The first major fire at Paragon struck in 1911, leveling all of the buildings from the entrance south along Nantasket Avenue to what would become Park Avenue. Thanks for reminding me of some really great times. Six Flags Over Georgia, Batman: The Ride Was 14-Year-Old Who Died at Orlando Amusement Park Too Heavy. The sale was set to close in March, only a few weeks away. I still remember feeling sad for this elephant who had a steel cuff on its leg and was chained to the floor. Of cause my mother loved to play Bingo . Norumbegapark as a kid, Whalom park 8th grade class trip, nantasket beach high school end of year trips. the Zoo in GB. Dodge, a Boston businessman who had made a fortune selling whalebone, a substance that was used for so many products that it has been called the plastic of its day, was the prime mover behind the construction of Paragon. Storybook characters, a pirate ship and Dodge City with a saloon and stagecoach holdups were among the attractions. My cousin owned the pizza shop across the street from the parking lot and lived there. Of the parks you describe, I visited Rocky Point and Bensons Wild Animal Farm as a child. I had so many old photos of me so young with families and cousins srbthede park, Canobie is still open, far as I could tell, Canobie Lake Park is definitely not closed. A 14-year-old girl has died after a roller coaster car came off the track at an amusement park in Denmark. External links Paragon Park on the Roller Coaster DataBase. I also recall a booth with a figure inside dressed like a gypsy woman. After the first fire, it was partially redesigned by Herbert Paul Schmeck who worked on its original construction. Location: Massachusetts, United States. Hi Joanne, I skated most every week end at the roller rink, Lil and her husband were great. Lincoln Park in Dartmouth, MA, just part of New Bedford, MA! Even though that was in 1984, every time he tells the story he apologises to the poor kid sitting behind him all over again. My wife and I had our first date there. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This setting should only be used on your home or work computer. Best wishes, and thanks for stopping by. New England offers plenty of memorable amusement park experiences, from Six Flags New England and Canobie Lake Park to Story Land and Lake Compounce. Kings Castle, Whitman, great amusements for kids to age 10 maybe 12. It is now adjacent to the old train station and clock tower. Loved Whalom park took several girlfriends there. Canobie Lake was where out Sr HS class had an unofficial Senior Day. Giant Coaster Paragon Park (Hull, Massachusetts, United States) Removed, Operated from 1917 to 1985. He says he and his son boarded . In addition to a massive saltwater swimming pool and a Ferris wheel with an ocean view, popular rides included the Corkscrew Loop Roller Coaster, the 13-story Freefall, the Log Flume, and the Castle of Terror. The parks owners were challenged in a way they hadnt been previously, as cleanup from a fire is relatively straightforward the burned and damaged areas are removed and replaced. Traveled from CT many times in my childhood. Loved going to Rocky Point sometimes just for the chowder and clam cakes but always ended up in the amusement park. Was it destined to become a cornerstone of the casino economy, or was its presence an obstacle to further development? Only a few years later, another fire would wreak havoc at Paragon. There were daily parades and a scenic railroad, too. Kicking off the Park's expansion of Pioneer Frontier, it was the first attraction at Hersheypark to be completely themed.Trailblazer is the second-oldest running coaster in the Park and a family favorite.It features a helix that circles a total of 4 times and reaches speeds of up . It operated there from 1917 to 1984. When Rose Stone died in 1969, the park lost one of its most familiar figures and its last link to the days when Dodge was still active in the parks operations. War rationing and blackout drills during the 1940s put more strain on the parks operations. Through the decades, the venues Palladium Ballroom hosted a lineup of performers that ranged from Janis Joplin to the Ramones and Pearl Jam. well i will stop babbling tc and bs all!! The coaster was 1,400 feet long and featured an 88-foot drop. Beach was great! I really did enjoy Paragon Park. In fact, a penny would get you a lot in those days, especially in the penny arcade. See it here at. Not only did they have the rides which we loved as kids, they had a fabulous summer theater, the Valley Players, owned and operated by Jean and Carleton Guild. The actors included many stars on their way up including Hal (and his then wife, Ruby). that I will always remember. Benson opened his property to the public in 1924, and from there he added attractions