My favorite was Riverside Park in Agawam MA. Pictures are always welcome. MAINE AMUSEMENT PARKS & WATER PARKS Funtown Splashtown USA | Saco, ME. Long before there was Disneyland, there was Wonderland. Touted as “the strangest farm on earth,” this park was developed by John Benson, a British animal trainer who had originally purchased a 200-acre lot about an hour north of Boston to serve as a temporary home for animals he would buy and sell. At the very last minute, it would make a sharp turn to keep everyone dry. For the younger crowd, there was the Normandy Room. The Philadelphia Toboggan carousel was rescued and now operates at Battleship Cove in Fall River. Amusement Park - Turnkey or Redevelopment Opp. 13 Abandoned Amusement Parks That Will Give You the Creeps Tina Donvito Updated: Dec. 21, 2019 When these parks were in their prime, they were fun, fantastic, and anything but freaky. Benson opened his property to the public in 1924, and from there he added attractions such as rides, games, and concessions. There were dances, performances, and exhibitions at the Alhambra Ballroom; the dinner hall on a bluff overlooking the bay was famed for its “Rhode Island shore dinners” (steamed clams, clam chowder, lobster, clam cakes, fish, corn on the cob, and watermelon). A place we've all been to on school trips and have fond memories of. We couldn’t go often, back then it was a long drive in the older cars. I’m now in what you would call the elderly stage of my life (I’m almost 77). Another New England site that has been closed and abandoned is Lincoln Park in Massachusetts. Formerly Riverside Amusement Park, Six Flags is the largest -- and arguably best-- amusement park in New England with highly developed theme and water parks. “White City Amusement Park” on Lake Quinsig in Worcester, MA. Lincoln Park was the highlight of my summer in the early 70’s. your own Pins on Pinterest You forgot my favorite, Paragon Park on Nantasket Beach in Hull Ma. Page Transparency See More. The history of some of these parks is grim and I believe some may be haunted due to the accidents and even deaths that occured. Such wonderful memories of a different time!???? I took my children there every Wednesday . You forgot “White City Amusement Park” in Shrewsbury MA. But if you are feeling nostalgic, all is not lost: Scenes from Whalom Park were preserved for posterity in the 1982 music video for “Touch and Go” by the Cars. Married and lived there myself. In 1987, Benson’s Wild Animal Farm was renamed New England’s Playworld Amusement Park and Zoo, but the rebranding didn’t help: It closed for good that same year. 4,701 people like this. Lake Dolores Waterpark in Newberry Springs, California. Many of the rides were sold to parks around Europe, but others - including Knightmare - were left behind. He loved the junior rollercoaster! I created this page to highlight the abandoned amusement parks in New England. Among the most popular attractions of that era was a 500-pound silverback gorilla called Colossus, who was promoted as being among the largest in captivity and once “ran” for president as a publicity stunt. My favorite ride was the music express but not too soon after eating. But it didn’t take him long to see opportunity in the endless parade of locals coming by to catch a peek at his lions, elephants, monkeys, and other exotic animals. Many years back the classic shore dinners in a pavilion over the water made it famous. Whalom Park!! Oh, Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach in Massachuetts! Savin Rock Amusement Park in West Haven, CT, How about the old boardwalk at Revere Beach, Pleasure Island in Wakefield,Ma The Kiddie Ranch Rte 1 Saugus, Ma. We would make sure to hit every ride and try our luck at the various games of chance as well. Please share any history or tales of terror as well. And each one teaches you a different lesson on how to be a good gardener. It’s amazing how fast people forget. It was similar to another of its kind in the Adirondacks north of Schroon Lake, “Frontiertown.” It must have been about 1956 when we went to “Cowboy Village.” We lived in Hamden and Dad thought it was fairly close by in Killingworth. (Water World had room to expand because both of DC’s older parks had closed some years before.) One year I went to Rocky Point Amusement part, this would have to be about 1984-1985 and my Dad at the time worked for Sealtest Ice Cream and they would have a big summer thing down there and we would spend the day first doing carnival activities hosted by the company, then spend the rest of the day at the park. Savin Rock was an outstanding amusement park, with roller coasters over the water, the Virginia Reel, a fabulous carousel with brass rings to catch, fun houses and top name hamburger/hotdog drive ins to feed the appetite you worked up walking the miles of rides, races and arcades.