Abandoned Rocky Point Amusement Park | Rhode Island Icon
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2024
- Rocky Point Amusement Park is legendary in Rhode Island history for so many reasons. It was the place to be every summer with rides, games, concerts, and the largest shore dinner hall in the world. It had everything you could want. Rhode Islanders loved this place, but it closed for good in 1996 after nearly 150 years in business… and almost 30 years later we still never stop talking about it.
Filmed/Edited/Narrated by Jason Allard
Follow me on Instagram: @Jason__Allard
Email: Uncomsensemedia@gmail.com
Drone: DJI Mini 3 Pro | Fly More Plus
Main Camera: Sony A7S III | Sony f/1.2 50mm
Editing: Final Cut Pro w/ custom plugins
Sources:
You Must Be This Tall | rb.gy/10f3gd
Images of America: Rocky Point Park | rb.gy/mvkc9a
David Bettencourt | rb.gy/3bhg1q
Amusement Parks & Beyond | rb.gy/wc14d0
LostMidway | rb.gy/nzaj4t
Irene Campbell | rb.gy/zomuuw
Providence Journal's Escaped Monkeys Article | rb.gy/utfhkr
Music By:
Dexter Yu | rb.gy/exmuzo
Ayoji | rb.gy/84oauc
ONE | rb.gy/zavtua
DotBeats | rb.gy/t9mq5g
Today, Rocky Point has mostly returned to nature, and it’s hard to imagine a loud, bustling amusement park once stood right here. It’s wild seeing it like this, considering Rocky Point once hosted famous bands, a president, generations of visitors, and most importantly ME in 1994.
Also, with Rocky Point Park being on the list of abandoned Rhode Island icons, it continues the tradition of most places from my childhood being abandoned, like my old middle school…the largest on the east coast of America, or the baseball stadium I went to every summer to watch the Pawtucket Red Sox, and even another amusement park from my childhood, the Enchanted Forest.
But today we’re talking about a place near and dear to everyone in Rhode Island. A place whose history stretches from the 1840s all the way to 1996, with a lot happening in between. Welcome to the abandoned Rocky Point Amusement Park.
Rocky Point Park's history dates back to 1847, evolving from a modest resort to a sprawling amusement park that attracted visitors from far away lands like Massachusetts. Throughout its existence, the park underwent many transformations, from changes in ownership to devastating natural disasters like the Hurricane of 1938 and Hurricane Carol in 1954.
One of the park's enduring legacies is its iconic attractions, including the Rocky Point Clam Dinner, which drew crowds with its legendary feasts. Over the years, new rides and amenities were added, cementing Rocky Point's reputation as a premier destination for entertainment and leisure.
Rocky Point always persevered, though, thanks to dedicated owners like Conrad Ferla, who became synonymous with the park during his tenure. For decades Rocky Point was like having Disney World in our backyard. Rides like The Corkscrew, Musik Express, Free Fall, and Skyliner were hits with visitors, along with concerts like Beastie Boys or AC/DC at the Palladium? Hot damn.
Okay, if Rocky Point was so huge, then why was it abandoned?
In May of 1990 the failing Bank of New England demanded payment of nearly 5 million dollars in mortgages that Rocky Point’s owners had taken out on the park and several unrelated businesses. Money that wasn’t owed yet and that the owners didn’t have on hand.
Scrambling to obtain other financing in 1991, the owners of Rocky Point quickly entered into a lending relationship with Fairway Capital Corporation, where Fairway loaned Rocky Point $5,395,000 at 15.5% interest per year over twenty years. That’s $900,000 per year in interest alone. Damn, they’d have to sell like a million clam cakes to break even, which… they didn’t.
In October of 1995, a reorganization plan was approved by a federal judge who authorized a restructuring of the debt. The plan allowed the owners to either operate the park on a razor thin budget or liquidate it and sell off the park’s assets. Viewing the business as non-viable, the owners chose the second option.
In the years following its closure, Rocky Point stood abandoned, a haunting reminder of its former glory. Yet, in 2014, the City of Warwick reclaimed the land, transforming it into a state park, preserving its natural beauty for future generations to enjoy.
While the amusement park may never return, the memories of Rocky Point endure, immortalized in documentaries, books, and the shared recollections of those who experienced its magic firsthand. As Rhode Islanders reminisce about their time at Rocky Point, they hold onto the cherished memories that will forever remain a part of the state's history.
