Palisades Amusement Park

[DukeStreetKing]

Wow, the local public broadcasting station is airing a documentary on Palisades Park, which was located in New Jersey. I never knew that Chuck Barris wrote the song that Freddy Cannon sung.

I remember that park very well, even though I was probably less than ten years old the last time I went there. My sister got lost in the maze of glass walls - and my father had to go in the exit and show her the way out. I'm sure my brother and I picked on her and made her cry over that. I think that was one of our favorite pasttimes.

What a shame that they closed it, tore it down and made condos on the site.

Anyone else remember this park?

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Oh wow I would love to see the documentary. I remember going there as a kid and them having some bad bad clowns. That really is about all I recall.

I guess Jersey need more condos so something had to go.

 

[SamRoc]

Ok, showing my age here! I was in the Little Miss America Pagent at Palisades Amusement Park in the late 60's! I loved it there, grew up in New Jersey and it was such a great place to go. Sometimes I hate progress!

 

[LoraJ]

What is the documentary called? I drive by there every day.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

The show was called "Palisades Park" and was made in 1998. It was shown on WEDU from the Tampa, Florida area so maybe you can check out their site on the internet for more info. They were giving away a video and booklet about the show in exchange for a donation.

 

[Gary M]

I was in college when Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon had the hit song Palisades Park. I'm really old.

 

[LoraJ]

looks like it will be airing around here at the end of the month. Hope I can remember to record it. I guess I could wishlist it on my TiVo.

 

[Figment22]

I grew up very near Palisades Amusement Park and have many happy memories of summers spent on the rides and at the "World's Largest Saltwater Pool". (My mom and dad actually met at the PAP pool in the late forties so you could say I wouldn't even be on this earth if it weren't for Palisades Amusement Park!) My grandpa was friends with some bigwig at the park and as a kid I had a handwritten pass from this guy whose name I can't remember that allowed me to go on any ride in the park; back then you had to pay per ride it wasn't pay one price like amusement parks are now.

Each June our town would have a school picnic at the park. All the kids in town, regardless of what school you went to, would get a strip of tickets that included admission to the park, about a dozen ride tickets and a ticket for yummy frozen custard. It was always a great day.

I still can taste (in my mind) the crinckle cut french fries served in the little paper cones.

My high school yearbook had several pages dedicated to the sad demise of the park. We all missed it so.

I was 13 when it closed in September of 1971 but I'll never forget the good times that were had there.

 

[JVL1018]

Ahh, I see it closed it Sept 1971, so no I guess I never went, as I was born 9.26.71. LOL
I know my parents used to go a lot when they were teenagers, 20s.

My inlaws grew up in that area, Ridgefield, Cliffside Park and they used to go there often as well.

 

[vellamint]

I remember going there.....my father took me on the rolller coaster and I have not lost my fear of them since!!!!

 

[GeorgeG]

Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon is performing here in The Villages next week! I'm sure he'll be doing "Palisades Park."

 

[amy4bruce]

Palisades has the rides,
Palisades has the fun.
Come on over!
Shows and dancing are free,
So's the parking, so gee,
Come on over!
Palisades from coast to coast,
Where a dime buys the most.
Palisades Amusement Park
Swings all day and after dark.
Ride the coasters, get cool
In the waves at the pool.
You'll have fun, so
Come on over!

Now there's something that I never expected to have in my head again.

 

[njzieglers]

Palisades has the rides,
Palisades has the fun.
Come on over!
Shows and dancing are free,
So's the parking, so gee,
Come on over!
Palisades from coast to coast,
Where a dime buys the most.
Palisades Amusement Park
Swings all day and after dark.
Ride the coasters, get cool
In the waves at the pool.
You'll have fun, so
Come on over!

Now there's something that I never expected to have in my head again.

Remember that other jingle with - Public Service sure is great, it takes you right up to the gate.

We used to walk there and hit all the candy stores up for books of matches with the free admission on them.

 

[sue1013]

Hope I can find when it's on here. I remember going there when I was very young being scared in I think it was a house of mirrors or some kind of maze.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Hope I can find when it's on here. I remember going there when I was very young being scared in I think it was a house of mirrors or some kind of maze.

Yes, the maze was made of mirrors and glass, as far as I can remember. That's the one my sister got lost in!

 

[Griggle]

We lived in Jersey City at the time and went there frequently!

I also remember going to Uncle Miltie's Amusement Park - anyone else go there? As I remember it, it was scaled down and more little child friendly. Funny, I can remember like it was yesterday getting on those little boats that went round and round in that blue paint peeling cement pool of groody water, and ringing the bell on the boat. LOL

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I also remember going to Uncle Miltie's Amusement Park -

That just sounds so wrong.

 

[njzieglers]

We lived in Jersey City at the time and went there frequently!

I also remember going to Uncle Miltie's Amusement Park - anyone else go there? As I remember it, it was scaled down and more little child friendly. Funny, I can remember like it was yesterday getting on those little boats that went round and round in that blue paint peeling cement pool of groody water, and ringing the bell on the boat. LOL

yep, i remember uncle milties, it was much smaller than pal park. it was in bayonne (bergen point).

 

[Griggle]

That just sounds so wrong.

LMAO

Yeah, the times certainly have changed.

 

[Planogirl]

I guess that someone will make a documentary about the original Astroworld too someday. It's so sad when something unique is destroyed for another condominium complex or industrial park.