Very few, if any, recreation and amusement centers at the time could rival the White City Park.
The first owner of the 60-acres of land was Jonas Huffman who bought the tract from the government in 1822.
Later, the park was owned by Jones Huffman, Jr., and Charles Dawson.
It was a picnic ground where old settlers organized and met driving their horse and buggy.
From 1866-1904, Charles Dawson, Sr., had completed ownership of the land, excluding a small strip along the river and Broad Ripple Avenue, which he sold to the Broad Ripple Transit Company.
In 1904, two sons -- Morton and Stanton Dawson -- began construction of a park.
Three years later, W. H. Tabb and Dr. R. C. Light (1907) formed the White City Corporation of Indianapolis and began operating the park on a large scale on a nine year lease.
It was White City, but also called Broad Ripple Park for its location.