Amusement Park/Casino

In the early 1900s, the rise of automobile mass production allowed more Americans to explore areas outside urban centers. In Michigan, where much of the nation's car manufacturing took place, Walled Lake became a popular destination for Detroit residents. Located 25 miles down Grand River Avenue, it was the first beach west of the city, offering easy access and becoming a prime picnic and leisure spot, especially on Sundays.

In 1919, brothers Jake and Ernest Taylor built a small dance hall and bathhouse at the lake's southern tip, adjacent to their general store. They ran it along with their father, Justice, and initially called it “Taylor’s Walled Lake Shores.” The dance hall was an immediate success, having an unprecedented number of people traveling to the small city. On its busiest nights, the Taylor’s could host nearly 1,000 patrons. That same year, a German businessman named Herman Czenkusch developed Cenaqua Shores, a subdivision that was located just to the east. This development was designed with affluent patrons in mind, as properties were sold exclusively in 30-foot pairs, with the expectation that cottages would be centrally constructed across the combined lots. However, most buyers opted to build on a single lot and resell the second at a premium. This approach is still evident today in the relatively narrow lots along East Lake Shore. Inspired by the Taylors' success, Herman Czenkusch decided to join the competition by building a larger and more innovative bathhouse. His centerpiece was a two-story wooden waterslide, where riders on wooden toboggans would plunge into the shallow lake below. While impressive for its time, the slide quickly gained a reputation for injuries, as the combination of high speeds and wooden construction proved to be a risky mix. Both bathhouses provided convenient facilities for beachgoers to change into their swimwear and offered plenty of beach space for relaxation and recreation. Families often spent their afternoons enjoying picnics by the shore while children played in the water, then capped off their day by visiting the vibrant dance halls in the evening.

On May 21st, 1921, Herman Czenkusch opened his larger and more elaborate dance hall, named the Cenaqua Shores Dance Pavilion. This created an intense rivalry, with both establishments competing through pricing and attractions. The Taylor’s lowered their price to a 75-cent admission, and in return Czenkusch offered to raffle off a vehicle as a prize. An interestingly timed fire destroyed Czenkusch’s dance pavilion in November that year leading the German businessman to rebuild even grander, this time with one of the area’s first projector for motion pictures. The Taylors struggled to compete with the increasing innovation and, in 1923, sold their property to Detroit grocer Louis Tolettene. Tolettene was no stranger to the area, having previously leased Czenkusch’s nearby general store. After acquiring the property, he undertook extensive renovations, transforming it into the Casino Shores Pavilion. On April 13th 1925, Tolettene opened the fully renovated venue, with a 120x140 foot polished maple dance floor, ornate lattice woodworked ceilings adorned with snowflake-like figurines, and a host of modern features. It is important to note that in the early 20th century, the words casino and dancehall were used almost interchangeably.

In 1928, Tolettene introduced Michigan’s first mirrored ball, casting colorful reflections that dazzled guests and elevated the ballroom’s ambiance. Later that year, he broke new ground by booking the Broadway Collegians Orchestra from New York City, marking the first time an out-of-state act performed at the venue. This was a bold departure from the norm, as most ballrooms exclusively featured local musicians. Dressed in whimsical clown suits, the orchestra was an instant sensation, earning them invitations to return for three consecutive years.

Czenkusch struggled to compete and eventually leased his pavilion to various operators before converting it into a roller rink in the late 1920s. Czenkusch’s health was declining, and he recognized that the only way to compete with Tolettene was to bring other attractions to the area apart from the ballroom. In February 1929, Czenkusch partnered with renowned roller coaster engineer, Fred W. Pierce, and together they brought the “Flying Dragon” rollercoaster to Walled Lake. The new park officially opened on May 29th, 1929, signaling a revitalization of his park. Tragically, Czenkush passed in August of that year, never getting the chance to witness his park’s renewed success. Despite his passing, the Walled Lake Amusement Park continued to thrive under the leadership of Fred W. Pierce.

In October 1929, the stock market crash marked the onset of the Great Depression, a period that had a profound impact on both the amusement park and casino. Despite the challenging times, these establishments persevered, maintaining their beaches and bathhouses. The Casino Pavilion introduced its own broadcast radio station, constructed a 500-foot dock extending from the beach, and unveiled new and improved waterslides. Both venues also offered thrilling speedboat rides for just 15 cents.

