The Last Traces of Vickery Park Are Now Definitely Gone
by Paula Bosse
The last vestige of a one-time summer destination… (click for larger image)
by Paula Bosse
Driving along Greenville Avenue this morning, I noticed a pile of rubble where Vickery Park once stood (just south of Walnut Hill, across from Presbyterian Hospital). It seemed sadly ironic that the land which was once occupied by a fondly-remembered swimming pool and picnic area was heaped with demolished buildings on the first day of summer.
I never saw the huge swimming pool myself, but from everything I’ve read about it over the years, it seems to have been very, very popular with generations of Dallasites. It was built in the then-rural community of Vickery as far back as the 1930s (well before Vickery was annexed by the city of Dallas), and it was still open at least through the ’60s.
The pool and amusement park were long gone when the (now-demolished) small shopping and restaurant area was built in the mid-1970s on a very pretty wooded site alongside White Rock Creek. Initially, the developer envisioned lots of quaint little boutiques and cafes (similar to those found in the Quadrangle) dotting the banks of White Rock Creek, creating Dallas’ version of San Antonio’s River Walk. …No one has ever accused real estate developers of dreaming small.
It’s sad to see this anachronistic, funky little area go away. My vague memories of childhood games of miniature golf in the ’70s are about to get vaguer.
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I’ve never known exactly where the pool was, but I think it might have been at the back right of the photo above, just off Pineland.
1946
1965
Sept., 1978
Google Street View
Above is a Google Street View from May, 2017. If you’d like to take a little virtual “drive” through the parking lot, hie yourself over to Google, here.
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Here are two pieces of film footage showing the pool. The first one is from June, 1964 and is (silent) news footage shown on WBAP Channel 5. It’s a little unsettling, as it shows a boy being rushed off by ambulance after an accident, but it does have some interesting shots of the pool and the park, which I’ve certainly never seen before. I am unable to embed the video, but you can watch it here. (The script for the story is here.) (Footage is from the WBAP-TV News collection, UNT Libraries Special Collections.) Here is a screen capture:
The second is undated, but the clips are from home movies.
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Sources & Notes
Rubble photos taken by me on June 21, 2018 — construction was underway. And it was extremely HOT.
The first historic photo appears to be a Dallas Public Library photo, with most of the watermark cropped off. I found it on Pinterest, here.
The third photo, showing two boys, was found in the Fall 2002 issue of Legacies.
There are memories-galore of Vickery here.
A couple of interesting tidbits:
- The Vickery pool was used as an officers’ recreation club during World War II by the Fifth Ferrying Group; an aquatic meet was held there in June, 1945 which featured a variety of exhibitions, including a water ballet performed by “half a dozen mermaids from University Park.”
- In the early 1970s, Vickery Park (…not to be confused with Vickery Place…) was owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. They reopened the park as a “family recreation center” — unlike the earlier days, alcohol was no longer sold. They sold the land to developers around 1974 or 1975; in the summer of 1975, the recreation center was bulldozed and the pool was paved over (and became a parking lot).
Articles on the disappearing community of Vickery can be found in the archives of The Dallas Morning News:
- “Progress Overtakes Old Vickery” by Rena Pederson, with photos by Eli Grothe (DMN, August 3, 1975)
- “Store Provides Feed For Thought On Town’s Past” (Vickery Feed Store) by Steve Kenny (DMN, Nov. 18, 1979)
All images are larger when clicked.
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Copyright © 2018 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
Great story Paula especially for those of us that spent many summer afternoons at Vickery Park. I have never seen those videos before, but they do bring back a lot of memories. That high board was indeed very high in our early years. Thanks for the article, it brought back a lot of memories.
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Thanks Paula, you got me again – this reminded me of another Greenville Ave. landmark long gone, the Deuback Skating Rink, which was cantilevered out over Whiterock Creek just south of Royal. I couldn’t remember exactly where it was, but did a quick search and found this article: https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2016/10/lake-highlands-history-deuback-skating-rink-roller-rink-white-rock-skate/ Apparently it was at 7800 Greenville near near where the Whiterock Trail now crosses Greenville just north of the huge Moss Park soccer fields. We had skating parties there when I was at HP Jr. Hi in the mid-50’s and I remember when it burned down in 1957.
