Luna Park Cafe
Luna Park Cafe
Luna Park Cafe
Luna Park Cafe
Luna Park Cafe
Luna Park Cafe
Luna Park Cafe

History

The building, that houses the café, was constructed by Chris Boysen right after World War II. You can still see his namesake on the adjacent apartment building. Originally built as a neighborhood tavern, the building went through various identities over the decades. The last one being the infamous “Pat & Ron’s Tavern” which closed in 1988.  After months of work on the space, it reopened on March of 1989 as Luna Park Cafe. The name coming from the former boardwalk park that existed in West Seattle in the early 1900’s. Over the years it has become a museum of sorts for all generations to enjoy. With a 1958 Seeburg Jukebox, other coin-ops like Pepe the Dancing Clown and the mini Orchestra above the front door and plenty of nostalgic decorations, this diner is a haven to it’s regulars and a spectacle to newcomers. The idea behind the café is to serve delicious food and great milkshakes in a 1950’s diner atmosphere. We employ some great people and we try to be a fun place for all.

Meet Me at Luna Park:

Luna Park was an amusement park that operated on the northern tip of Alki Point in West Seattle from 1907 until 1913. Designed by famed carousel carver Charles I. D. Looff, who carved and installed Coney Island’s very first carousel, Luna Park took its name from Coney Island’s Luna Park.

Built on pilings, the expansive 12-acre boardwalk extended over Elliott Bay and was called the Greatest Amusement Park on the West Coast. Luna Park was accessible by the West Seattle ferry or the Seattle Municipal Railway’s Luna Park Line. During evening hours the park was brilliantly illuminated, with each building and ride outlined in bulbs. Because of its extravagant lighting scheme the park could be seen for miles and was billed as a safe nighttime destination for women and children.

Luna Park’s main attractions were Charles I.D. Looff’s hand-carved carousel, the Great Figure Eight Roller Coaster, the Giant Whirl, Shoot the Chutes, the Canals of Venice, and the Cave of Mystery. Additionally, Luna Park hosted daily acts including clowns, jugglers and other buskers like the costumed man in the Luna Park Cafe’s logo. The park was also host to a variety of concessions and games of chance, such as shooting galleries and ball tosses. One of the park’s most prominent structures was its Natatorium, which housed heated saltwater and freshwater swimming pools.

The rides were disassembled and removed in 1913, with the Zeum Carousel traveling to California. The Natatorium continued to operate, however, changing its name to Luna Pool. In 1931 Luna Pool caught fire and the remains of Luna Park were destroyed in the blaze. The pier was declared a total loss and replacement estimates were too high for the city to finance rebuilding. It was condemned in 1933.

In 1946, the City of Seattle filled in the pools of the Natatorium to avoid potential lawsuits. Today the site is known as Anchor Park and all that remains of the Greatest Amusement Park on the West Coast are the original pilings, which are only visible during extremely low tide.