Adventureland (New York)

Adventureland
Location	East Farmingdale, New York, U.S.
Website	Adventureland.us
Opened	1962
Operating season	weekend in March, weekdays in April and May; Open all summer; weekends in September and October
Area	12 acres (4.9 ha)
Rides	29 total 2 roller coasters 3 water rides
Slogan	Long Island's Amusement park since 1962

Adventureland is an amusement park in East Farmingdale, New York. Adventureland is located on Route 110 (Broad Hollow Road).

History

As Long Island became more populated and more housing developments were starting, a source of entertainment was needed. Many kiddielands were popping up throughout Long Island. Two people who were big in the industry were Alvin Cohen and Herb Budin. After visiting a trade show in Chicago, they acquired a 6-acre (24,000 m²) site on Route 110 in Farmingdale, New York. First the team of two constructed a building which housed a restaurant and arcade so the park could be open year round. Along with the building, four rides opened outside: a Carousel, train, Little Dipper coaster, Card, and boats. There was also a mini golf course. In 1962, the 1 million dollar park opened under the name of Adventureland 110 Playland. As the park success went up, the name of the park was changed to 110 Adventureland. Then in 1965 the first major ride opened, a 500-foot (150 m) long Skyliner.

Growing up

In the early 1970s the park was extremely successful (perhaps partially due to the closure of parks such as Steeplechase Park and Freedomland USA in 1964 and Palisades Park a few years later). Alvin Cohen was now the primary owner of the facility and he bought an additional 6 acres (24,000 m²) behind the park for 1 million dollars. Over the next few seasons Cohen turned the ride count from 16 to 30. In 1973 3 new thrill rides were built. These rides were the Tobogan (a compact roller coaster), the Amor Express (a high speed circular ride), the Galaxy (a steel coaster). The next season brought on the Wave Swinger - a European ride (a spinning swings ride), and was one of the first of its kind in America. With the success of the Wave Swinger, Cohen decide to import more European rides. In 1976 he imported two more European rides, Enterprise and Troika (both spinning rides). Cohen got these rides from Willy Miller (owner of a business which imports European rides). Cohen saw Miller's interest in the park, and asked him if he wanted to buy 110 Adventureland. Over the next two years the talk, and finally on September 15, 1977 the sale was final.

Under new management

In 1978 Miller bought several new rides, including an antique auto ride, which originally operated at the New York's World's Fair. In the first season under new management, profits increased 50%. Also, during this time Miller changed the name to just Adventureland. In 1979 Miller got a new Merry Go Round, a ride called Black Hole, and another ride called the Lost Continent. Then at the end of the 1982 season Miller brought in the Looping Star another European ride. Then in 1983 Miller brought in UFO, also with the UFO Miller brought in 6 new rides replacing Enterprise and Troika. Some rides he put in were a new bumper car system and bumper boats. Then the next year a ride called Gravitron replaced Black Hole, also Miller added a Bavarian Village with food outlets and stores. Over the next few years, brick walkways replaced blacktop, and the landscaping was done over. Then in 1986 the Lost Continent was changed into 1313 Cemetery Way, a haunted house ride. In 2010, 1313 Cemetery Way was replaced with a new ride, The Ghost House.

Changing hands

In 1987 Miller sold the park to Tony Gentile and Peter Amoruso (a partner since 1978). The Gentile family and Amoruso kept park operation as normal while taking a major expansion. This was so he could add Pirate's Cove in the rear of the park. In this new era, Gentile added a huge new Pirate Ship and a ride called Scorpion. Also added to Pirate Cove was a mini golf course called Treasure Island, voted the best mini golf course by Long Island Magazine.