Abandoned places, amusement parks, Rhode Island, Rocky Point Amusement Park, history, memories, attractions, legacy, closure, decline, nostalgia, landmarks, urban exploration, preservation, remnants, demolition, documentary, historic, tourism, lost attractions, paranormal, haunted, decay, forgotten places, abandonment, cultural significance - Zábava
What was your favorite ride at Rocky Point? (please don’t say the flume 😭)
WELL I SPENT MORE TIME AT CRESCENT PARK,RIVERSIDE RI..THANK YOU,GREAT JOB
I liked the yo-yo
Jason is going to be very wet and he doesn't know it 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣sorry buddy the flume was top ride
They had this one ride I can't remember the name but It was little "space rockets" with a molded metal space ray on the front. The rider would sit in the cock pit and could pull back on a lever to make the rocket go up or push it forward to make the rocket go down as the rockets would spin in a circle. In wasn't the fastest or scariest ride but when I was a kid, I dreamed about being a fighter pilot. That rocket ride was as close as I ever came lol !
Spider and corkscrew, i remember when that opened
I met my wife at Rocky Point in the summer of 1995, proposed to her in 1997 while we were still in high school, got married in 1998, and July 11 2024 we will be celebrating 26 years of marriage. Rocky Point will always be incredibly special to us❤
Oh wow, I forgot Rocky point was open in 1995 still?
@@isaboteur2562 closed in 96
I'm reading the years you were there and thinking wow. My friend and I would go every Friday night back in the 70's. I lived about 2 miles away
As a lifelong Rhode Islander, I would like to say that I really really enjoyed this video, it brought me back to the fun times of my childhood thank you
You can sill experience them. Just take a ride to Salem, New Hampshire.
You should watch the local documentary, “Must Be This Tall To Ride” showed greta historical footage and had some good interviews
Rhode Island has gone down a lot throughout the years we ain't got nothing anymore because clearly Warwick residence would rather fix highways than upkeep amusement parks because out of towners were rude disrespectful to them. I loved Rocky Point and Lincoln Park. Gen X-era had an amazing childhood thanks to these amusement parks it's just sad we can't show our kids and grands tho. That sucks.
Oh yes Lincoln Park was awesome too !!!
Watching from Florida and this made me homesick. White chowder will always be the best no matter where I live.
We moved to FL .The one thing I miss about New England is the seafood .
Wow, seeing how many Rhode Islanders moved to FL is kind of wild. We're neither in R.I. or FLA anymore, but I've been back to visit both a couple of times!
This place wasn’t just popular with RI’ers, it was a New England staple!
I grew up in Massachusetts. Our annual trip to Rocky Point was a highlight of our summer. The rides were fun, but being with cousins I didn't see very often was the best part. Rocky Point was small enough that the adults could keep track of us, and it was in a good location, to get out of our urban / suburban environment for the day. I have a lot of Happy memories from RP.
Thank you, Jason, for your wonderful tribute to Rocky Point!
In the 50's, my parents would go there on dates. They married and would bring my brother and I to the park at least once per summer, not just for the rides, or the shore dinner, but also the 4th of July fireworks display. As a teen, I too went there on dates.
After I grew up, I began taking my child there. Our last visit was around 1990, and our last ride was The Freefall.
Personally, my favorite ride was the Corkscrew, but I very much enjoyed those quiet moments gliding through the air and up into the trees on The Skyliner.
Great "shout out" to WBRU. LOVED that station!
I grew up in RI and from when I was a kid until it closed I visited Rocky Point Park almost every weekend it was open. I must have gone there hundreds if not thousands of times and remember every nook and cranny. My sister and I would go every weekend and spend two whole days riding the log flume and Corkscrew roller coaster and my favorite rides the House of Horrors and Musik Express. When I found out Weird Al was playing there in July of '94 we decided to make it an all-day occasion.
The six of us all got into my friend's Subaru Rat (a really tiny car-we were uncomfortable but since it was a short ride we didn't care) and when we got there we got more than a few looks as we spilled out of it like clowns out of a clown car. I remember hitting the arcade first as I always did and then when my arcade money had run out it was House of Horrors and Musik Express all the way. I loved these rides and even now just thinking about never getting to ride them again makes me tear up.
