Spanish Fort was named for an old Spanish fort strategically located near the point where Bayou St. John joins Lake Pontchartrain. There was apparently an amusement park as early as the 1800s, but we will begin in 1906, when the old park was largely destroyed by fire and subsequently rebuilt.
The new Spanish Fort Park included at least one hotel, amusement park rides, restaurants including Reno’s, Tranchina’s, and Over the Rhine, and a casino. It was also served by the New Orleans Railway and Light Company, providing service between New Orleans and Spanish Fort.
A few artifacts from Spanish Fort have survived, and there are certainly more either in the hands of collectors or hiding on the shelves of antique malls and flea markets.
Tranchina’s Restaurant
Tranchina’s was one of the restaurants at Spanish Fort. This advertisement describes the restaurant as specializing in seafood and notes that it was open day and night.
This serving bowl, or perhaps salad bowl, comes from Tranchina’s. It was made by Greenwood China, probably between 1910 and 1920, and distributed by The Loubat Glassware & Cork Co.
A Little Lagniappe
As an interesting bit of lagniappe, here is a small bell likely given out to celebrants at Tranchina’s on New Year’s Eve 1924.
These surviving pieces offer a glimpse of the restaurants and celebrations that were once part of Spanish Fort. The postcards below give us a look at the resort itself and the way it was enjoyed by generations of New Orleanians.
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These surviving pieces offer a glimpse of the restaurants and celebrations that were once part of Spanish Fort. The postcards below give us a look at the resort itself and the way it was enjoyed by generations of New Orleanians.