It is now adjacent to the old train station and clock tower. Thoroughly rebuilt after the hurricanes of 1938 and 1954, what was by then called Rocky Point Amusement Park reached its zenith in the late 1950s and 1960s. 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. I grew up there I really do miss it. My parents met at the roller rink at Canobie when young. The Philadelphia Toboggan carousel was rescued and now operates at Battleship Cove in Fall River. It remained so until 1925, when it was topped by two feet by the Revere Beach Cyclone just down the road. Paragon Park was an amusement park located on Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts. When it closed a man I knew bought the huge statue of the steer they had and someone else got the elephant. The carousel was always a favorite ride no matter how young or old I was. In the aftermath of the April fire, Paragon reopened without its signature front entrance. I used to go to Paragon park/Nantasket beach with my family a lot during the sixties. Also Lincoln Park in North Dartmouth, MA, where I remember riding the roller coaster 13 times in a row with a friend! Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Whalom Park! My first date with my now wife of 38 years was there! but still good memories. War rationing and blackout drills during the 1940s put more strain on the parks operations. With the Stones out of town on vacation, disaster duty fell to Klayman. Zoom in Zoom out Rotate right Fit screen Full expand. Unfortunately Im to old these days. Ive been on the one at Canobie and maybe one other but that was enough for me! The amusement park closed in 1994 and sat abandoned for years before its remains were finally demolished out of concern for public safety. Also had my first date with my future husband at Riverside!! Glad when it finally close and that gorilla was sent to a sanctuary down south and CNN showed the gorilla touching grass for the first time in over 25 years. If youre on Facebook you might enjoy this page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paragon-Park-Memories/103289636409972?sk=wall, Or its sister website: http://www.paragonparkmemories.com/. It was a historic park. Miraculously, Paragon opened on time for the 1978 season, but not before family matters would complicate the family business. After spending months being battered in the public realm, Kahn and Quinn abruptly changed course. In this video you will ride the coaster THREE times! I really did enjoy Paragon Park. A 14-year-old boy died after he fell Thursday night from a drop tower amusement ride that recently opened at the Orlando area's ICON Park entertainment complex, authorities said. Space Journey, Ecoventure Valley, 2010. Activist Judeth Van Hamm Wiers, who had initially raised the issue in February and started the fundraising drive in earnest in November, pulled together three local businessmen who pooled their resources to submit the winning bid of $598,800 only $1,200 short of their credit limit in dramatic fashion at the auction. We would start pressuring Mom and Dad to take us to Rocky Point as soon as the last of the snow melted. Storybook characters, a pirate ship and Dodge City with a saloon and stagecoach holdups were among the attractions. Such fond memories. Beach was great! Of course, we miss Rocky Point and Crescent Park, they were in our state of RI; however, Jolly Chollies was an equally amazing amusement park. It had a scary ( to me at the time! ) I had my first kiss on that ride, and a night When older went with my friends. Is Nantasket Beach also open? In short, we Almost all of the rides were dismantled and auctioned off. Who makes these lists? When you were at the very top, you would head downhill so fast that it looked like you were going to end up in the water. Till I was a teenager lived in Naugatuck CT and lived to ride the wonderful carousel at nearby Lake Quassapaug! David Goran is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News That was a summer vacation treat for us kids in NH. Most definitely Riverside in Agawam. Lincoln Park was the highlight of my summer in the early 70s. At its opening, Trailblazer was the first major coaster to be added to Hersheypark in 18 years. My first job was parking cars in the lot across the street. In 2019, there were 1,299 injuries in US amusement parks. good memories. Feeling nostalgic. A new stone-carved front entrance designed by Hugh Cairns would add elegance to the Nantasket Avenue side. I wonder if anyone remembers the Pine Island Park in NH. 10 Kings IslandMason, Ohio. Among the amusement rides in operation during Paragon Park's history was a traditionalstyle Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel (PTC 85) with handcrafted horses, a bumper cars ride known as . I remember those rides at White City and that airplane ride over the lake scared the bejesus out of me ! Peter thats so cool that your grandad had the restaurant under the clock! See it here at. The ride's top speed is 50 mph, according to the park's Web site. Willard's Whizzer, Marriott's Great America Amusement Park, 1980. 