A Long Island oasis

As 1990s dawned, customers of Adventureland wanted more water rides. So Gentile opened Splish Splash (sold in the late 90's to a corporate amusement company) a 6 million dollar water park. Then in 1991, the Galaxi was replaced by Hurricane, a roller coaster. New rides were regular through the 1990s. In 1992 Super Raider a climbing/fun house was opened. Then the next year the antique car ride was updated, the Scorpion ride was switched with Surf Dance, Tubs of Fun and Flying Clown replaced older kiddie rides. Then in 1995 the balloon Wheel replaced the Big Wheel. Then in 1996 the Dragon Wagon replaced the Sooper Jet, a kiddie roller coaster. Then in 1999 a double decker merry go round replaced the old merry go round. Then in 2000 a child roller coaster called the Lady Bug was built. In 2001 the mini golf course was replaced with Adventure Falls a log flume. Then in 2002 a ride called Top Scan was put in. Then in 2003 Viking Voyage replaced the kiddie boats, the last original ride. Then in 2004 a Spinning alligator water ride called Crocodile Run replaced the bumper boats. In 2006, a kiddie log flume called Little Dipper was added where the Top Scan used to be and the Frisbee was added where Surf Dance was. In 2007, they also added a "Glass House" (a.k.a "Mirror House") to where some of their games were and also bought all of the outside games and updated them. In 2009 the ride Flying Puppies replaced Tubs of Fun. In 2010, a new Haunted House, imported from Europe, was added to the park.

Rides

Thrill rides

• Hurricane Coaster
• John Silver's Twister
• Frisbee
• Bumper Cars
• Musik Express
• The Ghost House
• Wave Swing
• Pirate Ship

Kids and family rides

• Antique Cars
• Free Whale
• Ferris Wheel
• Balloon Tower
• Merry-Go-Round
• Train
• Lady Bug Coaster
• Wave Swing

Kiddie rides

• Flying Clowns (retired 2010)
• Tour De Paris
• Hip Hop (retired 2010)
• Helicopter
• Kiddie Carousel
• Viking Voyage
• Caterpillar
• Super Raider
• Kiddie Swings
• Flying Puppies
• Drop N Twist Tower (new for 2011)
• Spinning Cars (new for 2011)

Water rides

• Adventure Falls
• Crocodile Run
• Little Dipper

Attractions

• Euro Bungy
• Water Wars
• Tattoos
• Sky Trail

Games

• Pirate's Cove Water Race
• Fried Frogs
• Ring Toss
• Vertical Water Race
• Long Range Basketball
• Balloon Dart
• Rising Waters
• Squeeze Play Water Race
• Short Range Basketball
• High Striker
• Rope Ladder
• Frog Bog
• Water Balloon Pop
• Whac-a-Mole
• Goblet Ball Toss
• Kiddie Land Balloon Dart

Admission

Admission is free. Tickets cost $1.00 and rides take 3-5 tickets. Guests can also obtain a P.O.P. (pay one price) for $21.99. A season pass costs $120.00.

Accidents

During exactly the same week in 2005 two people died. The first person was a ride operator for the "Paul Bunyon" (Ladybug Coaster). The worker was struck by the coaster car; he died the next morning due to internal injuries. The second incident involved a 45 year old woman on a ride called the "Top Scan" (which replaced the "Looping Star"). She was flung from the spinning ride and crashed into a parked car in the parking lot. The ride was never used again at Adventureland. In 2007, a 6-year-old boy hurt himself by putting his hand in one of the moving platforms on the attraction called "Super Raider" (Fun House) as a result there were no serious injuries. In 2008, a prop of a skeleton bicycling on a tight rope fell on a 5-year-old girl. She was in the hospital for a few days and then was released. The prop was never put back up after the incident.

Adventureland in pop culture

• Adventureland was in the music video Love of a Lifetime by Chaka Khan
• Adventureland was also featured in the movie Music and Lyrics in 2007
• Adventureland was also shown in the movie Sweet Liberty in 1986
• Videos from Adventureland were shown in a recent Girl Tech commercial

The 2009 film Adventureland was based on director Greg Mottola's experiences working there during his youth.

References

• Home Page
• New York Amusement Park, by Jim Futrell