In 1927, William A. Logus and Leo F. Smith purchased 40 acres of land on Hayden Island from the Portland Electric Power Company. Logus and Smith headed the Hayden Island Amusement Company and they built an amusement resort and tourist park - Jantzen Beach Amusement Park named for one of the park's investors, Carl Jantzen, of Jantzen swimsuit fame. On opening day, May 26, 1928, 15,000 people showed up. The following day 25,000 people came out to the park. The amusement park included a merry-go-round, fun house, Big Dipper roller coaster, Golden Canopy Ballroom, four swimming pools, natatorium, 25 acres of picnic grounds, and 15 acres of parking. Some called Jantzen Beach the most up-to-date amusement park on the West Coast, referring to it as the "Coney Island of the West."

   A merry-go-round, built in 1904 for the St. Louis World’s Fair was moved to Jantzen Beach in 1927. Some of the hand carved horses were carved by inmates of the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth. The amusement park's popularity peaked during the 1940s. In the late 50’s attendance declined, and by the end of Labor Day weekend 1970, the park closed. It was replaced by another era and a new craze - the shopping center.