Then it happened. As we were walking away from the log ride and towards the HoH for another trip we saw him. Weird Al was walking down the long road between the roller coaster and log ride and the rest of the rides. Looking at one another we were hesitant to say hi but my being Mr. Extrovert I couldn't keep from saying hi. It wasn't just that. Al's always been there for me whenever I've been feeling down. Even as young as I was I felt deeply indebted to him and felt the overwhelming urge to thank him for all the smiles. Going up to him I said, "Hey Al! We really love your music!" I cringed inwardly. It wasn't very polite or anything like how I'd wanted to address this childhood hero of mine but fortunately, my use of his first name didn't seem to matter. Al leaned forward and with his eyes wide he looked at us and in the most Al way imaginable he asked, "Oh you DO? Well then COME ON!"
He then waved us towards the roller coaster and took off for it. Joe and I looked towards one another and, gripped by curiosity and overwhelming fannish delight, we obeyed. Al ushered us onto the roller coaster with a bunch of other fans and we spent the next three or four trips around the Corkscrews undulating twists and turns alternating between asking us questions about ourselves and screaming at the top of his lungs. After we all got off the coaster he was too busy signing autographs to acknowledge us but while I never managed to get one for myself or Joe we didn't mind. Both of us have a Weird Al memory we'll be reliving (and retelling) for the rest of our lives.
Here's the setlist of songs from that July '94 show /playlist?list=PL87cTEZmYr0-YO6xg9GiIHCRE-_bRjG7L
I grew up going to Crescent Park in Riverside RI, where the lovely Loof Carousel still resides. But nothing bring back memories like a boat ride from Barrington to Rocky Point where my parents would tie up and get clam cakes and chowder and we kids would go ride the rides. Nothing put the thrill in Summer like a trip to Rocky Point Park. My kids remember it fondly too. My youngest actually has the lobster logo tattooed on his leg. He also collects paraphernalia. Thank you Jason for bringing it back, a bittersweet look at a wonderful time gone by.
Went ever summer from about 83 to 95 when I graduated Highschool. I knew that park like the back of my hand. Great video! loved it!
Omg I keep reading the years here. My days spent there were the 70's. Every Friday night
I go walking out at Rocky point an just remember how much fun we had
Maybe you can close your eyes and imagine all the noise and screams from kids having fun.
I saw Jane's Addiction, Pearl Jam, RHCP and Beastie Boys there, not to mention Quiet Riot!! The House of Horrors scared the Bejesus out of me all the way up to High School! You could'nt find better Clam Cakes or Chowder Anywhere!!!! Sigh.
As a native Roe Dylander, I CAN talk about Rocky Point, and it WILL always be referred to as, "Where Rocky Point used to be." My dad took me out to the parking lot when I was learning to drive a standard, and he put me on the slopped part of the lot, back to the bay, and said, "Don't put us in the water - go." And so many clam cakes were ordered and eaten from Shore Dinner Hall. Thank you for this video!
I grew up in Massachusetts. My family would go to amusement parks every summer. It was usually the two closest ones, Whalom Park (closed in 2000) and Canobie Lake Park (still open) but I did go to Rocky Point a couple of times in the eighties. I was little when I went. The memories I had were the type where you wonder if you may have imagined or dreamt them. I remembered the giant dining hall the most. It wasn't until I saw a documentary about Rocky Point where the memories I had became clear.
I think about the many places of entertainment and fun in New England that are no longer around. I wish I could visit these amusement parks or seaside attractions (Salisbury Beach comes to mind) I went to as kid just one more time.
Salisbury beach, Salem Willows and of course Canobie Lake Park are my childhood 💜
Thanks for this. I worked there from '68 - '71? And yes, I have stories. Worked the Skyliner, Trabant, Shooting Gallery, and worked on the construction crew for the Flume.
Lived nearby Rockys cousin Lincoln Paaark. Saw Blue Oyster Cult at Rocky Point. Good times.😊😊😊
It blows my mind Janis Joplin and AC/DC performed there
I remember seeing BOC at the park too. My girlfriend at the time, my wife of 40 years today, went on a date to see the show. Cool memories!
