| The Terripan Park Casino was built in 1899 by the Parkersburg/Marietta Traction Company, supposedly named after a nearby hill. The Casino was located along Dudley Ave. in North Parkersburg and was equipped with a bowling alley and a beautiful stage among the many attractions. It was to become the forerunner of the modern day "Disneyland", however, a fire in 1917 put an end to the glorious Terripan Park Casino. A few years before the casino's destruction, plans for another park were in the making. In 1907 Charles Shattuck, the president of Parkersburg/Marietta & Inter-Urban Railway Company, completed his plans in 1908 and thus "Shattuck Park" was born. Located on the Southside of the Little Kanawha River, the park became host many times to the West Virginia state fair, it featured a horse track, baseball diamond, a huge grandstand, barns, and a lovely floral hall, to name a few of the attractions. In conjunction with the building of the park, it was deemed necessary to have a bridge built across the Little Kanawha River; therefore the East St. bridge was built and connected to the park by a new wide boulevard, named "Camden Avenue". The park continued to operate until the mid 1920's, following the building of a nearby huge Rayon factory, the property became more valuable for other purposes. |
