Playland (New York)

Origin

The land upon which Playland was built was originally stewarded by Indigenous peoples who were attracted to the location by its waterfront along the Long Island Sound. Historic sources cite early campgrounds and a "burying hill." The association with Native Americans was so well known that it was used in original promotions for the venue and the county connected the naming of the park to its association with "prehistoric red men" who also used it as a playground.^[3][4] In 1928 and again in 1929, the Westchester County Parks Commission hosted and advertised a pageant depicting "Indian life in the county before the coming of the white man."^[5] The extravaganzas acknowledged that the amusement park was built upon land that was once the home and hunting ground of the Siwanoy tribe, a division of the Mohegan nation.^[6]

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that same waterfront area in Westchester County attracted a growing collection of recreational developments, including hotels, resorts, and "amusement areas". Local residents concerned about "unsavory crowds" petitioned the Westchester County Park Association to purchase two existing theme parks, Rye Beach Pleasure Park and Paradise Park, and replace them with a local-government-sponsored amusement park.

The well-known NYC architectural firm Walker & Gillette and landscape architect Gilmore David Clarke were commissioned to produce a comprehensive design of both buildings and grounds, making Playland the first planned amusement park in the country.^[7][8] Frank W. Darling, a veteran amusement park builder with experience at Coney Island and the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, was secured first to lead construction of the park and then hired to run it.

Construction commenced in September 1927, and was completed in six months. The two previous amusement parks at Rye Beach and "a haphazard collection of flimsy structures, were operated or rented by the Park Commission while a policy and plans for the development of Playland were being formulated. The wrecking of these old buildings began on the morning after Labor Day, 1927, and the resulting debris was piled up and burned."^[9]

The park began operation on May 26, 1928. Rides that were operating on Playland's opening day included the Grand Carousel, Derby Racers, The "Original" Whip (there is a historic sign referencing its 1928 creation) and the Dragon Coaster. The Airplane Coaster was added in 1928 while the Casino opened in 1929.

Reception from Rye residents and officials

The relationship between the amusement park and the village of Rye soured almost immediately, as residents of Rye became concerned about the increased volume of traffic from outside Rye that was created, particularly those arriving in buses. On July 4, 1929, it was estimated that over 150,000 people came to Playland and the new director of Playland charged the Rye Police with unnecessarily pestering and detaining drivers.^[10] The then Mayor of Rye, John Motley Morehead defended Rye's legal authority to enforce its ordinances and wrote an open response to the county characterizing the relationship between Playland and the Village of Rye as "quite strained on account of the noise nuisances occasioned by the park."^[11]

By 1933, disgruntled Rye officials began conferring together and planning to solicit advice from legal representatives about making the county-owned park taxable.^[12]

About the same time, the activities of Playland's director, Frank Darling were scrutinized by others who claimed the county had excluded local contractors from competitive bidding.^[13] Following allegations of mismanagement and negative publicity, Darling resigned from Playland in 1933.^[14]

Mid 20th century

Playland continued to operate after the US entered World War II. In 1942, it was the county's largest moneymaker bringing in $700,000 during the summer. Rides and amusements operated after dark but adaptations included dimming the park's lights at night with some turned off altogether. For example, the Music Tower was left completely dark. Lights on the Long Island Sound side were similarly extinguished per orders of the War Department.^[15]

Late 20th century

In 1966, a major fire at the amusement park claimed some of Rye Playland's all-time classic attractions, including the original Bumper Car ride, the "Magic Carpet" and the Fun House. It was estimated that 15% of the park was destroyed.^[16]

The Marriott Corporation managed the park in 1981 and 1982 as part of a two-year experimental period.^[17] During those two seasons, the park was run at a loss in excess of $5 million. Westchester County took operation back over in 1983.^[18]

Playland was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.^[2][19][20] At the time, it was the United States' only Art Deco amusement park.^[21]

A storm in 1992 submerged the park in four feet of water and damaged the boardwalk and pier. Similar damage occurred again in 1996. ^[22]