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It was a wonderful place to go in the 40’s and 50’s. Loved the Deuback’s and their famous skating reviews. My sister played Roller Hockey there and always had big eyeball sized skinned areas on her knees. Never learned how to skate backwards. Good bye, good ole days!
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I remember eating at Biff’s a couple of times back in the day (it became Roma’s). I loved the laid-back, ski lodge look of the place.
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This wasn’t a place I really knew of. It was simply a place I passed countless times over the years. But what troubles me is how everything that made Dallas what it was, is being razed and built over. I already find driving over to Dallas frustrating, because so many landmarks are gone now. It really confuses my sense of location and general orientation. Then there’s the price paid for having feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality.
There’s no end to it, and in another decade, most of what I’m familiar with and recognize from the mid to late century era of Dallas will be gone.
I think it’s fair to say real estate developers of today don’t dream as big as those of the early to mid century Dallas (and elsewhere) did.
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The video undated is more than likely 1958. My brother posted this video on FB from our home movie collection growing up and my NOW deceased mother, Jo Hale is narrating. Our family was at the beginning with the hula hoops, and neighborhood families on Ferndale Rd. And Liptonshire were at Vickery Park swimming.
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Thanks, Lynn. Cool video!
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Summers at Vickery Park pool still hold DEAR, SWEET MEMORIES for me. A lot of us, who didn’t drive at the time, would walk a long, long way to get there. My granddaugher graduated from high school this spring..I treated the family to Reunion Tower. Told them, look at all the tall buildings surrounding Dallas, Downtown Dallas only had two tall buildings when I was growing up!!!
It’s amazing, and you feel it in your heart when you think about it.
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My goodness, I never thought I would find pics of the old pool. I was a lifeguard at the pool for four summers in the mid to late 60’s. Best years of my life. it’s a shame those days are gone. They were just too good.
Just so you’ll know. There is ONE of the original community of vickory buildings left. From the start of ww2 it was a feed store. No, not the restraint further down Greenville near Southwestern. This was a real feed store. Think horse, muel,chickens. It’s the building at Greenville at Park, behind the gas station. Its now some sort of sandwich shop.
Ya know, I may be the last person who remembers that.
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Thanks, MH. I think the little house that serves as the home of Sunshine Miniature Trees (7118 Greenville) is also an original Vickery building. I would have loved to have seen that pool!
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[…] “THE LAST TRACES OF VICKERY PARK ARE NOW DEFINITELY GONE” […]
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Anybody have more information or photos of Vickery? I lived there as a kid!
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Hey Dennis, believe we were friends back in the Vickery days.
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Wasn’t there a roller rink down in there as well?
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Yes, to the left of the pool, built out over the creek was an extremely well built roller rink. The rink was in excellent shape the day they demolished it. Don’t forget the miniature golf course that was just to the left of the main gate.
One more; the old carousel, I hope they saved it.
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Old Vickery Park had many up’s and downs over it’s long life. It’s glory days in the 60’s was when the McFall’s family (of amusement park rides fame) managed the place. I believe that was 1965 to 1967. The place was well run, everything worked well. After the McFall’s came B&M Amusement Rides out of Fort Worth. They stuck around for a couple of years but it was a down hill ride.
Mr. Mac always told me that the owners of the park ( Seventh Day Adventist Church ??? ) would allow the park to operate as long as no major repairs had to done. When Old Vickery could no longer pass inspection it was to be sold.
Many truly colorful and amazing character’s passed through the gates of Vickery Park, prophets and fools, people of immense character and back alley hustlers. One in particular stands out, a kid named Hart ( life guard, mid to late 60’s). Hart went on to be a Professional Adventurer / Soldier of Fortune. I believe someone made a movie about his exploits.
I know it seems perhaps trite, but to all of you who passed through the gates of Old Vickery Park; Thanks for the Memories.
