In 1911, the park management started to operate a "Blind Tiger" establishment (one that sells alcohol without a license to do so); it was raided by the local police.
The site, at the corner of East Washington and Gray Streets, covered two city blocks that once contained a baseball field.
Live entertainment quickly became Wonderland's chief drawing card, from the trick motorcyclists to bands, acrobats, vaudeville acts, to a display of Igorot people from the Philippines (advertised as "a visit from the Igorrote tribe").
King Bill made headlines when it was spooked by a blown band instrument, jumped off the platform upon which it was performing, and landed in the crowd.
Wonderland, the only major Indianapolis park not to have water access was forced to maintain its costly routine of renovating and upgrading itself and introducing new rides and attractions, making its continuing existence more and more problematic.
"[20] New features include "Brewster's Millions" (inspired by the popular novel by George Barr McCutcheon), "Ray's Manikans", "The Tickler," "Battle Royal" and the "Old Swimmin' Hole.
White City also introduced new attractions and finished its construction of a huge swimming pool (covering two acres, it was scheduled to open June 27);[23] Riverside Amusement Park sharply reduced its construction and advertising costs, opting to rely upon the rides it had the previous year and showcasing "the world's largest steer.
Such a turnout encouraged the ownership to develop expansion plans, some of which were leaked to the public in the latter months of 1908... including that of building a beer garden.
By mid-March, the already-wary neighbors became alarmed when the rumored plans for a new beer garden on the newly extended park property were confirmed.
Eventually, the park would open only for "special events" in which various organizations would rent the grounds and equipment for private parties.
[6][30] In 1909–1911, the primary patron was the International Interdenominational County Fair, with the proceeds of the festivities benefitting the Summer Mission for Sick Children, a local charity.
Peter B. Trone, manager of the about-to-be-opened attraction, stated to the local media that his establishment would be the only "wet" place in the park (despite not having a licence to sell alcoholic beverages).
Knowing that "blind tiger" was code for an establishment that sold alcohol illegally, the Indianapolis Police Department conducted a raid of the premises on its opening day, August 17, 1911.
Trone thwarted the raid as he delayed the police entry as the bartenders hid the illicit beverages as the customers drank ginger ale chasers and then mopped their lips.
After finding insufficient evidence to arrest anybody in the facility, the police promised an additional raid should the "Blind Tiger" remain in business.
The first time that Wonderland advertised in media geared toward African Americans (in the August 26, 1911 Indianapolis Recorder) also proved to be their last.