Theme Parks you visited that no longer exist

[Patabel]

I was going to say the same thing...and Kiddieland is still open too.

I remember Riverview in Chicago!

Yes, I remember all those Chicago area places, especially Riverview Park on Chicago's NW side. As kids my brother and I would walk there and spend the entire day walking around the 2-mile park. Loved the rollercoasters, the chutes and the parachute ride! On the 4th of July, we could see the fireworks from our screened-in back porch! Sadly, it's now an industrial park/shopping area.

 

[sgtdisney]

Sherry - are you old enough to remember Adventureland?

I'm not Sherry, but I remember Adventureland, barely. It closed when I was pretty young. I just remember it was even more of a dump than Santa's Village, at least that's what the folks told me. I still drive by the old grounds for Adventureland, but its been a while now. I think they were going to develop homes or townhouses there.

Does anyone from the Chicago Area remember Old Chicago? It was an indoor amusement park inside some mall from what I remember. Only went there once when was pretty young. I just remember it was very LOUD in there.

 

[Allie322]

Jolly Cholly's
Rocky Point

I go by Jolly Cholly's all the time. Until recently, there was still part of a sign hanging up.
I loved Rocky Point. My favorite ride was The Music Express. To this day, whenever I hear Foghat, I think of that ride! My dad had a boat for years and once in a while we'd dock there and go get chowder and clam cakes. It's too bad that our kids won't have that kind of memories.

I also went to Boardwalk & Baseball in Florida. Now there's one park that I can understand closing!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Marineland in California. It was sort of like SeaWorld.

 

[Patabel]

Does anyone from the Chicago Area remember Old Chicago? It was an indoor amusement park inside some mall from what I remember. Only went there once when was pretty young. I just remember it was very LOUD in there.[/QUOTE]


I remember Old Chicago. My understanding is that it was one of the first indoor malls to have an amusement park in the center. You're right, it was very LOUD! Unfortunately (?) it didn't last long. The shops at the mall were primarily little specialty shops and boutiques. There wasn't enough repeat business to keep the mall going. 'Course at the time it was out in the middle of nowhere, now the metro has grown to beyond it's location.

 

[NC Belle]

We used to always go to a park in MD called Enchanted Forest. It's been closed for years, but is still there. I always point it out to my children when we drive past. I wish I could take them there.


To be honest (forgive me Disers!) The place it holds in my heart is right up there with Disney. Just a few steps down.

I remember that park. Didn't it have a castle that held a gift shop?

 

[lemondog]

http://www.alexsplace.com/Photos/Opryland-USA-Theme-Park/Opryland-USA-Theme-Park-Main.htm


Opryland album I found on line.

Oh my gosh that actually hurt my heart to look at. I am still so sad over Opryland being gone. So so so many fond memories there growing up. We used to get family passes and go every Friday when my dad got home from work. In the slower times my brother and I would just ride the Rock N Roller Coaster over and over and over again. I think the Grizzly River Rampage was my favorite ride of all, though. And every visit ALWAYS, without fail, started with a ride on the Flume Zume, since it was the first ride when you walked in the entrance.

My neighbor who has family in McMinnville said the Wabash Cannonball is at a little theme park somewhere near that area. Anyone know which one she is talking about? I can't remember the name of it for the life of me!

 

[yeartolate]

Playland at the Beach in San Francisco.

We would take the L- Taravel Streetcar down to the zoo, walk in - get some "proof" we had been there, and walk a mile or two to Playland. The rollercoaster was big, wooden, and creaky. You had reason to fear that ride. The fun house was really fun. It was back when you were allowed to hurt yourself as a kid. I cannot count how many times I came back with friction burns on my butt from the huge wooden slide. For a hoot you would run through a rotating huge barrel. The operator would speed it up in case you thought you could leave without a lump on the head. I am sad that my son will never know the pleasures of Playland at the Beach.

Oh yeah, there is nothing like having a freshly made "It's It" ice cream treat - who cares if it was 50 degrees with the wind at a fast clip in the middle of Summer.

Those were the days.

 

[MagicalMom]

I remember that park. Didn't it have a castle that held a gift shop?

Yep. I just love theme parks that have castles.

 

[MsLeFever]

Crystal Beach, although I only remember it in weird bits and pieces since I was young when it closed

I have such fond high school memories of that place! (didn't know it closed)

 

[Cindy B]

Not exactly a park, but an attraction.

Brigintine Castle at Brigintine NJ.