I saw joe Walsh at top when I was around 9or 10
Oh, goodness! I wish they had at least preserved the sign! How I remember seeing that sign up ahead with such kid joy! And as my father’s car passed under it I knew that I was about to have the most amazing time of my life at Rocky Point! Like the time I ran up and down the ramp to ride the flume in the light rain, over and over again! And it was just me and the rain soaked operator looking on plainly as I jumped into one of those plastic logs! I got completely soaked and loved it! My family practically owned the park that day! What memories! Thank you so very much for making this video! 🙂
I remember a day similar to yours. The weather was iffy and the park was pretty empty but we (kids) piled into the car to head up to Rocky Point from MA. I light drizzle didn't keep us from going on flume ride after flume ride that day. We'd get off, go down the stairs, and then back up the entrance stairs just to get right back on. After we were good and soaked from the light drizzle and splashing we rode the gondola over the park and dripped on everyone below us. We rocked the boat and broke just about every rule the flume ride had at the time. Ahh memories and the good ole' days. Yea, too bad they didn't at least keep the sign.
Damn Jason you knocked it out of the park with this one. The writing and editing is the best yet, great balance of fun, curious and sentimental.
It actually made me really emotional at some points. I only went once or twice but I have some great memories from Rocky point, It's really special that we can all come to this video and remember it together. You're doing some amazing work for the Rhode island community we're so lucky to have you!
BRINGS BACK OLD MEMORIES
I'm originally from fall River, ma. I couldn't wait till we went to Rocky Point....I remember the day history went up for auction...It was a family place....I miss my dad who took my mom and 5 kids every year. ..my dad has passed but glad to have all the best memories
Was the place to be every Summer! Crappy old dangerous rides. The spider. The Flume. The drop! And Don't forget Fishing. Those where the good year's when you was bored. Meet girls. Was the best ! Thanks I enjoyed it.
Just graduated high school in 1992 and was scheduled to go to Army Basic Training later on in July. My last big hoorah was with three of my life-long friends at Rocky Point. As I remeber, we had a blast and it was a fitting send off. Discounting reunions, it was thr last time we would all be together before real life set upon us. Great memories
Brings me back to a happier time in life when the world was a better place. Thanks for the memories.
My fondest memories are riding in the bumper cars with my grandfather then driving the bumper cars on my own when I got older.
I can still hear the loose change rattling around in the Rock n Roll.
My girlfriend and I loved this video so much we drove 2 hours today to see the park for ourselves! I kept saying “this is like in the video!” And it helped knowing about what to expect there and the significance of what we were seeing. Thanks so much for such a great video! Because of your hard work you helped two more people make great memories at Rocky Point!
I didn't know about the monkeys, but I grew up thinking parrots were native to Rhode Island because of the famous monk parakeet swarm, which took up residence on my grandfather's farm not far from Warwick Neck.
From a Rhode Islander, Thank You, Tears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nuff Said
I’m from Southeastern Mass and I went to Rocky Point so many times as a kid throughout the 80s and early 90s. It was either Rocky Point or Canobie Lake in NH. Awesome memories, thank you for this!
Loved the vid. Seems like all Rhode Islanders are in agreement on this one. Lots of memories as a kid going to Rocky Point. Then going after it was abandoned when I was a teen. Then taking my daughter to what it is now for a picnic and bike riding. Keep up the good work.
I lived in R.I for 6 years as a kid from January 1974 until January1980 until moving to Arizona. As a kid, I went there a few times. My mom didn't have much money, so the two times or so that I went there were fun. I don't recall to many of the rides, but I remember eating at the dining hall land having clam cakes and chowder. I haven't been back in 44 years as I still live in Arizona, but I have looked at pictures of what remains.
Bunch of us back in high "late 70's-81" school always went to Rocky Point quite a few times a year to see concerts. J. Geils Band, Cheap Trick, Nazareth etc. etc.. Drive down from Central Mass. Drinking age was 18 back then so we always had a good time at Rocky Point.
I grew up in Connecticut, Rocky Point and Riverside Park were a big part of our summers. Hampton Beach will always remain my favorite place🐾
We went many times in the 50s. Also went to Cresent Park and the famous Merry go Round. Best times ever!
He merry go round was a genuine antique one with real horse hair tails
18:33 watching that sign come down is like watching my childhood ending.
😢😢😢
I used to live right down the street from Rocky Point when I moved to RI back in 1993 after my mother passed away. My parents used to take me there when I was a kid when we lived in Mass. Miss the park.
