Adventureland (New York)

1962-1987

As Long Island became more populated and more housing developments were starting, a source of entertainment was needed. Many kiddielands were popping up throughout Long Island. Two people who were big in the industry were Alvin Cohen and Herb Budin. After visiting a trade show in Chicago, they acquired a 6-acre (24,000 m²) site on Route 110 in Farmingdale, New York. First the team of two constructed a building which housed a restaurant and arcade so the park could be open year-round. Along with the building, four rides opened outside: a Carousel, Iron Horse train, Little Dipper coaster and boats. There was also a mini golf course. In 1962, the 1 million dollar park opened under the name of Adventureland 110 Playland. As the park success went up, the name of the park was changed to 110 Adventureland. Then in 1965 the first major ride opened, a 500-foot (150 m) long Skyliner.

In the early 1970s, the park was extremely successful (perhaps partially due to the closure of parks such as Steeplechase Park and Freedomland U.S.A. in 1964 and Palisades Park a few years later). Alvin Cohen was now the primary owner of the facility and he bought an additional 6 acres (24,000 m²) behind the park for 1 million dollars. Over the next few seasons Cohen turned the ride count from 16 to 30. In 1973, three new thrill rides were built. These rides were the Tobogan (a compact roller coaster), the Amor Express (a high speed circular ride) and the Galaxy (a steel coaster). The next season brought on the Wave Swinger, a European-style spinning swings ride, one of the first of the kind in America. With the success of the Wave Swinger, Cohen decide to import more European rides. In 1976, he imported two more European rides, Enterprise and Troika (both spinning rides). Cohen got these rides from Willy Miller (owner of a business which imports European rides). Cohen saw Miller's interest in the park, and asked him if he wanted to buy 110 Adventureland. Over the next two years they talked and finally on September 15, 1977, the sale was final.

In 1978, Miller bought several new rides, including an antique auto ride, which originally operated at the 1964 New York World's Fair and was designed by Arrow Development. In the first season under new management, profits increased 50%. Also, during this time Miller changed the name to just Adventureland. In 1979, Miller got a new Merry Go Round, a ride called Black Hole, and another ride called the Lost Continent. Then at the end of the 1982 season, Miller brought in the Looping Star, another European ride. Then, in 1983, Miller brought the UFO. Along with the UFO, Miller brought in six new rides replacing Enterprise and Troika. A new bumper car system and bumper boats were also added. In 1983, a ride called Gravitron replaced Black Hole; Miller also added a Bavarian Village with food outlets and stores. Over the next few years, brick walkways replaced blacktop, and the landscaping was done over. In 1986, the Lost Continent was changed into 1313 Cemetery Way, a haunted house ride. In 2010, 1313 Cemetery Way was replaced with a new ride, The Ghost House.

New ownership

In 1987 Miller sold the park to Tony Gentile and Peter Amoruso (partners since 1978). The Gentile family and Amoruso kept park operation as normal while taking a major expansion. In this new era, Gentile added a huge new Pirate Ship, a ride called Scorpion and a mini golf course named "Treasure Island."

As the 1990s dawned, customers of Adventureland wanted more water rides. Gentile and Amoruso opened Splish Splash (sold in the late 90's to a corporate amusement company), a 6 million dollar water park. Then, in 1991, the Galaxy was replaced by Hurricane, a roller coaster. New rides were regular through the 1990s. In 1992, Super Raider, a climbing/fun house was opened. Then, the next year, the antique car ride was updated, the Scorpion ride was switched with Surf Dance, Tubs of Fun and Flying Clowns replaced older kiddie rides. Then, in 1995, the Balloon Wheel replaced the Big Wheel. In 1996, the Dragon Wagon replaced the Sooper Jet, a kiddie roller coaster. Then, in 1999, a double decker merry go round replaced the old merry go round. In 2000, a child roller coaster called the Lady Bug was built. In 2001, the mini golf course was replaced with Adventure Falls, a log flume water ride. Top Scan was introduced to the park in 2003, and the next year, Viking Voyage replaced the last original ride, the Kiddie Boats. Then, in 2004 a Spinning alligator water ride called Crocodile Run replaced the Bumper Boats. In 2006, a kiddie log flume called Little Dipper was added where the Top Scan used to be and the Frisbee was added where Surf Dance was. In 2007, they also added a "Glass House" (a.k.a. "Mirror House") to where some of their games were and also bought all of the outside games and updated them. Two years later, the ride Flying Puppies replaced Tubs of Fun. In 2010, a new Haunted House, imported from Europe, was added to the park in place of the former Haunted House.

50th anniversary and 2012-present

For the 50th anniversary, 2012, the train station was moved to the former area of the Glass House. The old train station became a Wi-Fi lounge/patio for people to eat and relax. The Super Raider was also retired and Pirate Island, a similar type of ride was added. In addition, the back ticket booth was remodeled. In 2013, the Free Whale and John Silver's tower did not return. They were replaced with Alfie's Express, a small "farm train" type kiddie ride and "Surf's Up", a moderate thrill kiddie ride, both manufactured by SBF rides. The Kiddie Swings were also replaced with a newer model, named "Alfie's Swings". Also in 2013, a stage was built across from the Bavarian Village Gift Shop and a charging station next to City Hall. Many locations throughout the park were updated with energy efficient LED lighting, most notably the train station. At the end of the 2013 season, the Flying Puppies and Tour De Paris were closed. On select night's throughout October, Adventureland was host to an exclusive fundraising event, called Nightmare on the Midway. The haunted Halloween event featured four haunted attractions, live actors and multiple scare zones. At the beginning of the 2014 season, two new attractions were opened: NYC race and the Teacups, both made by SBF. A VIP parking car port with solar panels was built in the back parking lot. The lights on Wave Swing were updated with LED technology. A second Charging station was opened near the pirate ship and rear entrance of the park. The new Turbulence coaster, which replaced the Hurricane, opened on May 22, 2015. A new thrill ride called Mystery Mansion replaced the Ghost House and the drop N' Twist in 2018.

Thrill rides

• Turbulence (2015-)
• Frisbee (2006-)
• Formula One Bumper Cars (2017-)
• Musik Express (Formerly Amor Express) (1973-)
• Mystery Mansion (2018-)
• Wave Swinger (1974-)
• Pirate Ship (1987-)

Family rides

• Antique Cars
• Balloon Wheel (1995-)
• Balloon Tower (2001-)
• Double Decker Merry-Go-Round (1999-)
• Iron Horse Train (1962-)
• Lady Bug Coaster (2000-)

Kiddie rides

• Teacups (2014-)
• NYC Race (2014-)
• Helicopters (2017-)
• Kiddie Carousel
• Viking Voyage (2003-)
• Caterpillar (2001-)
• Drop N Twist Tower (?-2017)
• Spinning Cars
• Pirate Island (2012-)
• Alfie Swings (Kiddie Swings) (2013-)
• Alfie Express (2013-)
• Surfs Up! (2013-)

Water rides

• Adventure Falls (2001-)
• Crocodile Run (2004-)
• Little Dipper (2006-)

Games

• Balloon Bust
• Bottle Flip (No longer there)
• Topspin
• Frog Bog
• Goblet Toss
• Highstriker
• Long Range Basketball
• Ring Toss
• Rising Water
• Rope Climb
• Short Range Basketball
• Stinky Feet
• Whac-A-Mole
• Whopper Water

Attractions

• Bungy
• Face Painting
• Arcade