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. United States--Massachusetts--Nantasket Beach. When young my parents would take me tomthe Wonderland Park in Revere MA. The roller coaster, known as the Green Streak, replaced an earlier, figure-8 model that had been located at the rear of the complex next to the Palm Garden. Savannas, thickets, and forest were the three, Covalent Bonds vs. Ionic Bonds Covalent Bonds vs. Ionic Bonds Ionic Bonds Liquid or gaseous Solid Polarity: Low High So, are all ionic compounds solid, Fiber content in the cereals listed below is low: 1 gram per cup of Cream of Wheat and Malt-O-Meal. There was also a small park in or near Whitman, MA cant recall the name that we went to once. Cut fresh pasta into small rectangles and pinch the, Copyright 2023 TipsFolder.com | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. No more races. We did just one stop at Bensons when I was a child and didnt like it. I went for a visit recently and got inspired for a novel Im working on, but I was looking for some photographic inspiration. Oh, Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach in Massachuetts! On June 9, 1991, death stalked the grounds of Kings Island amusement park. You forgot my favorite, Paragon Park on Nantasket Beach in Hull Ma. I have a 24 doll won by my aunt at the Nantasket beach, the doll has no markings, but has the tag still stapled on the voil dress she has on, the tag said won at Luckys Nantasket beach park . Me toonear 77, remember Bensons fondly==I was born and raised in Webster Mass.-I still have a scarf, pik with horse on it that says Bensons Wild animal park on it. 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. On September 20, 1922, George A. By 1914 Mr. Schmeck found himself working in the amusement industry. Photo, Print, Drawing Roller coaster, [Paragon Park], Nantasket Beach, Mass. It closed in 1984. There was one that you didnt mention it was between Fall River and New Bedford, along the highway then. Shortly after railroad executives signed the paperwork the following March, fire broke out in a paint shop at the park. He also would own the row of storefronts along Nantasket Avenue from the front entrance northward to Fascination, although to most observers, the separation was not noticeable. I took my children there all the time ides were reasonable for a family. Quick Description: Paragon Park, which operated from 1905 to 1984 by Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA, was a local amusement park that had many rides including a well known roller coaster, which today is operated in a Six Flags amusement park in Maryland. This article is a stub. Neither of their two children expressed an interest in carrying on the family business. Rowes Wharf had the boat to Nantasket Beach. The Stone family, by now in sole control of Paragons operations but still sharing ownership of the land with Golden, suffered losses in 1946 and 1949. In the aftermath of the fire, a new dance hall and roller coaster were constructed in the front of the park. and I will never forget the day July 2, 1952 when we (my brother and I and cousins) were getting ready to go on the kiddie roller coaster when we suddenly had to leave. The Giant Coaster opened at Paragon Park in 1917; at 98 feet tall, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world at the time. It was safe and so much fun. Correct, Leo, only the name was Pleasure Island. See my post below. [1] More rides that Paragon hosted over the years were the Trabant, the Tilt-A-Whirl, Galaxy Coaster, the Skydiver, Paratrooper, Matterhorn, Himalaya, Round Up, Scrambler, Crazy Tea Cups, Twister Kiddie Coaster, Caterpillar, the Whip, Batman-slide, Super-slide, Salt and Pepper Shakers, Swing ride, Rotor, along with many rides that were smaller versions of these, geared towards children. First, patriarch David Stone died during the off season in Miami; three years later, his oldest son, Joseph, died in the middle of parks 1949 season. I showed off my roller skating expertise to my junior high classmates back in the Such wonderful memories of a different time!???? The Batman roller. Format: Dry plate negatives. Kings Castle, Whitman, great amusements for kids to age 10 maybe 12. Larry and Phyllis Stone found little common ground in their day-to-day management. Pleasure Island in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The Giant Coaster opened at Paragon Park in 1917; at 98 feet tall, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world at the time. Pleasure Island & Bensons were family favorites. According to a Washington Post article from that time, it was purchased at auction for just $28,000. Wish I had more photos from back then, but had no idea the park would be closed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This setting should only be used on your home or work computer. Wonderland itself was inspired by the massive Worlds Fair exhibits that had been an international sensation since the mid-19th century. A Thanksgiving Day fire at nearby Nantasket Pier destroyed most of the fleet of steamboats that carried passengers to and from Boston. We could ride the rides all day. Ple Some restaurants and openncafes had pictures of it years ago. With the dragon that breathed real fire that you could see from the main Route. Those were the days! I remember riding the Virginia Reel 7 times one night! Hands down, Mountain Park in Holyoke (Western Massachusetts). digital file from original About this Item. I loved the Giant Coaster and the Congo Cruise. Id have the day in the park while my parents and aunts and uncles would sit under the pavilion on a Sunday listening to the polka bands. Newton High Schools Senior Proms were held in the Totem Pole Ballroom ~ what a special memory!! What wouldnt be kept in town, however, were the rides and equipment that now stood in the way of the Plaza at Paragon Park. Mountain Park in Holyoke MA has left wonderful memories