Well besides knoebels the PTC 46 carousel is owned by the Walt Disney world resort magic kingdom in FL nicknamed the Prince Charming regal carousel as it no longer has the large chariots and standard horses just has all jumping horses
At the .26 mark in this video the ride running right next to the tilt-a-whirl is the ride called the Twister. Its very similar to the tilt-a-whirl and a great flatride that populated many amusement parks in the 40's and 50's. Also the wild mouse, the octopus were fun rides as well!!! 👍🎠🎢
This park was actually in Irvington NJ, its a totally different world there today from what it once was, the last good times in Irvington probably was 1989
I just found this. I grew up in Irvington and used to walk to here with my buddies! Great memories of riding the roller coaster and seeing the magnificent carousel. The had it billed as the largest in the world! Thanks!
This is the Gavioli band organ next to Dumbo at Disneyland. It plays in a new facade, and you hear recordings of how it last sounded after being converted to Wurlitzer rolls on King Arthur’s Carousel in Disneyland. You can listen to the recordings online.
Olympic Park was actually on the Irvington-Maplewood border. Had a HUGE swimming pool. I once fell out of the roller-coaster there. In earlier years, when there were still trolley-cars in Newark, Olympic Park was the end of the trolley line.
I heard this film was found in the garbage and someone had the hindsight to rescue it. It was posted here and many people recognized it as Olympic Park. Amazing memories!
Great video, thanks! As a kid, I visited Olympic Park several times. I loved Olympic Park! They had pony rides and a huge pool that I actually got to swim in. I loved the "U Drive Boats" and it led to a lifelong passion for boating at the Jersey shore. Olympic Park had a GREAT "oompah band" and had concerts and also a tree-shaded picnic grove. They even had a circus! They had rides for adults and a "Kiddie Land" too. As a kid it was heaven on earth. The reason that this great park closed? On May 1, 1965 a crowd of 400-500 savages (inner city youth) came from the Newark area and went on a rampage in the park. (Wilding). These bums assaulted park goers, wrecked amusement machines and concession stands....stole prizes and in general acted like barbarians. After finally being chased out of the park...these animals rampaged through the surrounding neighborhood smashing home windows and terrorizing the residents. You can read about Olympic Park (and why it closed) in a great book written by Alan A. Siegel called..."Smile: A Picture History of Olympic Park 1887-1965".
im only 34 almost 35 so this time period is way before my time but i like watching amusement park history. however im shocked to learn that because today you hear about teens causing havoc at everywhere from local carnivals to Six Flags parks as of lately! In the past few years i heard in the news about how carnivals ended a day early because of the troublemakers! I also dont think teens are allowed without an adult in certain Six Flags parks. last year my local carnival didnt have thrill rides and only family rides so not attract possible trouble making teens! i just assumed this was a new thing. older adults always say how respectable kids and teens were compare to today but when I read stories like this it seems it wasnt as glorious as people say!
This is not unknown at all. If you grew up where I did all of us went there back in the day. You could have a good local fun without spending three hours on the highway to get down the shore.
This is my "second home", Olympic Park, Irvington, New Jersey! Thank you for sharing. What wonderful memories I have of this amusement park. My family lived across the street from Olympic Park from 1929 until its demise in the mid-1960s. So sad.
What street exactly was it located on? The area where it looks like it could have been has homes, but they look way older than something built after 1965.
+Adam Smith -- Olympic Park's official address was Chancellor Ave., Irvington, NJ. Although much of the park was located in Maplewood. The main entrance was at 43th St. and Chancellor Ave. and there was a secondary entrance on 40th St. Most of the homes in the area were probably built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The park property now houses light industrial buildings and warehouses.
+Donna Z. Z. Thanks for letting me know! My church is over there. My parents almost brought a house in that area around 1981, but decided not to. I had a feeling it was back over there, yes now it's an industrial area where trucking shipments come in. There is an abandoned butchers shop on 43rd St that's called "Olympic Meats." That's in the Irvington side. Boy, I wish I was born to have seen Olympic Park.
+Donna Z. Z. Looking at this video shows me how the demographic of the Area has changed. I moved to close by and n 1981. I See a park called 40 th street park which is small but I can tell that something used to be here . If the entrance used to be on Chancellor ave, than it gives me an idea in which ththe Hostess / wonder Bread distribution factory used to be and spread probably to Boyden or Hilton ave in Maplewood.. This is good information to know because it now goes deeper to demographics. The area used to be Caucasians and now it's mostly So called Black Caribbean people. I will research on why demographics change. GOOD POST great vid. I love Nostalgia videos or pics.
The place is a total dump now, its ruined with crime, trash, ghettos, strip clubs, drugs, and a bunch of rude unruly humans, I lived on Tremont Street just 2 houses from the fire and police station, its so sad what happened to that town
Olympic Park was on the border of Irvington and Maplewood, NJ. I adored it, especially the train that went around the Park and the Wild Mouse. Closed around '66.