I went here with my aunt and my two cousins the summer of 93. Probably one of the best times I had as a kid all the food and the rides everything was awesome as a 11 year old kid
I worked in the Shore dinner hall/Windjammer/Palladium from 1984-89. I even have a rocky point rocky the lobster tattoo. This was a great video I got to visit Rocky point park about 6 years ago and it was so real.I was showing my son where his dad worked as a teenager
I remember going to Rocky Point as a kid. My aunt and uncle took my brother and I there. We had so much fun. I loved the flume, and the corkscrew was the first roller coaster I ever rode. I also love listening to my mom and dad share memories about when they were young and went to Rocky Point. It really is sad and tragic what happened to cause its closure. This video honestly made me cry. I wish we had it back so I could take my son there. Thank you for making this.
Yes, white chowder is the best chowder. HOWEVER. Only at Rocky Point would I ever eat red chowder. Those giant metal tureens it came to the table in, forever etched into my brain.
The House Of Horrors was always my favorite. I was a tiny kid (I'm only 5' as a 43 year old adult lol) so it wasn't until the last year or two of the park that I was tall enough to ride the Corkscrew, and my other favorite, the Enterprise. I *fawned* over that thing for years as a kid wanting to ride it. I'll never forget the sound of everyone's change and loose objects that had fallen out of their pockets as I stood and watched the ride. The tilt-a-whirl and scrambler were my favorites to go on with my dad. And my mom got terrible motion sickness so she couldn't do any of the crazy rides, but she LOVED the train. We went to a lot of different parks in the summers as a kid and the train was always mom's favorite.
I wish they'd kept the big Rocky Point sign at the main entrance. I think not just the local community, but people throughout the state would have donated to have it refurbished so it could remain. That thing was iconic. I remember seeing the clip on the news when they tore it down. I cried then and it still made me cry seeing it today. This place was absolutely legendary. This was by far my favorite video you've ever put out. Thanks for the nostalgia trip. ❤
I wasn't born in time, but my dad and teachers told me about it! We know it as "The Amusement Park That Refused To Die," but somehow it died. My father rode the FreeFall when it opened in 1988-89 with the STARSHIPS! One of my teachers worked Games at Rocky Point, and another worked the booth atop the Log Flume before the late 80s when it was removed. Hurricane Bob was the last Hurricane to hit Rocky Point, and one of the only ones where the whole park DIDN'T go down.
My great grandparents owned it till 1938 and were forced to sell it after the hurricane. I always wondered had it stayed in the family what it would have been....
I’d say it would have done great. The Castiglioni Brothers brought the park into modern times of that era when they purchased it in 1924. They brought in many outstanding rides during their ownership including the Wildcat and Flying Turns coasters, the Bluebeard’s Palace haunted walkthrough and the Fun In The Dark single-rail dark ride. Photos shot on the midway during their ownership show huge crowds.
I wish they did! I went once and I had a blast
It was an iconic place…even for eastern Connecticut. Thank you for doing this. So many happy memories….💕💕
I was born and grew up in Rhode Island. So I remember Rocky Point.
My family and I went to the shore dinner Hall and I can remember going out a lot of these rides with my dad.
I can also remember hearing stories from my dad and my grandfather and My Mom.
You did a very good job on this video. I subscribed and liked Thank you for showing the good parts of Rhode Island.
It brought back a lot of happy memories.
Both my grandfather and my dad would tell me stories about Rocky point and how they went there when they were kids.
It broke my heart when I heard that they had closed but I'm glad that nothing else was built in its place they kept it a state park and it looks like they did a nice job with it..
Thank you for doing this video
Definitely the Haunted House (AKA House of horrors)!! Gold standard. Just think of the unforgettable Viking, dragon, and the severed head at the front. The jump scares left quite an impression the 5-year-old I was!
I can hear the banging of the doors!
Absolute art. So sad others could not take note
I was lucky to have gone there 3 times in the middle to end of of the 1980s. Always had a fun time. My favorite ride--of course it was the roller coaster followed by the flume ride. Happy memories
Ahhhh Rocky Point Amusement Park was a great part of my childhood and teenage years back in the 70's and 80's my favourite ride was the Musical Express and the floon water roller 🎢 coaster and of course the food 🦞🌭🍔🍟🍕🍦🧋🥤 RIP Rocky Point 😢❤❤
Went here many times as a child in the late sixties and early seventies but my most memorable visit was in the eighties as a young adult. I worked construction in Connecticut and we got rained out so my GF and I decided to visit the shore dinner hall for lunch. We were the only two people in this giant building other than staff and we were treated like royalty!
