Super Test Amusement Park, 2924 North Dale Mabry Highway
The Ferris wheel with the Moon Rocket ride in the back at the Supertest Oil Amusement Park, 2924 N Dale Mabry Hwy. © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
The Super Test Amusement Park, part of a Super Test Gas Station, was popular during the 1950s. Located at the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and Columbus Drive- now home to Rooms to Go, families flocked here for entertainment. One gallon of gas purchased at any Supertest gas station was rewarded with a ticket good for one ride. The rides at Lowry Park were not yet built, and there was nothing like this amusement park in town. Saturday afternoons were filled with fun-seeking families spinning, gliding, and rolling on rides like the Spinning Tubs, the Ferris Wheel, the Moon Rocket, bumper cars, and the Kiddie Whip. A miniature train drove passengers around the park, and a zoo was populated by chimps, lions, bears, and other animals, all for free. Animals were kept in small cages that, by todays standards, would be seen as inhumane. A painful historical fact is that the park was open on Thursday nights for “Colored people” only.
By the early 1960s, the charm of the park had faded, and it closed. Supertest sold the rides to an amusement company, and as the place rotted away, the Tampa Fire department torched the remains in a controlled burn before the lot was cleared.
L.M. “Mike” Hughey founded Supertest Oil Company in 1946. He was a wealthy and seemingly extravagant man and once owned a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a yacht with a helipad, and two falcon jets. Hughey moved to sell his interest in his Supertest stations in 2005. He died in 2014.
© Chip Weiner. 2023 oldtampaphotos.com
Fun-seekers ride the rollercoaster cars at the Supertest Amusement Park. © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
People on train ride at Super Test Amusement Park, 2924 North Dale Mabry Highway. Burgert Brothers. 1955. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Families on the Kiddie Whip, Supertest Amusement Park, N Dale Mabry and Columbus Dr. © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
People at merry-go-round at Super Test Oil Company gas station. Burgert Brothers. 1951. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Kiddie rides were popular at the Supertest Amusement Park in the 1950s. © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
“The Tubs” ride at the Supertest Oil Amusement Park. © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
The Ferris Wheel is shown here with the Moon Rocket ride in the background. © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
The sign on the gate of this ride reads, ”Kids, moms, and dads all enjoy driving new sports cars.” © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
“All aboard,” as the engineer leaves the station for a ride around the park on the miniature train. © Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection
Caged bear at a Super Test Amusement Park. 1957. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Close-up of child riding Merry-Go-Round at Super Test Amusement Park. 1951. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System