The first "casino/boathouse" constructed at Delaware Park was designed by Calvert Vaux in 1874, and enlarged in 1885, as shown above. The mostly-wooden structure burned in 1899.
The 1895 Buffalo Atlas shows the location of the "boathouse" at The Park.
A 1901 map shows the new Casino/Boathouse constructed farther south along the shore of the Park Lake.
The Casino/Boathouse in 1901, in use by the Pan-American Exposition.
The City of Buffalo spent $50,000 ($ 1,107,780.23 in 2005 dollars) ) for the construction of a new limestone and white brick Casino/Boathouse in 1900. Designed by the Buffalo firm of Green & Wicks, it was 3 stories high, with an apartment and office for the caretaker on the third floor. It featured a loggia, a restaurant, lounging room, amusement halls, and a boat storage place.
Finished in time for the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, its rooms were promptly put to use and the location used as a boat landing for the gondolas and electric launches that plied The Gala Waters of what is now Hoyt Lake.
The Casino in its heyday 1900 - 1930.
The Delaware Park Casino, extensively used until the Depression, later suffered from neglect and unusual renovations. The third story was removed with its semi-glazed Spanish tiles in 1961 during the most extensive 'modernization.'
The same view in 2006.
In the early 1990's, the city made an investment of $700,000 to remove earlier renovations and restore the casino to its Green & Wicks design, less the third story. The tile roof was replaced by a gabled brass roof. In 2006, it is possible to rent one or both banquet-style spaces within the casino for private events.