Another favorite was the motorcycles in the cage, fearless riders!
Best Clam Cakes ever!
My childhood
Born raised and lived in RI
1964- present
Thx for the memories
Thank you Jason! For preserving another outstanding piece of RI heritage. And for giving the only RI native who sadly never visited RP, the perfect tour of everything I missed!!
ive been in Warwick born and raised since '97, didn't get to see it in the abandoned state. i have seen it grow, but now since they've made it a big park there's been a lot of interest in it. they've honestly done a pretty decent job at making a nice walking path around the park for people to walk, jog, or my favorite, walk the dogs. there's been a lot to do there, most recently everyone gathered there to view the eclipse. always respectful people fishing and cleaning up after themselves.
I have been waiting for someone to make this video! Growing up in Massachusetts, a trip to Rocky Point was always an event, and on my end of school year 7th grade class trip in 1992 I came down with chicken pox basically as we were waiting in line for the log flume. (Obviously was already sick but didn’t start having symptoms till we were in line for our first ride of the day) Spent the day with a fever in the first aid shack passed out and so sad I wasn’t running around feral and wild and Finally tall enough to ride the “big” rides. By the time we got on the bus at sunset I had sprouted pox all up and down my arms and torso! While that trip was particularly memorable that place was always a wee bit of a fever dream and always an adventure! Thanks for shining a light on a place that I know was important to so many!
Edit - your intro absolutely did not make me cry
Best "chowdah" and clam cakes hands down!!
Excellent documentary and very well produced sir! 👏💯
Thank you so much for telling a wonderful and complete story of Rocky Point. I have fond memories as a youngster going there with my family. I moved away from Rhode Island in 1973 and never knew what had happened to the amusement park. Even the locals I spoke to weren't clear after all these years. Your story filled in all the gaps. Well done!
Some of my earliest memories were of the family going to Rocky point. As we got older, gen x here, we were dropped off. The park entrance was free. Had to buy tickets to go on rides. We always stopped at the chowder hall for clambcakes an chowdah. i moved out of Rhode Island in 1988. When Rocky point closed, i was living outside Seattle. Ironically, a small amusement park in Fife bought the corkscrew. You could see it from I-5. 1998 i was in a large car accident( pile up) right in front of the park. For hours i watched people enjoying the ride i enjoyed as a teen, for only a couple years. The 1st time i went to Rhode Island post park closed, it was just named a park. My sister took her dog there to walk. It was bitter sweet seeing it like that. But, i am so happy some developers didn't turn it into overpriced condos. It belongs to the people of Rhode Island.
Hey Jason. Im a big fan of your content & a fellow Rhode Islander. Im happy you brought up the fact about the monkeys. I've read some crazy legends about the monkeys. The first is that people in the 1960's would swear they would see monkeys in the trees when entering rocky point... the second is the infamous story about the teenager that fell from the cliffs..(I think 1991. I know thiers a newspaper story regarding it..) the teenager lived.. but the story goes that a teenager was on the skyliner and hopped off at the ledge at the top where the skyliner turns around.. he gets off.. goes running around the cliffs and comes across the old rocky point cave that was an "attraction" in the beginning of the 1900's thats built into the cliffs..He goes in and apparently he finds all sorts of rocky point merch from the 30s, 40s, 50s all the way up to the 90s. He claimed that thier was satanic/cult symbols all inside on the walls. And when hes getting ready to exit. He discovers a pack of monkeys were living in the old cave.. the story goes that he ran and fleed and fell off the cliffs running from the monkeys and he lands right on the tracks for the train (that you covered in this). He broke his arm pretty bad. I believe if you look around the cliffs to this day, you'll find the imploded cave with graffiti actually pointing to where the entrance was... im positive you can find RI articles for it. But ive always been blown away by that legend (if its indeed true)
Just hearing you say the names of the rides, and hearing the commercial, triggered so many memories! Grandparents told me about Hayes etc but I didn’t believe them lol I guess it was true. I started going with family in 76 and continued till it closed 😢 does anybody remember the weird little string bracelet with a square that they put on you so you could ride? Thanks so much for making this, I’m going to make my teens watch it
Jason, I loved this video. Thank you so much for sharing and adding the personal touches. It's the New England I grew up in.