such as rides, games, and concessions. \r\rDo you remember hearing the clicking of the cars as they climb to the top? In Africa, what are the two most common biomes? Chris Haraden lecture - The History of Paragon Park, Official Site of the Paragon Park Carousel, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paragon_Park&oldid=1135406011, Buildings and structures in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Defunct amusement parks in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 13:40. As a teenager I remember sitting on Santas lap during the Christmas celebration. Following the show, wed watch the fireworks from the parking lot. Please see my listings for other defunct New England Amusement Park shirts. A park worker's fatal joyride Raymond Boyd/Getty Images In 2019, there were 1,299 injuries in US amusement parks. There are so many memories made at these parks no one will ever forget. I think fondly of Whalom Park also. Also visited Crescent Park, Rocky Point ,Bensons ,Pleasure Island,Kings Castle land Whitman,Ma Whalom and Canobie Lake. On a dark winter evening homeward-bound in the front passenger seat in our '53 Chevy after Christmas shopping at the Paragon Park's Arcade Bazaar - a warehouse-like fluorescent-lit discount toy store in Nantasket Beach - my mom told me the heartbreaking truth about Santa Claus. Only six years before its inclusion on the list of National Historic Landmarks, the 85-foot-high ride with a top speed of 60 mph proved deadly to one rider. Long before there was Disneyland, there was Wonderland. All Rights Reserved. He loved the junior rollercoaster! Like Lincoln Park, the land on which Paragon Park was situated is now the site of condominiums. NORUMBEGA AND TOTEM POLE BALLROOM, AUBURNDALE, MA. Well friends, you never know whats going to happen because the park never reopened the following season, and when I returned in the summer of 1985 I was greeted with this sad sign: Not only had Paragon Park been permanently shuttered, but I had even missed the public auction of all of the goods from the place. Thanks for the great memories! There were daily parades and a scenic railroad, too. Pleasure Beach Ballroom had big bands like The Dorseys (before my time) , but being a product of the 50s I remember seeing Fats Domino and Patsy Cline there. I got to ride on the roller coaster again after it moved to Maryland, long before Six Flags took over Water World; they restored a piece that had been taken out at Paragon after a fire. Revere Beach was the closest, and we visited often. Real estate interests were inspired both by the removal of what some considered the honky tonk amusements and by the zoning loophole Kahns plans had exposed. You forgot my favorite, Paragon Park on Nantasket Beach in Hull Ma. I have vague memories of Savin Rock in West Haven, CT. It is the oldest coaster in any Six Flags park. As each season ended, friends and family recall the Stones saying privately that it would be the last; they no longer had the energy to devote to such a draining enterprise. In its 96 years, 1985 was the only season of operation the roller coaster has missed. But its not the same. 1950s. Back before we moved to Connecticut in the. I grew up in Springfield and would rather go there than its competitor, Riverside Park in Agawamnow Six Flags. Im a big baby when it comes to riding roller coasters but I do love the look of an old fashioned white wood one curling around a park. Park. Dodge commissioned the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) to create a new coaster. Retro Roadmap creator, vintage road trip lover, photo taker, musician's wife and hostess with the mostess! I havent thought about that place in years! Some restaurants and openncafes had pictures of it years ago. I remember barely being able to wait until the park opened at 12?1? By 1914 Mr. Schmeck found himself working in the amusement industry. The Palm Garden restaurant, function facility, and performance hall at the base of the hill drew guests of the surrounding hotels and larger parties of conventioneers, corporate dinners, and class reunions. It is 1984! Around the same time, the town and the state began buying the property in stages. we went on the Congo Cruise, which I think briefly had a My Dad was. . Still remember the black rubber knife I bought as a souvenir. 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. I remember thinking that day that I would come back and photograph the place right, and get some good shots as there were rumors that the park would close after the next season. Pleasure Island in Wakefield, Massachusetts. I remember Savin Rock very well. Miraculously, Paragon opened on time for the 1978 season, but not before family matters would complicate the family business. Within weeks, however, Kahn-Quinn and the Stones had moved up the closing, deciding that opening the gates to souvenir-seekers, litigious loiterers, and potential vandals was too risky. Who makes these lists? Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts, is an exposed beach break with consistent surf that can be used at any time of year. My best friend took me there when I moved to the area in 1983. Nearly a quarter of a century later, the Wonderland Greyhound Park opened on the same property. Great memories and was able to take my kids to a couple of these growing up. For one that could never do twirly rides I loved the roller coaster the best. Within two seasons, however, Paragon was falling short of its financial projections, Eastern Parks investors wanted to abandon the concept. While the fire didnt physically touch the park, its effects on the economy and the prospects for the resort were profound. We went with another family. My question exactly! My parents brought me and I brought my kids. It was a Big Deal! Take a ride down Memory. A great first job! The later years at Bensons they had Christmas displays. peter; Dawn R. Jankovic, from Brunswick, Ohio, fell unconscious while riding The Voyage roller coaster at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana . I thought the title of the article said New England Amusement Parks. This is one of the smaller "camel humps" of the Giant Coaster being disassembled so that it could be reborn as The Wild One in Maryland. Within five years, the rail line was abandoned forever. All I was left with besides a footprint on my backside for not taking more, better photos, when I did have the time, were my memories of having an all day pass discounted by collecting match book covers stapled to my shirt hem and spending the day riding the kiddie cars, the Congo Cruise, the merry go round and more, playing skee ball in the arcade and eating ice cream on a hot summer day. Hilarity Hall, a funhouse akin to the Steeplechase, was built next door, and a dance hall that later became a roller rink, toy store, and video arcade. Growing up in Everett,MA I know several of these parks. The Stones took control of the main Paragon property, as well as its rear parking lots and warehouse, while Golden retained the section of former railroad bed that would later house the Turnpike Cars ride and the Magic Mine Train. Ill never forget Lincoln Park Great Great Memories. On May 28, 1985, a 29-year-old man stood up while riding the Cyclone, and his head hit a crossbeam. A friend, 20-year-old William Haithcoat, and a 20-year-old park employee named Darrel Robertson, attempted to rescue him. My Mom and Dad went dancing there when they were dating! Barnum in that regard created a system in which his patented inventions (with cheeky names like Funny Stairway, Earthquake Floor, Third-Degree Room, Cave of the Winds, and Revolving House of Delusion,) became the basis for the fledgling amusement industry in America. I believe the amusement park in Lincoln Rhode Island is no longer there. The worst came in 1930, when a car on Omaha, Nebraska's Big Dipper roller coaster fell 35 feet to the ground, killing four and injuring 17. Wonderful memories! True story. I remember a vacation my family took in Misquamucut RI , in maybe 1957 . In the aftermath of the April fire, Paragon reopened without its signature front entrance. Not sure if youre on Facebook, but you might enjoy the Paragon Park Memories page there: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paragon-Park-Memories/103289636409972 and who knows, it may spark some additional good ones! 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. I also remember the Revere Beach Amusements alomng Revere Beach in the 50s and 60s. Googling Pleasure Island Massachusetts will yield many fan sites as well as old and new information, not the least of which is a Friends of Pleasure Island website. I loved the carousel. A roller coaster in Japan known for its "super death" acceleration to triple-digit speeds was reportedly shut down after riders suffered serious bone fractures. Just as I started a family of my own in 1983 I was heart broken when the park closed. We enjoyed quite a few evening visits in the 80s. I recall a Western theme park in Northeast CT, named Cowboy Village. It was a complicated transaction, as Dodge still was leasing the property from the railroad, and subleased the operation to Stone and Golden. John- what great evocative memories you have of Hull! Where is the Paragon Park roller coaster now, given this? According to a Washington Post article from that time, it was purchased at auction for just $28,000. Unfortunately it was replaced by a Six Flags. It put Paragon Park on the map as a must-visit for anyone coming to New England, and was beloved by locals as well. My favorite ride was the