Palace Playland
Encyclopedia
Palace Playland is a seasonal amusement park
located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
. It has operated on the same site since 1902.
rink and adjacent merry-go-round. Simple summer refreshment
s were served, such as lemonade
and salt water taffy
.
In the 1950s, Palace Playland was operated by future banker and philanthropist
Bernard Osher
, a Maine native.
In the 1970s and '80s, Palace Playland was noted for operating a 1910 Philadelphia Toboggan Company
carousel
, PTC #19; however, in 1996 the valuable antique was withdrawn from service and moved to Ohio
.
In the 1990s, Palace Playland claimed to be "New England's largest pinball
and video arcade." A guidebook writer recommended the park to "aficionados of the garish."
. In March 2011, the playland announced its schedule for summer 2011. It opened April 15, 2011, and is scheduled to close October 10, 2011.
Palace Playland is located directly on the waterfront, across Maine State Route 9
from the Old Orchard Beach Downeaster
passenger railroad station.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Old Orchard Beach is a town and census-designated place in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 8,856 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. It has operated on the same site since 1902.
History
In the 1900s, Palace Playland's startup decade, the then-small amusement park centered on a roller skatingRoller skating
Roller skating is the traveling on smooth surfaces with roller skates. It is a form of recreation as well as a sport, and can also be a form of transportation. Skates generally come in two basic varieties: quad roller skates and inline skates or blades, though some have experimented with a...
rink and adjacent merry-go-round. Simple summer refreshment
Snack
A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...
s were served, such as lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.The term can refer to three different types of beverage:...
and salt water taffy
Salt water taffy
Salt water taffy is a variety of soft taffy originally produced and marketed in the Atlantic City, New Jersey, area beginning in the late 19th century.-Etymology:...
.
In the 1950s, Palace Playland was operated by future banker and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Bernard Osher
Bernard Osher
Bernard Osher is an American businessman, best known for his work as a philanthropist.-Life and career:A native of Biddeford, Maine, Osher studied at Bowdoin College, where he graduated in 1948...
, a Maine native.
In the 1970s and '80s, Palace Playland was noted for operating a 1910 Philadelphia Toboggan Company
Philadelphia Toboggan Company
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B...
carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, PTC #19; however, in 1996 the valuable antique was withdrawn from service and moved to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
In the 1990s, Palace Playland claimed to be "New England's largest pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
and video arcade." A guidebook writer recommended the park to "aficionados of the garish."
Today
In the 2010s, Palace Playland describes itself as "New England's Only Beachfront Amusement Park." In 2010–11, the park tore down and replaced its ferris wheelFerris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
. In March 2011, the playland announced its schedule for summer 2011. It opened April 15, 2011, and is scheduled to close October 10, 2011.
Palace Playland is located directly on the waterfront, across Maine State Route 9
Maine State Route 9
State Route 9 is a numbered state highway in Maine, running from the New Hampshire border at Berwick in the west to the Canadian border with New Brunswick at Calais in the east. State Route 9 runs a total of .-Route description:...
from the Old Orchard Beach Downeaster
Old Orchard Beach (Amtrak station)
Old Orchard Beach is a train station in Old Orchard Beach, Maine served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It features a covered platform, and is served by Amtrak's Downeaster service from April to October....
passenger railroad station.
See also
- Euclid Beach Park - discussion of history of PTC #19
- Funtown Splashtown USAFuntown Splashtown USAFuntown Splashtown USA is a family-owned amusement park located in Saco, Maine, in the United States.-History:...
- nearby OOB amusement park