of class trips and later bringing my children. Its most famous piece is functioning a huge light up cross at the top of a summit overlooking I-84, clearly seen from the highway at all hours. Dodge threw himself into making the park a success, changing exhibits each year and adding to the mix of rides and attractions. I was just remembering visiting Bensons as a kid. My wife and I had our first date there. So many times I think of the times spent there and tell my children and grandchildren about this magical place!! Does ANYONE remember the giant blue slide that was down next to the clock where they moved the Carousel too? The Dream Machine arcade is still in operation. Dawn R. Jankovic, from Brunswick, Ohio, fell unconscious while riding The Voyage roller coaster at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana . 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. Debts incurred in the purchase of the park from the Dodge estate were extended; banks and creditors alike were leaning heavily on the owners of the park. On a dark winter evening homeward-bound in the front passenger seat in our 53 Chevy after Christmas shopping at the Paragon Parks Arcade Bazaar a warehouse-like fluorescent-lit discount toy store in Nantasket Beach my mom told me the heartbreaking truth about Santa Claus. The doll has to be from the fiftys because my aunt died, and she was 81 when she died in 1992. I cant believe they didnt have Lincoln Park listedthat place was the best! My girlfriends father operated the roller coaster. They loved it . 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. Superman: Tower of Power in Louisville, Kentucky It ended in the 70s after a series of fires destroyed it. 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. But its now been 7 years since the efforts began to try to restore and reopen the park and nothing has been fully accomplished to date. Here's a list of 13 of the deadliest roller coaster accidents in the last two decades. It was in Holyoke, MA, I believe. Paragon Park was an amusement park located in Hull, Massachusetts, USA. During the late Forties and early Fifties my father had a car Number 87 in those races. I grew up in The Berkshires and looked forward every summer to making a trip to Mountain Park and stopping at the nearby dinosaur tracks along with way. Lone Wolf 83 subscribers Subscribe 95K views 11 years ago I found this video in my archives! Paragon Park in Hull, MA was the best of the lot of amusement parks, Id say! One bidder paid $25 for the entire lot of rainbow-colored trash cans. East Bridgewater High School. Riverside was also my favorite. 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. About this Item. The coaster was rebuilt and reopened in 1986. 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. So glad you shared yours here too . I remember Savin Rock with a fond passion. Cyndinow living in South Jersey but always a New Englander. As a South Shore kid I really miss Paragon Park in Hull MA (Nantasket Beach). The Great Blizzard of 1978 put the park under six feet of water as the Atlantic Ocean and Hull Bay converged on the Hull peninsula and left a wake of destruction. The skeet ball game. If youre on Facebook theres a Paragon Park Memories page you might enjoy too: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paragon-Park-Memories/103289636409972. I remember Savin Rock very well. 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. My Late Dad used to work at A&P ( another memory ) They used to have an annual picnic at the park. 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. David Stone lost two houses on Rockland House Road in the fire; others involved in area concessions lost their homes and businesses as well. Trailblazer (1974). My question exactly! Although the park suffered $5 million in damages, the park owner has no doubt of its return. Jim- thanks so much for sharing your fond memories of Paragon Park with the RetroRoadmap readers! After the first fire, it was partially redesigned by Herbert Paul Schmeck who worked on its original construction. Each week, it seemed, brought a new development proposal. Hopefully at a family get together that poor kid is now telling his children (or grandchildren), You ARE NOT going to believe what happened to me in 1984 at Whalom Park, it sure wasnt funny then but looking back, Back in 1973, a guy made a sci-fi home film that had several filming locations, one of them being the Fun-o-Rama park at Salisbury Beach, MA. Davids son, Joseph, entered into negotiations with the Old Colony Railroad to purchase the land under Paragon. Great memories. Great memories and was able to take my kids to a couple of these growing up. I grew up right near norunbeger park me and my friends would take a row boat across the Charles river to get into the park, we would go almost every day in the summer, we didnt have much money but could go to the park by crossing the Charles river and just walking in. A park worker's fatal joyride Raymond Boyd/Getty Images Dogs are banned from the state-owned Nantasket Beach Reservation from May 1 to September, and a local law change would have no effect on the states rules. It remained so until 1925, when it was topped by two feet by the Revere Beach Cyclone just down the road. In the ensuing real estate crash, the developers would lose control of the property and never realize the plans for a second building at the rear of the site. 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paragon park roller coaster death