It was this spooky walk through haunted house castle thing. I was always terrified of it, and my sister loved it.

I still remember the commercials. Now when I hear that melody I think Brigintines castle.

http://www.darkinthepark.com/Brigantine/Home/home.htm

I was able to listen to the commercials.. that took me back!

 

[Crankyshank]

I go by Jolly Cholly's all the time. Until recently, there was still part of a sign hanging up.
I loved Rocky Point. My favorite ride was The Music Express. To this day, whenever I hear Foghat, I think of that ride! My dad had a boat for years and once in a while we'd dock there and go get chowder and clam cakes. It's too bad that our kids won't have that kind of memories.

I also went to Boardwalk & Baseball in Florida. Now there's one park that I can understand closing!

We must cross paths quite a bit without realizing it. I'm in that area at least twice a week - I'm actually heading to Petsmart in about 15min
The music express was my favorite too

 

[MScott1851]

Oh my gosh that actually hurt my heart to look at. I am still so sad over Opryland being gone. So so so many fond memories there growing up. We used to get family passes and go every Friday when my dad got home from work. In the slower times my brother and I would just ride the Rock N Roller Coaster over and over and over again. I think the Grizzly River Rampage was my favorite ride of all, though. And every visit ALWAYS, without fail, started with a ride on the Flume Zume, since it was the first ride when you walked in the entrance.

My neighbor who has family in McMinnville said the Wabash Cannonball is at a little theme park somewhere near that area. Anyone know which one she is talking about? I can't remember the name of it for the life of me!

Actually, I think the Wabash Cannonball was sold to Libertyland here in Memphis...you can come ride it anytime! It's called the Revolution now.

Some other poster thought Libertyland was closed. I wouldn't go there if you paid me cash money and provided an armed escort, but it's still open!

I miss Opryland..it's so sad to go shop at Opry Mills..you can still see some of the "rocks" from Grizzly River Rampage at the end of the parking lot. Dogpatch, USA was fun, too.

 

[Poohnatic]

There was a website devoted to defunct amusement parks. I remember a bunch

Action Park
Nunley's (or as a 2 year old, I called it Row Row)
Jolly Rogers
McGinleys
Storybookland
Opryland

My dad would plan all our vacations around amusement parks and caves/caverns. I was a lucky kid, got to go see my favorite things every vacation!

Suzanne

 

[CyranoJones]

Rocky Point
Jolly Cholly's
Cresent Park

 

[SplshMtn99]

Jolly Cholly's
Rocky Point

Me too!!!

Jolly Cholly's in Attleboro, MA
Rocky Point in Warwick, RI

And Riverside Park in Agawam, MA (now Six Flags.) Honestly, I liked it MUCH better when it was Riverside.

Oh, thought of another. Small park on Lake Nipmuk in Mendon, MA. Rt 16. It was my first roller coaster ride. A kiddie roller coaster -- but a roller coaster all the same. I remember it went REALLY close to the shoreline...and I would scream. LOL

 

[froglady]

Rocky Point
Jolly Cholly's
Cresent Park

I've been to all of these! I grew up about a mile or so from Crescent Park, and my older brothers worked there during the summer. I could walk or ride my bike. On the last day of school (early 60s), you could pay $1 and ride from noon until closing. EVERYONE would be there. Had my first kiss in the haunted house. I also learned to drive in the parking lot, off season.

I took my daughter to ride the carousal about 20 years ago (the rest of the park is gone) I showed her the fine art of leaning out to catch the brass ring, and getting it into the clown's mouth.

 

[FroggyinArk]

sad top say that yes dogpatch usa is gone recently the property with what building s and equipment was left were listed on e bay for a while, noit sure if they sold or not....

 

[grinningghost]

Crystal Beach, although I only remember it in weird bits and pieces since I was young when it closed

I miss Crystal Beach so much! I spent so much time there as a kid, it's what alot of my best memories are centered around.

It was one of those parks that had that dangerous edge to it. The rides were rickety, the employees were dark and mysterious and going there without parents when I was a teenager was about as close to Pleasure Island as a Western New York girl could get back then.

 

[Penny2]

Anyone from Michigan????

Boblo Island on the Detroit River...had to take a boat to get there.

Edgewood Park in Detroit...closed when I was a kid in the 60's.

Walled Lake Casino and Rides....I barely remember it!!

Went to the Wisconsin Dells as a kid and went to a park called Storybook Village or something....it was great. I cried when we had to leave!