I used to visit Rhode Island every summer to spend time with my cousin. Rocky point, the Enchanted forest and the Pawtucket red Sox were an every summer occasion! Sad to hear they are all gone now🫤
Always loved seeing the commercial. You knew summer was here when the commercial came on. Can't remember if I ever visited this park when growing up. My dad took us to many places. Seems like there were the trio of amusement parks here in New England. We had Lincoln Park in Dartmouth Mass, closed in 1987, Paragon Park Nantasket beach in Hull Mass, closed in 1984 and Rocky Point in RI, the last to close in 1995. Just one left and that's Six Flags New England formerly Riverside Park. Can never get any of these back. they would have to be equal to a Six Flags or Disney Park. Only good memory is a traveling Carnival or Fair passing through. But not the same as the three beloved parks.
Nice job as always man! Awsome watch
Omfgggg you have no idea how happy it made me to find your account!! I’m a Rhode Islander born and raised and I didn’t know half this stuff existed! Can’t wait to watch all the videos
Dude, that was so good. If nostalgia was a drug, you just brought me to the brink of overdose. One of my favorite pieces about Rocky point I've ever seen.
Moved to Mass in '71 and went there on a school trip in the early 70's. That and the old Boston Garden, as well as concerts at the Providence Civic Center are the best memories.
I was wondering if the line in the Boston song "Rock and Roll Band" where they sing "playin' for week in Rhode Island" was about RP.
As a summer resident of RI, my cousins & I went to Rocky Point a few times. Many pleasant memories, certainly. Now that i know that it is State Park, I will go there latter this month after I open up our summer cottage for the season! ❤😊
This made me smile and tear up but mostly warm inside …. Thank you !!
Part of your beloved park still operates at our local park Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way, Washington. The owner purchased the Corkscrew and several flat rides from Rocky Point. The coaster was renamed as Wild Thing and continues to thrill kids today. I think the Scrambler and Paratrooper also still operate as well. I’ve ridden these many times since the late 1990’s. Although we don’t visit the park like we used to, it’s always a good feeling knowing that what was once a part of someone’s joy-filled memories continues to live on even if it’s across the country.
I live in Mass. Every year we would go to Rocky Point Park & had a blast. Loved that place. I remember being overwhelmed by the size of the dining hall, the amount of people in that space & the amount of food. The rides were spectacular & like Paragon Park, gotta love the rollercoaster. White chowder IS the best chowder, thankyou for doing this video, it brings a tear to my eye bringing back the memories & like you say it's a good thing that it's a park & not a housing development. Good job Rhode Island.❤️🎢🎡🎠🚂🦞
I was 10 maybe 11 when I visited Rocky point with my family, along with a few families from our neighborhood in the projects, where I grew up about 5 miles north of Boston. I remember on the ride up, I got to sit next to my crush. That alone was one of the most exciting rise of my childhood and then the park was so amazing had so much fun. It was one of those perfect days from your childhood❤
I went to Rocky Point growing up. I moved away and then heard it was closed. The video made me smile…and cry. I remember the red clam chowder and the best clam cakes!
Awesome video about the History of Rocky Point!!! Nice job, Jason!!!
So I'm from just over the border. Went there alot in my childhood. when i got my license in 93 I went there after school multiple days a week for years with friends and closed the place. This was a great great service to that awesome place. Seeing that sign get demoed actually made me really sad. Really great job and great pics and footage that brought back some memories.
I saw Pantera at the palladium Brothers. Vulgar tour. Thankyou for that serious memory. 2nd best concert of my life.
37, grew up in Warwick. I think I vomited all over a ride that may have been called the musical express. I was young. But I do remember going to that location. Nice video, thank you. I shared with my parents.
Oh man. I remember seeing Ministry, Sepultura, and Helmet in the Palladium, there during Ministry's "Psalm 69" tour. I remember looking over and seeing the roller coasters and wishing that I had arrived for the show when the amusement park part of it was open. It looked fun. I can't believe it's all gone now.
