Playland (New York): Difference between revisions
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==Deaths== |
==Deaths== |
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There have been four deaths at Playland since 1928. See [[Incidents at independent parks]] for more information. |
There have been four deaths at Playland since 1928, leading some critics to refer to it as Die Playland. See [[Incidents at independent parks]] for more information. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 16:40, 12 November 2007
Playland Amusement Park | |
 Gondola wheel at Playland | |
| Location | Rye, NY |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | New Rochelle |
| Area | 280 acres (1.1 km²) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Frank Darling; Walker & Gillette |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Art Deco, Other |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004529 |
| Added to NRHP | July 04, 1980[1] |
Playland (often called Rye Playland) is an amusement park located in Rye, New York. Run by Westchester County, it is the only government owned-and-operated amusement park in the United States.
History
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the waterfront area of Westchester County, New York along the Long Island Sound was the site of a growing collection of recreational developments, including hotels, resorts, and "amusement areas." Local residents concerned about what a County report described as "unsavory crowds" induced the Westchester County Park Association to purchase two existing theme parks, Rye Beach and Paradise Park, and planned a local-government-sponsored amusement park in their stead.
Frank Darling, a veteran park manager with experience at Coney Island and the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, was hired to design and run the new park, called Playland. Construction commenced in September 1927 and was completed in six months. A design firm was commissioned to decorate the entire park in the Art Deco style.
The park began operation on May 26 1928. The original design included a boardwalk, ice-skating rinks, a swimming pool, and two beaches, as well as amusement park rides, some of which are still in use.
Built in 1929, the Dragon Coaster serves as the park's mascot and appears in the Playland logo. The Dragon Coaster is one of roughly 100 wooden roller coasters still in operation in the United States.
Historic status and modern use
Playland was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[2],[3],[4]
There is no charge for admission, and "fun cards" or wristbands may be purchased to go on rides. There is a charge for parking during the summer season. According to its website, "Playland also offers free entertainment and has a great beach, swimming pool, boardwalk and pier on scenic Long Island Sound, lake boating, picnic area, mini golf and indoor ice skating."
The "Ice Casino" originally contained a main ice rink as well as a full dance floor on the second floor that functioned as a dance hall through the 1940's and 1950's. It also had a full service fine dining restaurant. A renovation in the 1970s added a kiddy rink as well as a mid-sized ice rink.
Playland is home to a "Grand Carousel". The Grand Carousel contains designs including those on the horses that are all hand-carved and painted. Playland is also home to one of only three "Derby Racers" still in existence. The Derby Racer is not a carousel for the faint of heart as it rotates at 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) - three times the speed of a normal carousel. The horses move back and forth as well as up and down, simulating a true gallop as it races around the track. The other "Derby Racers" are located at Cedar Point[1], in Sandusky, Ohio; and Blackpool Pleasure Beach [2], in Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
The latest coaster to be installed is "Super Flight," in which you lie down on your stomach in a caged car with three other people in a single row. Cars are released one at a time, allowing multiple cars to be at different spots on the coaster at the same time. The coaster contains two 360 degree turns giving the riders a zero gravity experience.
Playland also features entertainment performances on its main stage in the center of the park. 2006 included the dance show Oh-Zone as well as Magic and Spice featuring magician Brendon Yancey. In 2007 it had New York Nights and Shakin' at the High School Hop a grease style performance.
In 2007, Plain White T's performed on July 31, Bowling for Soup on August 9, and Teddy Geiger on August 23. All of the concerts were part of Rye Playland's free concert series. The Plain White T's attracted the largest crowd ever for a free concert at Playland with over 14,000 people.
Until the beginning of the 2002-2003 NHL season, the New York Rangers hockey team practiced at the Playland Ice Casino. Currently, the hockey team from Manhattanville College, located in nearby Purchase, New York, plays its home games at Playland.
Film appearances
The 1984 film The Muppets Take Manhattan features a scene filmed in Playland, although the scene is set in Michigan. Playland was the amusement park featured in the 1988 movie Big starring Tom Hanks, where "Zoltar the Magnificent" fortune teller machine induces Hanks to become younger. It also appears in a scene in the film Fatal Attraction with Glenn Close, and is featured in the Woody Allen film Sweet and Lowdown (1999) starring Sean Penn. In 2004, the Playland beach was used for the film Tenderness with Russell Crowe, it is set for release November 30, 2007. There was also scenes for My Sassy Girl, a movie in post production set for release in Q4 of 2007. In 1995, Rye Playland (and particularly the boardwalk, Dragon Coaster, and parking lot entrance) were featured in the Mariah Carey video for her song "Fantasy." Playland is a popular filming location for independent filmakers from SUNY Purchase and others in the tri-state area.
TV appearances
The second episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark The Tale of Laughing in the Dark takes place in an amusement park called Playland, however, it was not filmed at the actual park.
The Naked Brothers Band made a live free appearance at Playland on Friday, August 24th at 6pm on the Music Tower Stage. They were taping an episode for their second season of their Nickelodeon show.
Deaths
There have been four deaths at Playland since 1928, leading some critics to refer to it as Die Playland. See Incidents at independent parks for more information.
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
- ^ a b "Playland Amusement Park". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-18.
- ^ [[[:Template:PDFlink]] "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination"]. National Park Service. 1979-10-22.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ [[[:Template:PDFlink]] "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination"]. National Park Service. 1979-10-22.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help)