Exploring Abandoned Pleasure Beach; CT's Forgotten Amusement Park

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A short history of Pleasure Beach
In 1889, Bridgeport, the rapidly expanding city, bought the borough of West Stratford and took possession of a triangular piece of land measuring thirty-seven acres, which would become a significant part of Bridgeport's past.
Harnessing the myth of Captain Kidd hiding treasure on this coastal island at Bridgeport Harbor's entrance, liquor merchants J.H. McMahon and P.W. Wren turned the land into a theme park just three years after the purchase.
In 1905, George C. Tilyou, the proprietor of Steeplechase Park on Coney Island in Brooklyn, took over the Bridgeport venue and renamed it Steeplechase Island, inspired by its distinctive carousel racing theme. Just two years following, a match ignited a fire during a baseball game between a Chicago National League team and the Bridgeport team, which spread rapidly through the park, including the famous "steeplechase" ride. Despite the flames engulfing the premises, the games continued, with players hitting foul balls into the burning stands. He eventually sold the park in 1910, at which point it was known as Sea Breeze Island, but its declining popularity led to its temporary closure for a number of years. In 1919, the city acquired the park, enhancing and expanding it with additions such as boardwalks, a carousel, roller skating area, miniature train, roller coaster, and "The Old Mill" ride, which gained popularity for its tunnel of romance ride. The introduction of a ferry and a lengthy bridge over a sandy path made the park, renamed Pleasure Beach, more accessible to visitors. A blaze in 1953 damaged a few rides, and in 1959, the amusement park was sold for the final time and ceased operations. The derelict beer garden would later become the Polka Dot Playhouse, although a fire in 1973 put an end to the park's status as a tourist spot. By 1996, the bridge connecting it to the mainland had been burnt down, seasonal house were left abandoned, and the Playhouse had moved to downtown, becoming known as Playhouse on the Green. Recent initiatives aimed to bring the area back to life, hoping to revive the magic Pleasure Beach once was, though now it serves as a sanctuary for rare species of birds and plants.
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[@j-mass]

Damn, such a wild place! Been wanting to get over here for a minute now. Dope video!

[@TheLukeExplores]

Dope shots, dope location. Thanks for bringing us along, would love to document this place myself. Well done bro