music express but not too soon after eating. Paragon Park opened to the public on Saturday, June 10, 1905, transforming Nantasket Beach for the better part of the 20th century. Paragon had its own saltwater lagoon, which surrounded a central electric tower that rose 110 feet into the sky, by far the largest structure at Nantasket Beach. My family had the summer home on the hill directly behind Hurleys Bathhouse (for those who remember). It was moved from Nantasket Beach and opened as The Wild One at Six Flags America outside Washington, D.C. back in 1986. )Danny Sordello. I do recall later that year being able to pick up a trinket or two at Building #19, a local salvage and odd lot shop, but even now the sight of this sign makes me kick myself. One bidder paid $25 for the entire lot of rainbow-colored trash cans. Ghosts of Paragon Park 1971. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. With the Stones out of town on vacation, disaster duty fell to Klayman. Newton High Schools Senior Prom was held there until, I think, the very early 60s..a special ending to your school years. Roller Coaster Death: Five amusement park deaths that will shock roller coaster fans 1. Flag item for content or copyright digital file from original About this Item. The Hurricane in Aug of 1954 finally put an end to it. Bemsons was my other favorite with animals and rides. Dodge assembled a group of investors to form the Eastern Park Construction Company and leased several acres from the railroad company. About a month later, a huge blaze destroyed much of the roller coaster, the front entrance, and concessions along the front. I think he is still alive but at a Zoo in another state. After spending months being battered in the public realm, Kahn and Quinn abruptly changed course. I circled the site, which seemed so big when I was a kid, and realized how small it was, surrounded by chain link fencing now. Fires twice damaged the coaster, in 1932 and 1962. It had a great wooden roller coaster as well as a Ferris Wheel and other attractions. I had my first kiss on that ride, and a night What about Jollie Chollies in Massachusetts? No one riding on the roller coaster was injured, Sheth said. I was so sad when Lincoln park closed. Most interesting, I went to Bensons as a child,. 20 Best Things to Do in New England in March, 10 Best Things to Do in The Spring in New England, 40 Cozy Fireside Experiences in New England, Yankee Magazines Ultimate Guide to Autumn in New England, Yankee Magazines Ultimate New England Winter Guide, Yankee Magazines Ultimate New England Summer Guide, 63 Reasons Why We Love the Cape & Islands, For $14 Million, You Could Own Provincetowns Iconic Lobster Pot Restaurant. The Giant Coaster, which was built in 1917 and was removed from the park in 1985, is now known as The Wild One at Six Flags America. There was also a ski lift-type ride called the Sky Lark, an automobile-themed ride known as "Turnpike Cars" (replaced by a different ride in the 1970s called the "Indy 500"), and a water ride called "Bermuda Triangle" (formerly the "Congo Cruise," the "Jungle Ride," the "Red Mill", and the "Mill Rapids"). The Philadelphia Toboggan carousel was rescued and now operates at Battleship Cove in Fall River. Space Journey, Ecoventure Valley, 2010. This was perfect! The 25.9-acre amusement park the nation's largest at the time included roller coasters and other rides, games, vaudeville and movie theaters, a funhouse, and a "health center" where premature infants in incubators were put on display. Think classic American road trip and the name Route 66 will undoubtedly come up sooner rather than later, and for good reason. Ive been on the one at Canobie and maybe one other but that was enough for me! Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. A scaled down replica of a tour around the Holy Land, the premise certainly has promise. Some items, such as the motors and machinery of most rides, arcade games, prize inventory, needed complete replacement, while the buildings themselves needed to be dried out. Such wonderful memories of a different time!???? well, all was fine till halfway home and my brother starts getting sick I was on top of my step sister out the window most of the ride home Still great times and I miss when we used to have no cares but having fun.. It was safe and so much fun. Wildcat, Bell's Amusement Park, 1997. At 98 feet high with an 88-foot drop, the park's giant wooden roller coaster used to be the world's tallest before the park closed in 1984. It is called the Wild One now. Went there as a little kid driving Rt.2 all the way from Hartford. The town of Hudson subsequently acquired the property and turned it into a recreation park. \rIt is 1984! So glad you shared yours here too . 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