The history of the nation's first theme park is the story of a family which has, for seven decades, dedicated itself to providing millions of guests with good, old-fashioned family fun. Evansville, Ind., industrialist Louis J. Koch created the world's first theme park as a retirement project.

There is no single "inventor" of the amusement park, but rather a progression of visionary pioneers. The concept traces back to Denmark's Bakken, which opened in 1583, making it the world's oldest. However, in the modern era, Frederick Ingersoll is often credited with inventing the amusement park "chain" concept with his Luna Parks in the early 1900s. Ingersoll was a prolific designer who built 277 roller coasters and dozens of parks, standardizing the "pay-one-price" or "midway" models. Another critical figure is Walt Disney, who in 1955 invented the "theme park"—a evolution of the amusement park where distinct areas tell specific stories through immersion and character. Before Disney, amusement parks were often disparate collections of rides; Disney introduced the idea of a cohesive, curated experience. In 2026, historians also recognize the role of trolley companies in the late 19th century, who built "trolley parks" at the end of their lines to encourage weekend ridership, effectively creating the commercial foundation for the billion-dollar industry we see today.