PLAYLAND FOREVER!
STANDARD AMUSEMENTS SETS A NEW PLAYLAND STANDARD WITH ENERGIZED, ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT. PULLS OFF OPENING –EVEN CUES THE SUN –DESPITE CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES. HUNDREDS OF SMILES YOUNG AND OLD AS STANDARD BRUSHES UP THE ATMOSPHERE
PLAYLAND PUTS ITS MAKEUP ON AND PUTS ON A SHOW!
WPCNR ENTERTAINMENT TODAY. By John F. Bailey. June 9, 2022:
The fun is back nonstop at Playland USA today as Opening Day defied the odds thanks to a resolute effort of the construction workers who got caught up just in time and unveiled a smiling, welcoming, clean and wholesome environment with spinning rides enough to keep you busy all day.
Buses of kids from groups around the area filled the park in a sun-splashed day.
Construction was not a problem or an impediment to enjoying the park. Plenty of snackbars with that great gooey pizza, fried chicken, funnel cake of the past and rides that thunder and zoom up in the sky.
The kids loved the bumper cars. Braved the ultimate roller coaster thrill the Dragon Coaster. Kiddies were entertained in Kiddy Land with minirides we oldsters all remember.
Strolling minstrels entertained the crowds and the Playland staff hired by Standard has a runthrough under intense pressure of kids waiting on line and just racing off rides and getting back on.
As a couple of parents accompanying one of the youth groups said, the kids were loving the old favorites.
Parents brought their kids, and despite opening day delay at the centrally located admissions booth located midway down from the fountain plaza where a new admissions building is still under construction, but clean and walkable, with performance space that promises a lot for the future.
The colonnades a worker told me would have strong “high hat” lights inside them when construction resumes on them in the fall and the park would have “ a lot more lighting, it will look like Times Square.”
Ambience! Plenty!
Just like old times— though some overhead arches are still under construction they are not that noticeable. The park is neat as a pin. Plenty of fresh paint as been rapidly applied.
The old rides are back big time with big noise and big thrills. You like to get cool? The Plunge ride is back, the Log Plume is back, the squeals from riders getting splashed float across the park with the “whoas!” and the roars of the power thunder. The carousel is back minus the old time circus music, that may be back shortly.
Parents will be thrilled at the spontaneous shows in Kiddy Land where entertainers involve children in dancing.
Strolling musicians entertained the crowds of children giving the Playland employees their first taste of the crowds to come. When the children community groups came in starting after 11 A.M. they could not believe they raced into the park but at modest controlled pace and gawked and lined up. The first brave young people went for the Dragon Coaster which was the most popular ride all day. But so was the intimidating Derby Racer.
Only disappointment for me was the Kiddy Land Express was still at the station and not making its rides. That is scheduled to be making its runs in 2 weeks. New track has to be tested and the engine tested I was told.
COME ON DOWN!
IT’S WHERE THE FUN STARTS AND NEVER STOPS.
NEW PLAYLAND OPENING TODAY– GET SEASON PASS.
WPCNR PLAYLAND TODAY. By John F. Bailey, June 8, 2022 UPDATED June 9, 2022::
Standard Amusements is scheduled to open Playland at 10:00 A.M. and closing at 3 P.M. On Friday Saturday and Sunday this weekend the new Playland opens at noon and closes at 10P.M. Next Week Playland will be open from 4 to 10 P.M. each evening on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and resume 12 to 10 P.M. hours on Friday. Admission information are at the bottom of the Pre-opening pictures shot by WPNCR yesterday.
June 10th is the last day to get the 2022 Season Pass (Includes Rides / All Ages) at the $84.99 EARLY BIRD PRICING (Regularly $129.99).
Buy your Playland Season Passes today and save before it’s too late.
The Season Pass gives you:
– Unlimited Visits
– Unlimited Rides
– No Public Blackout dates
Construction crews have made significant progress to ready Playland, the last of the oldtime amusement parks (opened in 1928) for opening tomorrow, with the old favorites, the Carousel, the Steeplechase, Kiddyland, the Log Plunge, and the lagoon, and of course, the Dragon Coaster.
Here are the rides at the New Playland as Standard Amusements opens the park today, bear in mind not all rides may be open:
THRILL RIDES: Dragon Coaster, Dragonator, Go Karts, Log Flume, Old Rye Motorcycle Factory(coming new ride), Catch a Wave, Crazy Mouse, Derby Racer (I call it the Steeple Chase), Double Shot, The Plunge, The Whip, Yo Yo.
CHILDREN’S RIDES KIDDY LAND: Kiddy Scrambler, Kiddy Whip, Motorcycle Jump, Mushroom Rider, Playland Express (train), Red Baron, Jolly Caterpillar, Himalaya, Jump N Bean, Jungle Jammin, Antique Cars, Boat Ride, Convoy, Crazy Submarine, Flying Dragons, Fun Slide, Swing Around, Sun and Moon
FAMILY RIDES: Kite Flyer, Music Express, Ye Old Mill (old favorite, back again), Tornado, Zombie Castle (oldie but a scary).
Go to playland.com for more details on the Rides, click on “Rides.”
Poor fall weather produced significant delays due to rains each week followed by a winter with more rain and steady cold temperatures. The county changed contractors in January and since then the new contractors have done come from behind construction.
Westchester County has not announced an opening ceremony, and Standard Amusements has not advised WPCNR of the status of the park going forward, or any ceremonies recognizing the beginning of Standard Amusements Playland and what new rides will be opened and when the new pool will be opening and its status.
(Editor’s Note: On the website myrye.com, in early May, Ernie Blundell, the recently appointed General Manager of Standard Amusements, said, “We’re excited for visitors to see all the hard work that has gone into revitalizing this beloved community treasure.” Blundell told the Rye website that work on the colonnades would “resume” next fall and a Plaza retail store would be added and a Plaza Restaurant would be constructed.
In that article, MyRye.com reported there is a new arcade, new Midway Games and 3 more games would added later in the summer plus 3 new rides and a new fountain light show.)
There have been outstanding efforts by the construction company to make up lost time due to the weather with weekend work for the last three weeks I believe. Here is how Playland looked yesterday.