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Ari, Y.Y., you old dogs. Ari, I just figured out who you are. First, I am glad you are still alive. Second, I am amazed you know how to use a computer.
You must be one of the last of the old school carnies out there. I am impressed.
It’s good to know you still remember Mr. Mac.. He was a good man. I guess were the last of the old crew.
Do you remember Maudsley? He was the big muscle head that always hung out at the pool. He was the guy that rode the white Harley and drove the Fiat spider sports car. He retired to Miami. I saw him in South Beach some years back.
Anyway, Maudsley, Hart and I got wind of the day the demo crew was going to break up the old pool. They brought in a crane with a big wrecking ball and smashed her to bits. We sat on the hill in the parking lot and watched her go. It was like watching the execution of an old friend; sad. For what it’s worth, the old girl did not go easy. She was really well constructed.
Peace and Love to you guys.
Shadow
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Wow, just saw this article. I worked at the putt putt golf center in Vickery Park for 50 cents an hour. I lived in Vickery and my parent were raised at Presbyterian United Homes (Orphanage) across the street. My friend and I use to crawl under the dressing rooms building looking for change, lol. The pool had a low and high diving board. I lived in an old home on Fair Oaks. Great memories of those times.
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Doug
50 cents an hour? All of us godlike, bronzed lifeguards got a $1.00 an hour with some overtime. Alas, like you, no benefits.
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Guys; do any of you remember Splash Day at Vickery Park ???
I believe it was the summer of 69, anyway it was the first year B&M Amusements ran the park.
Splash Day was the brain child of KLIF radio, the premier rocker in Dallas at that time. Splash Day was an unmitigated disaster, writ large.
As soon as the KLIF van pulled up the first fight broke out and that was pretty much the the theme for the next two hours. One big continuous brawl until the KLIF people were requested to leave.
Needless to say, there was never another Splash Day.
Just an interesting note. I have been in touch with Hart. He lives in France now. He gave me a lead on the whereabouts of the old carousel, that a munch loved fixture at VP.
More soon.
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Doug, I am Ernest. I grew up in the same home as your parents. If you ever return to this page help me remember. There was a lifeguard at Vickery pool. He was always there. When I was a child I was an escape artist. I constantly snuck in and out of Presby Home and ran over to the pool. To a young me he looked like a Viking warrior. He drove a copper colored Chevy then a blue bad boy hopped up mustang.
I now have a type of dementia that doesn’t allow me to remember names, dates, phone numbers etc. so if you can, help please do. He took me under his wing and made my life good.
I owe him big time.
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Ernie, you are the last person I ever expected to show up on this page. I am Y.Y.. you knew me as YoYo, the surfer dude. It’s good to know you’re still out there. The Viking that you remember was Vickery Pools resident demigod, Hart. He changed all of our lives for the better.
Do you remember Kate? Back in the days when we actually cooked food at the concession stand, she was the person that kept you from starving. Man, for such a little scrawny young man you could put away the bacon, eggs and toast. She left the U.S. for Europe in the early 70’s, don’t know where she is now.
As for me, I finally made it out to Huntington Beach like I always said I would. Never looked back. Shadow and Butterfly followed me out to Callie but after many years they drifted back to Dallas.
We all gathered one last time at the old park in June,22.
We talked of many things but the conversation eventually got around to “ I wonder what ever happened to Ernie ? “.
Hart, as he always did, put it best, “ ya know, that kid was the best son any of us ever had.”.
He was right Ernie.
Peace and love to you brother.
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Hi Ernie, it’s Kate. I am delighted to find you and Y.Y. It has been such a long time.
I became aware of this web page just a couple of weeks ago and never expected to find anything here except old pics.
I have marvelous memories of our little band of wanderers, and I have wonderful memories of you.
I am sad that I missed the gathering of the tribe back in June 22.
Had I known I would definitely have been there.
I live in Amsterdam now. I’ve been a university professor for many years.
Such memories are flooding in now I am somewhat overwhelmed.
