In 1897, land owner George C. Tilyou opened Steeplechase Park. Steeplechase Park, a family-oriented amusement park, embraced the thrills of a horse race as its theme. It would eventually become the longest running amusement park in Coney Island history. With the success of Steeplechase, other itinerant amusements began to flourish in Coney Island.

In 1903, Coney Island’s next great park rose on the north side of Surf Avenue, Coney’s main thoroughfare. Luna Park portrayed a fantastical vision of a trip to the moon. In an age when electricity was considered a luxury, Luna Park was bedecked by thousands of lights which made it glow at night.