Saturday, July 19, 2008

Riverside Pagoda

For as long as I can recall, this cute little building has graced the grounds of Riverside Park. It's always reminded me of a Chinese Style Building - a Pagoda in the park. I don't know what it's original purpose was, or what it's used for currently. All I know - is it is probably remembered by many who have been to this city park. I bet Steve Buser of New Orleans remembers it. It's not far from the Rocket Slide, and is near the area where Wichita's original zoo was located. It was a little zoo, with very few animals. It had aligators, monkeys, bears, and an assortment of birds. Most of the animals who had called this park their home, were relocated to Wichita's Sedgwick Co Zoo, when it was built. But, some animals still reside in a Kansas Wildlife exhibit in Riverside Park. I'm so impressed with the way this park has been maintained, and added to throughout the years. It's certainly one of Wichita's finest.

5 comments:

Debbie Courson Smith said...

What an interesting little building. I bet everyone's so used to seeing it, they don't wonder what it's for anymore.

Hilda said...

It does look like a Chinese temple. Aren't you just itching to find out what it was/is? ;)

Wanda said...

It almost seems out of place...

But a beautiful little Pagoda.

Mark said...

If I remember right, it used to be a concession stand at the old Wichita City Zoo. Incidentally, that zoo also had a famous resident, named Frazier the Lion. When the San Diego Zoo's "head of the Pride" died, they bought Frazier from Wichita, and Frazier lived many more happy years, attending to his many lionesses. He adapted better than they expected and was quite the stud, from what I hear.

I stumbled across your blog quite by accident, It was linked by Crystal clear Conservative, a blog hosted by a lady I met at a MCCain/Palin rally in Fairfax, VA.

I grew up in Wichita. I lived there from the age of 3 to well into my 30's. Just recently, I took my new bride there to meet what's left of my family. I posted pictures from the trip on my own blog. You are welcome to copy them for use on yours if you like. Thanks for the memories.

Anonymous said...

Great Blog

I thought that the lion's name was Rufus.