JOLLY ROGER AMUSEMENT PARK ZIP

Inside were a Herschel 'Sky Fighter,' Pinto fire engine, Schiff boat ride, Pinto pony ride, and a 48-horse carousel. Outdoors were a Schiff Ferris wheel, Schiff roller coaster, Hodges hand cars, and a miniature train. When Happyland opened in 1951, it had a mix of outdoor and indoor rides. The site is now occupied by a strip mall. The restaurant closed in 1976, and the park followed in 1978. John Tarnow ran the park as well as kept the carousel and other rides in good mechanical shape. The Smiley's Happyland Park was owned by Mildred Tarnow (later by her husband John Tarnow after she died) and the Giddens family. Over time, confusion arose between the park and restaurant names, and it was (and remains) common to hear the entire facility referred to by Long Islanders as 'Jolly Roger's Amusement Park.' This was built by Max Lander and owned by 2 partners (Robert Rubin and ?). His wife Miriam took over management of Happyland and the other family properties and remained involved in their operation, with partner Norman Russell, for years to come.Īdjacent to the main Happyland building and connected to it by a glass-walled passageway was a fast food-style restaurant called the Jolly Roger (alternatively 'Jolly Roger's'). William Nunley never got the chance to see Happyland in operation: he died in April 1951, six months before the park opened on October 12, 1951. In a further departure from tradition, Happyland was not located near a railroad or trolley line, but was set up to cater to the motoring public, with a parking lot that initially held 400 cars. The park proved popular with young families who moved into surrounding communities such as Bethpage, Levittown, Massapequa, and Farmingdale, and attendance in the first years of operation surpassed expectations.

When Nunley announced plans for the new park, some colleagues in the amusement business questioned the wisdom of building an expensive facility at a site that seemed too far from population centers to be successful, calling the location 'virtually deserted.' However, the postwar suburban construction boom soon proved such doubts unfounded, as the area around Happyland was rapidly developed for housing. (The glass doors used were salvaged from the French pavilion at the 1939-40 New York World's Fair.) Two walls of the pavilion were designed with large movable glass panels which could be opened in warm weather or closed when it was cold. The new park would be larger than Nunley's other locations, and unlike its predecessors, was designed from the start for year-round operation, with a heated indoor ride area. Happyland was established by William Nunley, a third-generation amusement park entrepreneur, who already operated facilities in Baldwin, Rockaway Beach, Yonkers, and Broad Channel, N.Y. It operated from 1951 through 1977 or 1978. Nunley's (later called Smiley's) Happyland was an amusement park in the hamlet of Bethpage on Long Island, New York, located at the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike (Route 24) and Hicksville Road (Route 107). Robert Berkowitz / RSB Image Happyland‬ Amusement Park

And if you plan ahead and visit the Jolly Roger Web site, more often than not you’ll be able to find printable coupons for discounts on ride arm bands, entry to the water park, etc.Nunley's/Smiley's Happyland Amusement Park But if you’re looking for a relaxed and fun afternoon, definitely consider a visit to Jolly Roger. Don’t expect 60 mph roller coasters or death-defying loopdy-loops. While it’s an excellent way to kill a few hours off the boardwalk with the kids, this isn’t a full-out amusement park. Think of it as a hybrid between a boardwalk, an amusement park and a carnival.

Instead, visitors pay for individual ride credits, and go on only the rides they want.

JOLLY ROGER AMUSEMENT PARK ZIP

Perfect for the family who’s looking for something a little different from Ocean City’s beautiful beach and boardwalk, Jolly Roger Amusement Park has a little bit of everything for everyone in the family.Īt the park, you’ll find water rides and slides, traditional carnival games, roller coasters, swings, zip lines, miniature golf and even go karts! Perhaps the most unique detail of the park is that there is no flat-rate admission (though some areas do require a fee be paid before people are allowed to enter). Jolly Roger Amusement Park is a full-service family fun center.

Jolly roger amusement park