Palace Pier

Did Toronto once have its own “Palace of Fun”? Right here at Palace Pier, such dreams almost came true. Palace Pier was initially envisioned in the 1920s as a grand amusement pier, a rival to the Sunnyside Pavilion. The pier was designed to stretch an impressive 1,800 feet into Lake Ontario, complete with a steamboat landing. Imagine strolling along that pier, with the city lights twinkling behind you and the vast lake spreading out before you. However, the Great Depression dealt a harsh blow to these ambitious plans. Construction stalled, leaving only a 300-foot section completed. In 1941, this truncated pier found new life as the Strathcona Roller Rink. It later transformed into the Queensway Ballroom in 1943 before finally becoming the beloved Palace Pier Dance Hall. Big band music filled the air as dancers twirled across the floor. Lionel Hampton, the energetic bandleader, was known to “soak 3 suits in a performance,” playing faster and louder as the night went on. Palace Pier saw its golden age in the mid-1940s and 50s. Renovations in the 50s created a magnificent three-tiered dance floor, surrounded by balconies that ensured everyone had a perfect view of the action. CBC Radio even broadcasted live from the hall, sharing the lively atmosphere with listeners across the region. The times, however, were changing. To adapt, Palace Pier began hosting country music stars like Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash, broadening its appeal and attracting new crowds. During the week, bingo games, boxing matches, political rallies, and even high school proms filled the space, keeping the Palace Pier financially afloat. Tragically, on January 7, 1963, fire swept through the Palace Pier, destroying everything. The declining popularity of dance halls sealed its fate. The pier was not rebuilt, and condominiums now stand where music and laughter once echoed. Though the building is gone, a monument stands near the original location on the Waterfront Trail, just west of the Humber River. The monument’s base incorporates the original concrete pier footings, a tangible link to the pier’s vibrant past.