This video is amazing... Thank you so much. I am sure all who see this and have been to Rocky Point can recall the fun times that they had there. I am happy to know the history of this park. Thank you again!!!
Born in RI and did go there several times but I spent my first 15 summers at our camp at Matunuck so the opportunities were not there for summer fun. I do remember eating at the big hall which was a once a year thing in my family. I’m a lot more familiar with Aunt Carries and George’s and my dad always took us to see the tuna during the annual tournament. We also took the Block Island boat trip several times. We were at the beach during Hurricane Carol and had a harrowing experience. I was only 4 then but I still remember it vividly. Thanks for the memories!
Many memories made at Rocky Point as a kid/teen. I went there all the time (Used to live in Cranston), Played a lot of arcade video games there and I think the corkscrew was one of my favorites.
I moved out of RI a long time ago but, could never forget the place, Thanks for showing some memories here.
You just brought back so many memories of me and my father. Thank you..
This one hits right in the feels of everyone who grew up in Rhode Island at that time. Thank you.
What a fabulous documentary! I went there once in the early 70's. The trip was part of our summer recreation program at my school in Central Mass. I couldn't sleep the night before and remember the excitement on the bus ride. I love the history of old amusement parks and drive-in theaters etc. Keep up the great work!
Me and my wife went last summer to check this shit out bring back so many childhood memories even though the last time I went was 1993 and they closed in 96 I was 13 in 93 going back to look at things in my 40s it's crazy. I never knew we had a pool shit bugged me out standing over top of it
As someone who missed this era it is amazing that your video summed it all up!
Love this!!
I go to Rocky Point now very often as a nice spot just to relax
My father worked at Jay Printing in Warwick RI and the company provided workers and their families with a day at Rocky Point Park, including a lobster dinner at the Shore Dining Hall every year. My brother, sister and I had a blast! My girlfriend(wife of 40 years now)say some great concerts at Rocky Point Park. I remember seeing Blue Oyster Cult back in the early 80's. Great memories! We're retired in SW Florida today and we'll never have such awesome clam chowder and clam cakes like they made at Rocky Point!
This brings back so many memories. I used to go there in the 70s and the best part was the clam cakes, the best in the world! Thanx for uploading
Wow! As always your research and presentation are impeccable! And as always you make history fun. Big time thank you Jason.
Thanks Jason! That was awesome! We just went to the park last week to see what’s left. You filled a bunch of questions we had about where things were in the park.
This has way better quality and effects than some shows I’ve seen on TV! You’re really talented and you did a great job researching!
You hit it out of the park with this vid Jason. As a kid Rocky Point was our Magic Kingdom. I played ball with your contributor George (G-Man) LaCross for many years back in the day. Always look forward to your snippets of Lil Rhody from back in the day.
Great video. Going to Rocky Point in to 70's was the highlight of my summers. Epic. Takes me back. Thank you !
I love Rocky Point and am so glad you did this one!! Thank you 😀
Awesome job with this video, Jason! So many memories... 🥲
Another great video Jason, you have an amazing Talent! Thanks so much for bringing us back to Rocky Point!
Again over the top well done video Mr Jason every video you make is better than the last video All the beautiful places Rhode Island had to offer over the years are just about all gone Hey 150 years in the business not bad at all considering all the many hurricanes that bashed down Rocky Point many times over the years ... And yes Mr Jason if it was a hot summer's day The Flume was the top ride LOL 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.. A little fun fact Island Park in Portsmouth had a smaller version of an Amusement Park back in it's day until the 38 hurricane said sorry pal i don't want you there anymore and that Amusement Park got washed out to sea and never to seen again .. Mr Jason you are the best of the best at what you do
Great memories of Rocky Point!! I loved the all you could eat Chowder, Clam cakes and watermelon. ❤
One can always tell, when a story is being narrated by someone with intimate memories and love for a place such as Rocky Point. Where I live, we had an amusement park. It went through many changes, but people still thronged to it for many years. Attendence began to decline in the early 80’s until the Flood of ‘85. That sounded the death-knell for Lakeside Amusement Park. Those of us old enough to have gotten to go there hold a special memory that kids now couldn’t fathom.
Wow you just unlocked one of my childhood memories! This brought tears to my eyes 🥹 Your video was beautifully done. Thank you ❤