With the latest news that Hoffman’s Playland on Route 9 in Latham is offering their land for sale – and by the way, there’s a Facebook page dedicated to saving that amusement park – I started thinking about all the great amusement parks, zoos, getaway places that were so close to the Capital District. Just a quick drive up to the Adirondacks. Only a stone’s throw away…
And now there’s a distant memory away.
I know we still have at least two amusement parks in the general vicinity – the Great Escape (previously Storytown U.S.A.) and Santa’s Workshop. But those were only two of several different fun parks and enjoyment areas.
Including:
Gaslight Village – ah, I remember those commercials and that jingle. “Gaslight Village, Yesterday’s Fun Today… boh-de-oh-doh…” Ah, the ice shows, the Gay 90’s atmosphere, the fact that they were open at night, when Storytown shut down at dusk…
Frontier Town – I’ve written about Frontier Town in the past, how this Wild West-inspired theme park was a great getaway for families who want to travel back to the days of six-shooters and rodeos.
Catskill Game Farm – All those animals. And you could walk right up to every one of them and pet them. Well, most of them. What a sad day when that closed.
Land of Makebelieve – On the days when the Ausable Chasm didn’t flood… this was a great little play area, perfect for kids and their vivid imaginations.
So I ask you now… just because I feel like asking…
If some multi-millionaire showed up in the Capital District tomorrow and said, “I love old-time amusement parks, and I want to rebuild one right here in our area. It will look just like the amusement park of days gone by, and I will keep it open for the rest of our lives.” But he can only build one park. So of the four… which one would you like to see return to existence?
[poll id=”14″]
Chuck The Writer 
What no love for Kaydeross Park on Saratoga Lake. Many a field trip was spent there back in the day.
http://www.cardcow.com/120975/kaydeross-park-saratoga-springs-new-york/
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Loved Kaydeross! My Dad took me there almost every weekend during the summer. Lots of great memories. Not too busy and just the right amount of attractions for all ages. After the news of Hoffman’s came out, it made me think of Kaydeross. Storytown, loved the bumper stickers. Now its too big and I hate that it’s run by a huge conglomerate.
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How about places like Stompin’ Ground, Discovery Zone, Space Place, Buckaroos, etc
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Agree 100% with #1, Kaydeross Park would have been my choice…
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I agree with bbnews60 Chuck. I remember going to my aunt’s house on Saratoga Lake and taking a boat ride by Kaydeross (of course, it was on its last legs) and yearning to go there. But out of the four you listed, Catskill Game Farm, where adventure is in our nature, by FAR.
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Rocky Point park in Rhode Island!
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OMG, Chuck, ALL OF THE ABOVE & MORE!!! I went to so many of these inc. original Storytown! Gaslight Village was a special favorite espec. the “minstrel shows,” and singing waiters! I’d forgotten about Land of Makebelieve! Was this the one that had a “nun” going over a wall? I went to so many of them I don’t remember anymore. I’d also like to see the revival of the original Browns Beach w/its plethora of amusement rides (AT OUT OWN RISK!!!!! If we got hurt it was OUR fault! No disclaimers/warnings needed in that dinosauric era) I hope someone preserves Hoffman’s Playland as it is. Sooo tired of the gentrification of Rte 9. (I also hope for restoration of original Latham Corner Shopping Center, the first “mall” (MAUL????) in the area. Don’t understand why it was allowed to deteriorate. Reminds me of original Northway Mall. What’s wrong w/these owners???) I have many memories of that espec. the bumper cars! My poor grandmother! It’s a wonder my “driving” the bumper cars didn’t kill her! Thanks for the memories, Chuck et al!
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First off, what a terrible loss for the community if/when Hoffmans closes. I’m 46, my parents took us there maybe every other weekend in the summers. It’s an absolute icon for the area, and to see my 4 yr old daughter going on rides I went on as a kid… well, some things you can’t put a price on. I voted for Frontier Town, the actual land/trails there were beautiful, well maintained.. but what about Time Town???????? Another Lake George gem.
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Kaydeross Park, boy I wish they didn’t close that one. I remember company picnics being there, the parents hung out in the pavilions and the kids got a wristband and went and rode rides. It was a great place.
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OMG–I hadn’t thought of Kaydeross Park in years! That was another fun place to go with grandma! Thanks for the memories, Sam! And I agree w/Mark re Hoffman. It too was a palce where my parents or grandma could let me go on rides inc. famous bumper cars–OMG I could’ve been hurt–no lawyers in that era! (Just as when I fell on an escalator at the original Latham Corner Shopping Center–either the mall itself or Boston Store, that was MY fault! if I hadn’t been horsing around on the escalator I would not have gotten hurt! My dad was livid!) My parents and/or grandma and maybe Aunt Julia or some of grandma’s friends could sit and schmooze while I–and sometimes my sister if she was usually too sophisticated for such “childish things!–amused myself on the rides. I had money if I was hungry and when it was time to go it was time to go and if I whined, well we didn’t go there for a few weeks!
PS I remember the wax museum but not what it was called. Does anyone else out there remember an amusement park in Lake George or perhaps next town up (Warrensburg?) that had a nun going over a wall–worked to draw me in!
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left out Time Town and Busch Woodlands in Cooperstown. And that place (wax museum?) across from Gaslight Village that had the “magical mystery tour” scrambler. Frontier Town looks like it would be fairly easy to re-open.
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The Catskill Game Farm would be my choice but I would see love all of them back. Was born in 1987 so never got chance to see Gaslight Village or The Land of Makebelieve.
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Did field trips to Time Town, Kaydeross and even Brown’s Beach (they had some good rides back in the day) when I was in elementary school. You could even make a vote to bring back the old “Storytown”!
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Gaslight Village for me because it was a fun evening out. There’s really nothing for kids to do at night besides mini golf. It’s a shame really because the kids end up roaming Canada St. and get themselves into trouble.
BTW I still have my Time Town frisbe and speaking of Land of Makebelieve…..that Ausable River flooded so many times it was amazing that Arto Monaco would rebuild each time. He was a good man.
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My memories of Catskill Game Farm from childhood are nice; but when I took my own kids there as an adult I looked around and wondered, “what’s up with this place?” I remember feeling that the elephant show was pure cruelty to animals. I was not saddened to see it close.
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Is the entire concept of local amusement parks dying out? Do we really all just go to the nearest Six Flags and maybe a Disney park a couple times in our childhoods?
Oh, well, at least we have gaming consoles.
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