Do you remember the time in 69 when we all went to the Texas International Pop Festival out in Lewisville? You were so blown away by Led Zeplin and Janis Joplin. I hope you found happiness in life. As the Viking always said, you were the best son we ever had.
I will try to track down Hart, I know he wants to add to this string.
I hope you remember those warm summer nights at the pool, and I hope you remember what Hart always said,
“We can have a utopian world. Great science and powerful men can’t do it for us, because the problem is us. We must overcome our Greed, Selfishness and Apathy”. It’s up to you and me now more than ever. Remember the other thing the Viking always said, ” despite our incredible arrogance humanity is only two hairs removed from a Chimp”.
Keep the faith Ernie and Y.Y.. All my love.
By the way Ernie, I too have dementia.
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A
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Bob Brock
Good to hear from you.
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Well, it took a little longer than anticipated, but here’s the story on the old and much-loved carousel at Vickery Park.
After the park was closed and the hardware was sold off, the carousel passed through several hands. Each owner seemed to care less and less about the old girl than the previous. Finally, either a vandal’s fire or a lightning strike (I have varying stories) delivered the coup DeGrace to the ride.
A bright note though, everyone’s favorite horse, the white one with the purple ribbons as reins is still operating on a carousel near the downtown area of Brussels Belgium. If you’re in town drop by and say hello to an old friend.
Now, to the past and future.
We are gathered on the cement slab that now covers what once was the deep end of Vickery pool. The spot where the old high guard tower stood.
There aren’t many of us left now (five of us that can be found).
All Lifeguards between 1965 and 1970.
Yes, we talked about the old days, the good times, the wonderful ladies that we came to know, the beer we drank at the annual guard parties.
Then, one by one, each old friend drifted away to return to the present.
Now I am here alone surrounded by so many memories and ghosts of this magic place.
Yes, there is a tear in my eye.
I am standing under a diamond sky. My face kissed by a warm June breeze. Just as it was in the beginning it is now at the end. I lift my glass for the final time to the past and future Vickery Park.
“Rose lipped maidens, light foot lads”.
HART
June 2022
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Thank you, HART.
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I worked at Vickery park in all capacities. Cook / life guard / ran the ride. Worked for the McFalls at Vickery park and ran rides for them at Fair Park.
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Donn, what years were you there ?
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Don’t really remember. I’ll never forget those days.
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You and me both brother, you and me both.
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I was a life guard at the pool. Use to have big crowds including my now wife. I tried to get her to set on my guard stand down by the high diving board one time as she had completed her Senior Life Saving course..lol..
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The high guard stand down at the deep end.
God I loved that perch, especially in the evenings.
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First, Paula, Thanks for continuing to maintain this page.
Allow me to add some additional information to the history of Old Vickery.
After Mr. Mac (McFalls) chose not to continue with his management of Vickery Park there were two other individuals who took over management of the park, each for only one season.
One was John Williford aka, Big John. The other was R. Tinin aka, Tiny.
The last was Lyn Prince who was with B&M Amusements out of Fort Worth.
I know it seems trivial, but it just adds a little more to the story.
HART
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Greetings old friends of Old Vickery Pool. Greetings to you Paula.
I am Robert. I spent many amazing years at Vickery pool in the 50’s and 60’s. I lived in the community of Vickery close to the old Baptist church.
I have been away from Dallas since 73. Being a college professor in the D.C. area, and having no ties to the Dallas area, I had no reason to look back.
Last June, while sitting in the Black Dog Tavern on Marthas Vineyard on an unusually crowded Friday night. I offered to share my table with three other people. As fate would have it, the three were from Dallas. Not only were they from Dallas but they swam at Vickery during the 60’s. They told me about this page.
That sat me on a quest to reconnect with my old band of Gypsies. Yes, I was part of the Vickery Orphans.
After much effort, I managed to find Hart and that led to many facetime sessions with most of the tribe.
We shared many stories but on one particular night we hit upon something that has never been mentioned. The Vickery Park ghost.
The stories of the Vickery Ghost will require a bit of time to tell, so we will have to give them to you in installments..
More soon.
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