Louis Tolettene passed June of 1936, leaving the Casino Pavilion to his wife, Leona, and nephews Elmer and Albert Tolettene. World War II posed a new difficulty, forcing the dancehall to close temporarily during the war years. After reopening, the casino continued to thrive for several more decades, hosting legendary performers such as Guy Lombardo, Louis Armstrong, and a young Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile, the adjacent amusement park continued to evolve, adding iconic attractions like the Ferris wheel, Tilt-a-Whirl, Pretzel ride, and Flying Scooters. The Casino Pavilion continued under the ownership of the Tolettene family until 1960 when they closed the doors.

In 1962, the Tolettene family sold the dancehall to Red Kramer, and just three years later, in 1965, it changed hands again, this time to Irving Meckler. Meckler rebranded the venue as Club-A-Go-Go, but its operation was short-lived. On Christmas Day of 1965, shortly after 11:30 P.M., the Walled Lake Fire Department received a distress call. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found the dancehall engulfed in flames and beyond saving. Investigators later determined that a carelessly discarded lit cigarette in a trash bin was the culprit. This devastating event marked the final chapter of the iconic venue, closing the book on a storied era in Walled Lake’s history.

The Walled Lake Amusement Park also faced a decline after Fred Pierce Jr. inherited it following his father’s passing. Lacking his father’s managerial prowess, Pierce Jr. soon sold the park to the Wagner brothers of Detroit, who owned Edgewater Park, a more centrally located amusement park. In 1968, the Wagner brothers officially closed the Walled Lake Amusement Park, dismantling its best rides and relocating them to Edgewater Park in Detroit.

For decades, the Walled Lake Amusement Park and Casino Pavilion played an integral role in the leisure activity and economic growth of Southeast Michigan. Many factors played a role in their demise, including mismanagement during economic downturns, the invention of the television, and the ever-increasing ability to travel to other places in metropolitan Detroit. Not to mention the Great Depression and World War II. Another issue that concluded this era was for health and pollutant reasons. The small village’s infrastructure was not built to accommodate the large influx of people. The health department realized that many cottages, and even the park’s sewage system, drained directly into the lake. For obvious reasons, many patrons no longer wanted to swim in the lake.

For decades, the Walled Lake Amusement Park and Casino Pavilion played an integral role in the leisure activity and economic growth in Southeast Michigan. However, several factors contributed to their decline. Economic challenges, such as the Great Depression and World War II, strained operations, while advancements like television and improved transportation options drew patrons to other attractions in metropolitan Detroit. Another critical issue was the village’s inadequate infrastructure, which struggled to handle the large influx of visitors. Health concerns arose when the health department discovered that many cottages, as well as the park's sewage system, drained directly into the lake. This pollution discouraged patrons from swimming, ultimately marking the end of an era for Walled Lake as a recreational hub. This stigma has followed Walled Lake for many years following and still plays somewhat of a role today.

List of Accidents:

1929 – Proctor Daniel thrown from rollercoaster. Succummbed to injuries. $25,000 settlement (~$460,000 today). Brought on to Pierce Amusement Co and Walled Lake Park Co. Witnesses stated that Daniel was standing on cart when thrown off.
1930 - 12 people arrested for disorderly conduct, Walled Lake Dance Hall denies responsibility. Four given 15 day sentences, 8 given $20 fines
1930's - 8 year old Elizabeth Colby struck by wooden toboggan traveling down slide, passed
1930 – Laceration to man’s leg on water slide, $100,000 lawsuit. (~$1.9 million today)
1955 – Miniature airplane cable broke, injuring 7 patrons
1958 – Richard Grzebyk suffers gunshot wound to abdomen from .22 caliber rifle at shooting gallery
1966 – 7 year old Delbert Russau drowns with 1,000’s in attendance. Body found end of pier, which may have been where he fell
1966 – Detroit couple John F. Butler and Patsy Butler injured when car broke loose from Tilt-a-Whirl
1971 - Bath house destroyed by fire by kids on boat
1974 - 2 patrons injured after being thrown from Tilt-A-Whirl.
1974 – Employee John Kulhanjian electrocuted by wire while pulling shingles on roof, awarded $1 million by Detroit Edison for gross negligence (~$6.4 million today)
1983 – Old roller rink that was turned into flea market destroyed by fire