising found for the Northtown slide was on April 7, 1976. The slide was included with carnival and moon walk rides to attract the public to come shopping at Northtown. The last reference to it was an ad found in The Spokesman-Review on April 4, 1977.

No photos could be obtained of the Sky Slide; only ads in the newspaper were found.

Sky Slides on the West Side of Washington State

There were slides on the west side of Washington State in such locations as the Enchanted Village Amusement Park in Federal Way, Washington, and the Northgate Mall Shopping Center parking lot in north Seattle.

The Enchanted Village in Federal Way, Washington

The Enchanted Village Sky Slide opened in approximately 1977 debuting as one of the original rides in the park. Riders would use burlap bags to slide down it. The individual tickets cost approximately 15 to 25 cents per ride or a book for a $1 to $2.

The Northgate Shopping Mall in North Seattle

The Northgate Shopping Mall Sky Slide opened in approximately September, 1969. It was approximately 40 feet tall, had 12 lanes, and three waive-like humps. Initially, an individual ticket cost approximately 10 to 15 cents or a $1 for a book of tickets.

The Sky Slide in Gardena, Southern California

The Paramount Sky Slide was located at the southwest corner of Rosecrans Avenue and Western Avenue. It opened in approximately 1967. It was about 50 feet high with 15 lanes and three waive-like humps in which riders would slide down on burlap bags.

Kids would sneak in wax paper that they would put under their burlap bags for a faster ride. Initially, the price was approximately 5 cents per ride with the purchase of 20 tickets.

The Longview, Texas, Sky Slide

The Longview Sky Slide was opened in September, 1968. It had four waive-like humps and was built across from the Treasure City parking lot. The Longview slide was made of steel and stood 45 feet high and 200 feet in length. It had 18 lanes for riders to slide down. Each ride cost 10 cents.

An article appeared in the Longview Morning Journal on January 19, 1969, on the new Sky Slide on West Marshall. The Sky Slide was developed on the basis of the fact that children and adults have always been thrilled by a slide down a hill or any kind of incline and this giant-sized slide enhanced the enjoyment.

The Sky Slide at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan

The Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan, Sky Slide was approximately 45 feet tall. The original slide was opened on July 4, 1968. It was made of fiberglass with a distinctive yellow color and had five waive-like humps.

The slide was in need of repair in 2004; but instead of repairing it, the slide was replaced on June 24, 2005, that also has five waive-like humps. The new slide is taller and wider than its predecessor.

There was a controversy over the high 25 cents per ticket price which left a lot of the city’s children unable to share in the fun. The Common Council of the park cut the price of a ride to 15 cents so that more children could enjoy the new slide.

The Sky Slide in Sandusky, Ohio

The Sky Slide operated at the Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, from 1968 to 1991. It was approximately 40 to 45 feet high with 15 lanes and three waive-like humps in which riders would slide down on burlap bags. The cost per ride was between 35 cents and 50 cents per ride.

In 1992, an interactive playground, Berenstain Bear Country, opened on the former site of the Sky Slide.

The Sky Slide at the Ocean View Amusement Park in Norfolk, Virginia

The Sky Slide opened in approximately May of 1969. The slide was between 40-50 feet tall, 250 feet long, with great views of the Chesapeake Bay. It had approximately 16 lanes with four waive-like humps. On a warm day with low humidity, riders would really fly down the slide.

The slide, however, was plagued with back injuries and was closed in less than three years. There were some riders who didn’t follow the riding instructions. They were to lean forward as much as possible and not tilt backwards. Tilting backwards would cause riders to hit their tailbones upon landing.

A slide employee would stand near the bottom of the slide with a squirt bottle filled with water. As riders approached the last waive-like hump, he would squirt the lanes with water that would cause the burlap bag to drag and slow down.

Collected Memories from Riders

Overall, there were postings of fond memories on social media on several of the slides presented in this article. Such recommendations included putting wax paper under the burlap bag for a faster ride and the first three lanes were the fastest were common.

The downside of the slides were the burns that riders would get if parts of their bodies touched the fiberglass when sliding down. Also, there were back injuries due to riders not following instructions to lean forward as much as possible when riding. If they didn’t, they would tilt backwards and come crashing down on their tailbones when landing. Other injuries included broken bones and even concussions.

Reasons for Sky Slide Closures

The primary reasons for Sky Sides closing were as follows:

• Skyrocketing insurance liability costs due to injuries which made the insurance too expensive for independent operators to afford;
• Shopping centers expanding their physical footprints taking over the parking lots the Sky Slides were on;
• Price increases of rides and loss of popularity;
• Loss of income due to weather dependability. The slides would have to close when it rained, as they became very dangerous when wet.

A Closing Retrospect

Sky Slides may have vanished from parking lots, shopping centers, and amusement parks but their legacy endures in the memories of those who climbed their towering stairways and raced down their colorful lanes on burlap bags.

Despite the problems with them—for a brief but unforgettable time—the slides brought families together, offered children their first taste of a daring adventure, and added a spark of excitement to everyday places.

Though most have long since been dismantled or repurposed, the joy they inspired—and the stories they left behind—continue to shine as reminders of a simpler, spirited time when a burlap bag and a few waive-like humps could make summer feel endless!