It's sad to know that this park was gone for over twenty years when I was born. It's a place I would have loved to visit. It would have been right in my backyard. If nothing else, the Liberty Carousel is still alive and well, and given the magical treatment a beauty like herself deserved. It now proudly operates as the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney world. It was given a major makeover, but many of the details on the horses are still present.
I used to live a couple of blocks away off of Boyden Avenue in Maplewood. I was ten when we moved there in '64, the year the park closed down. My friends and I used to walk past the park all the time, pissed that was closed. Fortunately, I'd been tithe park numerous times but it would have great if it had been open. Irvington and Maplewood were " a little different" back then.
You had to 'go there" didn't you. Would you care to elaborate on that comment? "A little different back then." Tell us what you really mean. Probably not a good idea now that you've given your name.
Infact, the organ you hear in this video used to accompany the carousel “Liberty” now at Walt Disney World, known today as Prince Charming Regal Carousel.
Im only 31 but i have a fascination of amusement parks. even ones that closed long before I was born! I notice that was one of the big difference between amusement parks then and parks now. where most of todays amusement parks have huge waterparks with towering waterslides, awesome wave pools and activity pools, parks back then just had an ordinary pool.... its interesting how back then people can keep busy for hours with just maybe one or two roller coasters and a big but rather normal pool! where as today its tons of tower coasters and giant waterparks! amusement parks have come a long way! i wonder if todays preteens and teens would be entertained by just a pool ,a 50 foot wooden roller coaster, and some spin n' pukes without getting bored even once!
Yeah,I lived in Irvington,owned a house in Irvington,Pastored@ChristGospelChurch in Irvington,unfortunately many years after Olympic Park.My husband went there as kid&we walked past the deserted property&he would tell me about it.God bless you all that have good memories.
How does anyone downvote a video which is just historical? It’s not making a statement that would invite controversy. This video is a time capsule. It is what it is. Sadly, I don’t remember Olympic Park at all. My brother & my sister did - they were a few years older. I would have been in first grade (?) when this video was made. I do remember walking to the park on 40th St. (I think) to play on the swings, etc. We would pass by Olympic Park, which was closed up tight by that time. Some of the rides could be seen through the fence at that time. Back then, small kids were safe to walk around; parents would tell us to be home when the street lights went on. I guess there were creeps who abducted little kids, but we didn’t hear about it. Amazing that this part of town has changed so much! If the residents are AfroCaribean, they have a very strong cultural identity. I moved out of NJ when I graduated from college & only returned briefly on holidays to see the family, but they are long gone. Just memories, not unlike this amusement park. That’s something you don’t understand as a kid!
Great memories of Olympic Park in Maplewood/Irvington NJ. I road that wild mouse a few times. Thought it was coming right off the track. Not much holding you in!
Looking for my parents and me in the video. I was nine years old then and was terrified of the Wild Mouse. My cousins never succeeded in getting me on that ride. The motorboats were my favorite.
My grandfather and dad were the owners of all the food concessions and the parking lot and the swimming pool cafeteria. My apologies but, I believe you were misinformed about when The "Wild Mouse" was constructed. I worked there as a teenager and if my memory serves me correctly, the ride was definitely there for at least 10years prior to closing the park. We also lived across the street. -K. Giuliano
19king14 Film2Video Memories & Services it is not true that the Wild Mouse was only there from 63 to 65. I lived in Stuyvesant Village a few blocks walk to Olympic Park all thru the 50s, and off Jacoby St in Maplewood from 1958 thru 1961 and the Wild Mouse was there most of those years.
Hi, I'm a social media video producer with NJ.com. Is this your video? If so would I have permission to potentially share some of this footage in coverage on our social platforms? I'd provide full credit to you, of course.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks very much for posting
A wonderful amusement park and the roller coaster was my first one at 13 years old in 1963.
Some of those motor boats are now at Knoebels Amusement park in Elysburg PA. They also have the Rotorjets from the New York Worlds Fair there.
Well besides knoebels the PTC 46 carousel is owned by the Walt Disney world resort magic kingdom in FL nicknamed the Prince Charming regal carousel as it no longer has the large chariots and standard horses just has all jumping horses
At the .26 mark in this video the ride running right next to the tilt-a-whirl is the ride called the Twister. Its very similar to the tilt-a-whirl and a great flatride that populated many amusement parks in the 40's and 50's. Also the wild mouse, the octopus were fun rides as well!!! 👍🎠🎢
Wow, I sure do remember those rides! At age 75, and now living in Texas, I just love those memories! Thank you for posting this video!
