Fred Thompson designed the park's buildings with elements from a variety of sources. Thompson did not want to use classical details, saying: "It is marvelous what you can do in the way of arousing human emotions by the use that you make, architecturally, of simple lines". Generally, the buildings were designed in an Oriental style; many of the park's architectural features were adapted from the Pan-American Exposition, including colonnades, loggias, porticoes, domes, and minarets. The park originally contained over 1,000 red-and-white painted spires, minarets and domes. Luna Park also contained organic architectural details, such as dolphins (which were placed at the bottom of the park's electric tower) and griffins (which were placed on the Dragon's Gorge ride). Thompson also wanted the architectural elements to exude a feeling of luxury. Kasson and Michael Immerso characterized Luna Park's design as being carnival-like, a deliberate effect intended to immerse visitors. Like Steeplechase Park, Luna Park was marketed as a family-friendly destination; Thompson dubbed it "the place for your mother, your sister, and your sweetheart".
