Lake Orion was an amusement destination amongst the residents of Metro Detroit in the first half of the 20th century. The addition of the Michigan Central Railroad track in 1872 had set the stage for Lake Orion as a major summertime resort for those travelling on the line, especially between Detroit and Flint. In 1874, several prominent citizens formed the Orion Park Association to capitalize on the growing number of travellers to the area. They developed a park on the shore of the lake (now Green's Park) near the train depot, and operated a steam-powered boat for lake excursions and delivery to Park Island. Over time, the Park Island Amusement Park grew to include a penny arcade, carousel, souvenir booths, refreshment booths, lunch stands, dining rooms, dance halls, and a wooden roller coaster named "The Thriller". The swimming beach located on the north side of Park Island had both a men's and ladies' bathhouse, a waterslide, and numerous diving boards, with the highest being 42 feet above water. Lake Orion was stocked annually with bass, pickerel, and pike, and fishing tournaments and contests were held seasonally. Several double-deck boats, including the “City of Orion,” offered lake excursions replete with bands and a dance floor on the upper deck. At night, Park Island was illuminated by strings of thousands of lights