This park was actually in Irvington NJ, its a totally different world there today from what it once was, the last good times in Irvington probably was 1989
I just found this. I grew up in Irvington and used to walk to here with my buddies! Great memories of riding the roller coaster and seeing the magnificent carousel. The had it billed as the largest in the world! Thanks!
Thanks for the memories! The motor boats were my favorite!
I was 15. Always went there from Vailsburg; Newark!
This is the Gavioli band organ next to Dumbo at Disneyland. It plays in a new facade, and you hear recordings of how it last sounded after being converted to Wurlitzer rolls on King Arthur’s Carousel in Disneyland. You can listen to the recordings online.
It sounds so much better here than it did at Disneyland! Here is sounds like it in a proper Gavioli format.
Look how nicely
People dressed. I lived right across the street.
Olympic Park was actually on the Irvington-Maplewood border. Had a HUGE swimming pool. I once fell out of the roller-coaster there. In earlier years, when there were still trolley-cars in Newark, Olympic Park was the end of the trolley line.
I heard this film was found in the garbage and someone had the hindsight to rescue it. It was posted here and many people recognized it as Olympic Park. Amazing memories!
Great video, thanks! As a kid, I visited Olympic Park several times. I loved Olympic Park! They had pony rides and a huge pool that I actually got to swim in. I loved the "U Drive Boats" and it led to a lifelong passion for boating at the Jersey shore. Olympic Park had a GREAT "oompah band" and had concerts and also a tree-shaded picnic grove. They even had a circus! They had rides for adults and a "Kiddie Land" too. As a kid it was heaven on earth.
The reason that this great park closed? On May 1, 1965 a crowd of 400-500 savages (inner city youth) came from the Newark area and went on a rampage in the park. (Wilding). These bums assaulted park goers, wrecked amusement machines and concession stands....stole prizes and in general acted like barbarians. After finally being chased out of the park...these animals rampaged through the surrounding neighborhood smashing home windows and terrorizing the residents.
You can read about Olympic Park (and why it closed) in a great book written by Alan A. Siegel called..."Smile: A Picture History of Olympic Park 1887-1965".
im only 34 almost 35 so this time period is way before my time but i like watching amusement park history. however im shocked to learn that because today you hear about teens causing havoc at everywhere from local carnivals to Six Flags parks as of lately! In the past few years i heard in the news about how carnivals ended a day early because of the troublemakers! I also dont think teens are allowed without an adult in certain Six Flags parks. last year my local carnival didnt have thrill rides and only family rides so not attract possible trouble making teens! i just assumed this was a new thing. older adults always say how respectable kids and teens were compare to today but when I read stories like this it seems it wasnt as glorious as people say!
Loved this park. Palisades and Olympic park were probably the reason I am in the amusement business today.
Loved this park . I could walk to it.
This is not unknown at all. If you grew up where I did all of us went there back in the day. You could have a good local fun without spending three hours on the highway to get down the shore.
Wow. I remember going there as a kid!!
This is my "second home", Olympic Park, Irvington, New Jersey! Thank you for sharing. What wonderful memories I have of this amusement park. My family lived across the street from Olympic Park from 1929 until its demise in the mid-1960s. So sad.
What street exactly was it located on? The area where it looks like it could have been has homes, but they look way older than something built after 1965.
+Adam Smith -- Olympic Park's official address was Chancellor Ave., Irvington, NJ. Although much of the park was located in Maplewood. The main entrance was at 43th St. and Chancellor Ave. and there was a secondary entrance on 40th St. Most of the homes in the area were probably built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The park property now houses light industrial buildings and warehouses.
+Donna Z. Z. Thanks for letting me know! My church is over there. My parents almost brought a house in that area around 1981, but decided not to. I had a feeling it was back over there, yes now it's an industrial area where trucking shipments come in. There is an abandoned butchers shop on 43rd St that's called "Olympic Meats." That's in the Irvington side. Boy, I wish I was born to have seen Olympic Park.
+Donna Z. Z. Looking at this video shows me how the demographic of the Area has changed. I moved to close by and n 1981. I See a park called 40 th street park which is small but I can tell that something used to be here . If the entrance used to be on Chancellor ave, than it gives me an idea in which ththe Hostess / wonder Bread distribution factory used to be and spread probably to Boyden or Hilton ave in Maplewood.. This is good information to know because it now goes deeper to demographics. The area used to be Caucasians and now it's mostly So called Black Caribbean people. I will research on why demographics change. GOOD POST great vid. I love Nostalgia videos or pics.
The place is a total dump now, its ruined with crime, trash, ghettos, strip clubs, drugs, and a bunch of rude unruly humans, I lived on Tremont Street just 2 houses from the fire and police station, its so sad what happened to that town
Olympic Park was on the border of Irvington and Maplewood, NJ. I adored it, especially the train that went around the Park and the Wild Mouse. Closed around '66.
