And yet another vote for Boblo Island. We sure had fun on the Boblo Boat on our way to a great day on Boblo Island. Live band and everyone dancing. Those were simpler times, that's for sure!

PONCHETRAIN BEACH - It was in the New Orleans area & we used to go there when I was a kid. I can still remember some of the rides - the Zephyr was popular. Brings back old memories.

Just wanted to say great post! I live in Ohio & have for years so I can't remember the last time I heard the words "ponchetrain beach." It's nice to see others remember it fondly as well.

Hey BuffaloGirl! I have great news for you! Remember the rollercoaster at Crystal Beach, The Comet? Well I grew up riding it and now found it by chance at The Great Escape amusement park in Lake George, NY (recently purchased by Six Flags). They have the history of the Comet there and a picture of it at Crystal Beach! They purchased it at a sale after Crystal Beach was closed! It is still fun to ride and you can read the history while you wait in line. I think it is still a top rated wooden rollercoaster.

nytraveler10 - I heard the coaster made its' way to Lake George. That was (is) one hell of a scary ride. For the record, my mother is 80 and she used to ride it when she was young!

Nay Aug park and zoo
Rocky Glen amusement park
sigh....

Snowrooster,
Have you seen the Brad Thompson print of Pontchatrain Beach? It is really a fun one.Did you know that they have a 6 Flags here now? Not like the fun of the old Beach but better than nothing. I remember the Wild Mouse & Zephyr too. Those were the days!

Here is a place where you can see old park map's. http://www.themeparkbrochures.com/mainmaps.html

Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville, NJ.
The donkey ride was my favorite! There was also the "Tunnel of Love" and the "Bubble Bounce" as well as their very scary "Haunted House." I had my wedding pictures taken in the park last October and I could still hear the old wooden roller coaster clacking by!

Definately Riverview in Chicago. Although I am too young to have been there - it is still much talked about and missed.

WHATTT!!! ACTION PARK IS CLOSED?!?!

Oh well, I had plans of going back one day. I think it was the best park all around. Even if my best friend did scar his knee on the Alpine Slide!! The water rides were before their time. AP always had something faster & newer! The best ever!!

Great post! Kimamom - Thanks for mentioning Santa's Village. Great memories. Funny, I have thought of staying at Sorenson's Resort near Tahoe on a ski trip. I'm sure the Santa's Village cabin is part of the lure.

Great post!

Revere Beach, Massachusetts. Gone now, but not forgotten. I can still smell the Pizza (real italian), cotton candy and hot dogs. There were two roller coasters and hundreds of rides and games. Gypsy fortune tellers, dance halls and drinking establishments - something for everyone. There is a restaurant called Demaino's in Revere that has picture on the walls of the beach. Great memories!

There was and still is Salem Willows which I think is famous for its Chop Suey sandwiches. I still make the trip at least once a year. Rides are for the very young, but the water is still nice. Fishing off the pier and picnics.

Yup, this was a great subject.

Hey Lacal! Another North-of-Boston poster! I used to love watching the stage shows at the Willows. My husband's grandmother (98) remembers how all the extended families (mostly immigrants) would pack up summer Sunday dinners and picnic on the green overlooking the water to escape the heat. Everyone would be all dressed up in their "Sunday best," speaking different European languages, enjoying specialties of their "old country," and basically staying all day from church until late night.
On a similar note... Does anyone remember Salisbury Beach? On a recent trip to San Diego I learned that the original Salisbury Beach carousel was refurbished, sold to San Diego, and reconstructed on the pier. Isn't that cool?

another vote for Crystal Beach. The Comet was the B-E-S-T. It was a huge wodden rollar coaster, stratigically located right next to Lake Erie so that when you were coming down the slopes of the coster at a gazillion miles per hour, you felt like it was going to throw you right into the lake. I have many fond memories of spending the day at the beach, followed by the evening at the amusement park. What could be a better day when you were 10. Being vertically challenged, it was a big day when i was finally tall enough to ride all of the rides!

Willow Grove Park in Pennsylvania - northeast of Philadelphia.

It was THE place to go in the late 1800's until the 1960's, when it became run down. In the 1970's it was turned into Six Gun Territory, with a western theme. Finally, in the 1980's it was torn down, along with Willow Grove Lanes (at one point the world's largest bowling alley) to make way for the Willow Grove Park Mall.

Ahh...the memories of childhood. Peace.

Robyn

This thread brings back lots of memories from growing up in Southern California:

POP - was so sad to see it go. Went there many times. It was left in shambles for many years.

Busch Gardens - my brother got bitten on the nose for getting too close to a pelican. I have a picture to prove it.

Marineland - if you were the first 5 in the park in the morning, you could suit up to swim in the tank with the "sharks." My girlfriend and I did that one time. Quite an experience.

I can't let this go! To Dreamer2 - living north of Boston we had the best including: Revere Beach, Salem Willows, Salisbury Beach, Bensons Wild Animal Park, Old Orchard Beach in Maine, and Canobie Lake in New Hampshire. In addition, as dfrostnh mentioned there was Nantasket Beach and Pleasure Island (Wakefield, MA). I also remember Kiddie Land on old Route 1 in Saugus, MA.

Last year I had my wife's niece and nephew here from Arizona and took them to Canobie Lake. I got to ride the old coaster and loved it.

Thanks to all for the memories.

Okay, Lacal and DFrost, do you remember the little amusement park at the Northshore Shopping Center in Peabody?

Another vote for Boblo! What fun! We went every year for the Chrysler Management Picnic. My dad worked for Chrysler as a mechanical engineer and every time we rode the Boblo boat, invariably found a way to get us kids down to the engine room for a tour. The St. Clair and the Colombia - weren't those the names?