8 Abandoned New York Amusement Parks That Time Left Behind

New York State was once home to dozens of thrilling amusement parks that brought joy to generations of families.

From the bustling shores of Coney Island to the quiet mountains of the Adirondacks, these magical destinations offered unforgettable summer memories filled with laughter, cotton candy, and heart-pounding rides.

Today, many of these beloved parks sit silent and forgotten, reclaimed by nature and erased from modern maps, leaving behind only faded photographs and nostalgic stories from those lucky enough to have visited them in their heyday.

1. Rockaways’ Playland, Queens, NYC

Picture this: an oceanfront paradise where the salty breeze carried the screams of delighted riders and the smell of fresh funnel cakes. Rockaways’ Playland opened in 1902 and became Queens’ premier seaside attraction for nearly a century. Families flocked to its famous wooden roller coaster, the Atom Smasher, which rattled bones and created lifelong memories.

By the 1980s, the park struggled against rising costs and declining attendance. Fire damage in 1985 sealed its fate, and the once-vibrant destination closed for good in 1987. While no rides remain, the Beach 98th Street subway station still bears the “Playland” name, a quiet nod to its past.

2. Nunley’s Happyland (later Smiley’s), Bethpage, Long Island

Long Island kids grew up with one magical name on their lips: Nunley’s. This beloved Bethpage-based park featured a stunning 1912 carousel that became the crown jewel of childhood summers. The hand-carved wooden horses seemed to gallop through generations, carrying grandparents, parents, and children on the same painted steeds.

Nunley’s Happyland operated from 1951 until about 1978, later rebranded briefly as Smiley’s before closing. The good news? That magnificent carousel, from Nunley’s Baldwin location rather than Bethpage, now spins again at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, where it still works its magic today.

3. Land of Makebelieve, Upper Jay, Adirondacks

Nestled deep in the Adirondack wilderness, this whimsical wonderland brought fairy tales to life for mountain-bound families.

Opening in 1954, the park featured storybook characters, gentle kiddie rides, and enchanted forests that sparked imagination in ways modern screens never could. Small children could actually walk through their favorite nursery rhymes and meet beloved characters in person.

The remote location that made it charming also proved its downfall. As highway travel patterns shifted and bigger parks offered flashier attractions, visitors dwindled. The park quietly closed in 1979, leaving Mother Goose and her friends to fade back into the forest.

4. Frontier Town, North Hudson (Schroon Lake area), Adirondacks

Yeehaw! This authentic Wild West experience transported visitors straight into cowboy country without leaving New York. Founded in 1952, Frontier Town featured staged gunfights, horseback riding, a working rodeo, and genuine period buildings that made you forget the modern world existed.

Kids could pan for gold, ride the stagecoach, and watch outlaws get their comeuppance in the dusty streets.

The park rode into the sunset in 1998 after attendance dropped off. Today, portions of the property have been redeveloped into a state-run campground and day-use area, though several original Western-style buildings still stand.

5. Fantasy Island, Grand Island (near Buffalo)

Wait, this one’s got a twist! Western New York’s Fantasy Island opened in 1961 and became Buffalo’s backyard playground for decades. The park featured everything from classic coasters to water rides, plus that peculiar Western New York charm that kept families coming back summer after summer.

Martin’s Fantasy Island (as it was later known) seemed invincible, surviving economic downturns and changing entertainment trends.

Then 2020 happened. The pandemic delivered a knockout punch the park couldn’t dodge, forcing permanent closure after nearly 60 years. In 2021, the site reopened under new ownership as Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World, reviving some of the grounds but not the original Fantasy Island rides or atmosphere.

6. Al-Tro Island Park (aka Pleasure Island / Lagoon Island), Menands, Albany region

Ever heard of an amusement park you needed a boat to reach? Al-Tro Island Park sat on an actual island in the Hudson River, just north of Albany, accessible by bridge or ferry.

This early 1900s destination offered Albany-area residents an exotic escape complete with dance halls, swimming areas, and carnival rides. The island location provided natural cooling breezes that made summer heat bearable before air conditioning existed.

Flooding proved to be the park’s nemesis. The mighty Hudson repeatedly swamped the low-lying island, damaging rides and infrastructure. The park closed permanently by the early 1920s, and nature eventually reclaimed the island, which was later filled in during the construction of Interstate 787.

7. Kaydeross Park, Saratoga Springs region

Saratoga Springs meant more than just horse racing and mineral springs, it also boasted Kaydeross Park, a popular lakeside amusement area operating through the mid-20th century.

The park featured boat rides, picnic groves, dance pavilions, and modest amusement attractions that drew families from across the Capital Region.

Kaydeross Park closed in the mid-1980s (not before World War II), and the site was later redeveloped for private use, leaving little visible trace of its former attractions.

8. Steeplechase Park / Parachute Jump ride, Coney Island, Brooklyn

Coney Island’s Steeplechase Park was the granddaddy of them all, opening way back in 1897 with its signature horse-racing ride. The park’s mascot, a grinning face with way too many teeth, became synonymous with Coney Island’s peculiar brand of seaside madness.

That towering Parachute Jump, originally from the 1939 World’s Fair, became Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower after installation at Steeplechase.

Urban decay and fires forced Steeplechase’s closure in 1964, ending an era of New York amusement history. The Parachute Jump still stands today as a beloved landmark, though it hasn’t operated since the 1960s. It’s now a protected monument, a rusty reminder of thrills past.