21st century

By 2001, Playland was Westchester's most visited park, seeing one million visitors that year. For the 2002 season, Playland unveiled three new rides: the Kite Flyer, Crazy Mouse, and Sky Skater.^[21] Until the beginning of the 2002–2003 National Hockey League season, the New York Rangers practiced at the Playland Ice Casino. As of 2023, the Manhattanville College hockey team, located in nearby Purchase, was playing its home games at Playland.^[23]

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy claimed parts of Playland's boardwalk, flooded and caused substantial damage to the Ice Casino, and scattered debris throughout Read Sanctuary.^[24] As a result of damage sustained during the hurricane, the north boardwalk remained closed until 2018.^[25][26]

In May 2016, the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted 13–4 to give control of the park to a management company called Standard Amusements. Standard Amusements agreed to invest $27.5 million in the park, which it would manage for 30 years. Westchester County would maintain ownership of the park, and receive an annual base rent and 8% of the park's profits after Standard Amusements recouped its initial investment.^[27][28] In 2019, Playland unveiled its first ride since 2008, a Disk'O half-pipe made by Zamperla.^[29]

In May 2019, Standard Amusements filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to repair a management deal that Westchester County politicians went against.^[30] Playland did not operate during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[31]

Standard Amusements leased the park for three years starting in 2022.^{[32][33][34][35]} Playland began its $125 million 5-year revitalization project the same year.^[36] The project saw the rebuild of the Derby Racer canopy, new and updated bathrooms across the park, new and updated midway games, as well as 3 new rides: Old Rye Motorbike Factory,^[37][38] Catch N' Air, and the Tornado.^{[citation needed]}

The county resumed management of Playland in 2025 and the park was open for the summer but many of its rides were not operational.^[39]

Fireworks

From the first year it opened in 1928, Playland has attracted giant crowds for its fireworks. Pyrotechnic displays have become a notable attraction of the park increasing visitation especially on Fourth of July.^[41]

Swimming park

Playland's swimming park includes a beach, pool, boardwalk, bathhouses and arcade.

Amusement park

Playland has many attractions but their rides are by far the feature that draws visitors. Admission to Playland is free for Westchester residents who wish to observe the rides. However, visitors must pay for a wristband that will give them all-day access to the rides. Non-Westchester residents must pay admission to get inside Playland and an additional fee for the wristband. Westchester residents generally also pay a lower price for the wristbands than non-Westchester residents.^[44][45] To keep the price of each ride low, Westchester County's government offers sponsorships to businesses in exchange for annual naming rights for a ride, in addition to sponsorships for concerts, fireworks, and revues.^[46][47]

Playland is home to the "Grand Carousel", a 1915 Mangels-Carmel carousel. It has four rows with 48 jumpers, 18 standers and three chariots. It was originally in New Haven, Connecticut, and moved to Playland when the park opened in 1927. The Grand Carousel has a rare band organ built by the Gavioli company in Italy. The organ enclosure features two male figures that strike bells in time to the music while the central female figure moves a baton. The Grand Carousel contains designs including those on the horses that are completely hand-carved and painted by Charles Carmel from Brooklyn, New York. The horses possess many unique traits that include elaborate "fish scale" blankets, inlaid gemstones, armor and lolling tongues on several.

Playland is also home to one of only three racing carousels still in existence.^[48] The Derby Racer was built in 1927 for Playland by Prior & Church with horses carved by Marcus Charles Illions, a turn of the century New York carousel horse carver. The Derby Racer rotates at 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) – three times the speed of a normal carousel. The horses move back and forth as well as up and down, simulating a true gallop as it races around the track. The other "Derby Racing Carousels" are located at Cedar Point,^[49] in Sandusky, Ohio; and Blackpool Pleasure Beach,^[50] in Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.^[51] Playland also features an upcharge Go Kart track.

Former amusement park features

Boating lake

The lake at Playland is manmade. Originally a marsh and home to mosquitoes, "dredges pumped the bottom out of half the swamp, thus making a deep lake of 80 acres.^[83]