It's sad to know that this park was gone for over twenty years when I was born. It's a place I would have loved to visit. It would have been right in my backyard. If nothing else, the Liberty Carousel is still alive and well, and given the magical treatment a beauty like herself deserved. It now proudly operates as the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney world. It was given a major makeover, but many of the details on the horses are still present.
I wenthere every week!
Olympic Park was in Irvington, NJ....went there many times...have many memories
Evelyn
Evelyn Scalzitti
Was half in Maplewood.
I used to live a couple of blocks away off of Boyden Avenue in Maplewood. I was ten when we moved there in '64, the year the park closed down. My friends and I used to walk past the park all the time, pissed that was closed. Fortunately, I'd been tithe park numerous times but it would have great if it had been open. Irvington and Maplewood were " a little different" back then.
Michael Belfer I lived in maplewood.
You had to 'go there" didn't you. Would you care to elaborate on that comment? "A little different back then." Tell us what you really mean. Probably not a good idea now that you've given your name.
The park closed in 1965
Infact, the organ you hear in this video used to accompany the carousel “Liberty” now at Walt Disney World, known today as Prince Charming Regal Carousel.
THEY HAD THE LARGEST POOL. GREAT FUN. NOW APT HOUSES.
and no more WHITE FOLKS!
Im only 31 but i have a fascination of amusement parks. even ones that closed long before I was born! I notice that was one of the big difference between amusement parks then and parks now. where most of todays amusement parks have huge waterparks with towering waterslides, awesome wave pools and activity pools, parks back then just had an ordinary pool.... its interesting how back then people can keep busy for hours with just maybe one or two roller coasters and a big but rather normal pool! where as today its tons of tower coasters and giant waterparks! amusement parks have come a long way! i wonder if todays preteens and teens would be entertained by just a pool ,a 50 foot wooden roller coaster, and some spin n' pukes without getting bored even once!
Too bad so many of the good times things are disappearing.
Wow Irvington had an amusement park. I would have never known.
Yeah,I lived in Irvington,owned a house in Irvington,Pastored@ChristGospelChurch in Irvington,unfortunately many years after Olympic Park.My husband went there as kid&we walked past the deserted property&he would tell me about it.God bless you all that have good memories.
How does anyone downvote a video which is just historical? It’s not making a statement that would invite controversy. This video is a time capsule. It is what it is.
Sadly, I don’t remember Olympic Park at all. My brother & my sister did - they were a few years older. I would have been in first grade (?) when this video was made. I do remember walking to the park on 40th St. (I think) to play on the swings, etc. We would pass by Olympic Park, which was closed up tight by that time. Some of the rides could be seen through the fence at that time.
Back then, small kids were safe to walk around; parents would tell us to be home when the street lights went on. I guess there were creeps who abducted little kids, but we didn’t hear about it.
Amazing that this part of town has changed so much! If the residents are AfroCaribean, they have a very strong cultural identity. I moved out of NJ when I graduated from college & only returned briefly on holidays to see the family, but they are long gone. Just memories, not unlike this amusement park. That’s something you don’t understand as a kid!
Have fond memories of the crazy mirrors they had there. You walk up to them and they make you look like a different person.
Great memories of Olympic Park in Maplewood/Irvington NJ. I road that wild mouse a few times. Thought it was coming right off the track. Not much holding you in!
Looking for my parents and me in the video. I was nine years old then and was terrified of the Wild Mouse. My cousins never succeeded in getting me on that ride. The motorboats were my favorite.
wow thanks for sharing this video i heard a lot about the park but was born in 64 i think it was already closed when i was born great clarity !!!
Thanks Scott, for the update. It sure looks like you got it! We were hoping to trace this park down and identify it! Thanks again!
Originally Newark NJ then later determined it was Maplewood and Irvington.
I remember it like it was yesterday
Me too.
pompadour?????
Great to see...many memories here...we were close enough to walk there!
My grandfather and dad were the owners of all the food concessions and the parking lot and the swimming pool cafeteria. My apologies but, I believe you were misinformed about when The "Wild Mouse" was constructed. I worked there as a teenager and if my memory serves me correctly, the ride was definitely there for at least 10years prior to closing the park. We also lived across the street. -K. Giuliano
19king14 Film2Video Memories & Services it is not true that the Wild Mouse was only there from 63 to 65. I lived in Stuyvesant Village a few blocks walk to Olympic Park all thru the 50s, and off Jacoby St in Maplewood from 1958 thru 1961 and the Wild Mouse was there most of those years.
I remember it fondly. Anyone know the names of people who ran the wheels?
Hi, I'm a social media video producer with NJ.com. Is this your video? If so would I have permission to potentially share some of this footage in coverage on our social platforms? I'd provide full credit to you, of course.
Yes, this is my video. I have the rights. Please send me a message to the e-mail listed at the very end of the video. Thanks
Spent my youth there.
Wow an actual video