Paragon Park
Encyclopedia
Paragon Park was an amusement park
located on Nantasket Beach
in Hull, Massachusetts
. It closed in 1984.
carousel
(PTC #85) with hand-crafted horses, a bumper cars ride known as "Auto Scooters", a Ferris wheel
, a horror-themed dark ride
called "Kooky Kastle", and a wooden roller coaster
known as The Giant Coaster
.
There was also a ski lift
-type ride called the Sky Lark, an automobile-themed ride known as "Turnpike Cars" (replaced by a different ride in the 1970s called the "Indy 500"), and a water ride called "Bermuda Triangle
" (formerly the "Congo Cruise," the "Jungle Ride," the "Red Mill", and the "Mill Rapids"). More rides that Paragon hosted over the years were the Trabant, the Tilt-A-Whirl
, Galaxy Coaster, the Skydiver
, Paratrooper
, Matterhorn
, Himalaya, Round Up, Scrambler, Crazy Tea Cups, Twister Kiddie Coaster, Caterpillar, the Whip
, Batman-slide, Super-slide, Salt and Pepper Shakers, Swing ride, Rotor, along with many rides that were smaller versions of these, geared towards children.
and pinball machines were favorite games at Paragon Park's penny arcade. Vendors along the boardwalk
sold fried clams
, salt water taffy
made in a pulling machine visible to patrons, hot dog
s and other food. There was a miniature golf
course under the roller coaster.
which was moved from its original site. It is now located next to the old train station and clock tower
. The rest of the site is devoted to condominium
development. The park's "Giant Coaster", built in 1917 and removed from the park in 1985, now operates as "The Wild One"
at Six Flags America
, Baltimore/Washington DC.
A small miniature golf course is located on one of the smaller sites that once housed a water slide, and previously a few rides. Dream Machine arcade is still in operation, as well as the historic "Fascination
" game room. The remains of the "Turnpike Cars" roadway ride remain hidden in overgrowth beside the parking lot.
The Company Theatre of Norwell is creating an original musical based on Paragon Park. The premiere performance will take place during the Summer of 2012. Book by Zoe Bradford & Michael Hammond with Music and Lyrics by Adam Brooks.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located on Nantasket Beach
Nantasket Beach
Nantasket Beach is a beach in Hull, Massachusetts. The shore has fine, light gray sand and is one of the busiest beaches in Greater Boston. At low tide, there are acres of tide pools.-Name:...
in Hull, Massachusetts
Hull, Massachusetts
Hull is a peninsula town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,293 at the 2010 census. Hull is the smallest town by land area in Plymouth County and the fourth smallest in the state...
. It closed in 1984.
Rides
Among the amusement rides in operation during Paragon Park's history was a traditional-style Philadelphia Toboggan CompanyPhiladelphia Toboggan Company
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B...
carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
(PTC #85) with hand-crafted horses, a bumper cars ride known as "Auto Scooters", a Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
, a horror-themed dark ride
Dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
called "Kooky Kastle", and a wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
known as The Giant Coaster
The Wild One (roller coaster)
The Wild One is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is a classic style woodie with a series of bunny hills for a large amount of air time and a 450° spiral helix....
.
There was also a ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
-type ride called the Sky Lark, an automobile-themed ride known as "Turnpike Cars" (replaced by a different ride in the 1970s called the "Indy 500"), and a water ride called "Bermuda Triangle
Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where a number of aircraft and surface vessels allegedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances....
" (formerly the "Congo Cruise," the "Jungle Ride," the "Red Mill", and the "Mill Rapids"). More rides that Paragon hosted over the years were the Trabant, the Tilt-A-Whirl
Tilt-A-Whirl
Tilt-A-Whirl is one of the best-known flat rides, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing of Faribault, Minnesota...
, Galaxy Coaster, the Skydiver
Skydiver (ride)
The Skydiver is a carnival ride produced from 1965 to 1987 by Chance Rides Manufacturing, Inc., an American manufacturer of amusement rides based in Wichita, Kansas....
, Paratrooper
Paratrooper (ride)
A Paratrooper also known as an "Umbrella Ride" is a type of fairground ride based on cars suspended below a wheel which rotates at an oblique angle. The cars are free to rock sideways and swing out under centrifugal force and the wheel rotates. Invariably, the cars on a paratrooper have an umbrella...
, Matterhorn
Matterhorn (ride)
For the Disneyland attraction, see Matterhorn Bobsleds.The Matterhorn or Flying Bobs, sometimes known by alternate names such as Musik Express or Terminator in the UK, is an amusement ride very similar to the Superbob, which consists of a number of cars attached to axels that swing in and out...
, Himalaya, Round Up, Scrambler, Crazy Tea Cups, Twister Kiddie Coaster, Caterpillar, the Whip
The Whip
The Whip is a melodrama by Henry Hamilton and Cecil Raleigh, first performed in 1909 at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. The play's original production had intricate scenery and spectacular stage effects, including a horse race and a train crash...
, Batman-slide, Super-slide, Salt and Pepper Shakers, Swing ride, Rotor, along with many rides that were smaller versions of these, geared towards children.
Other entertainment
SkeeballSkee ball
Skee ball is a common arcade game and one of the first redemption games. It is similar to bowling except it is played on an inclined lane and the player aims to get the ball to fall into a hole rather than knock down pins...
and pinball machines were favorite games at Paragon Park's penny arcade. Vendors along the boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
sold fried clams
Fried clams
Fried clams are made by deep frying soft-shell clams that have been dipped in batter.Fried clams are an iconic food, "to New England what barbecue is to the South". They tend to be served at seaside clam shacks . For a lighter meal, a clam roll is made by piling clams into a hot dog bun...
, salt water taffy
Salt water taffy
Salt water taffy is a variety of soft taffy originally produced and marketed in the Atlantic City, New Jersey, area beginning in the late 19th century.-Etymology:...
made in a pulling machine visible to patrons, hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
s and other food. There was a miniature golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
course under the roller coaster.
Today
Today, the only surviving remnant of Paragon Park on the boardwalk is the historic Paragon Park CarouselParagon Park Carousel
Paragon Park Carousel is an historic carousel at 1 Wharf Avenue in Hull, Massachusetts.The carousel was built in 1928 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.Historical Background of Nantasket’s Paragon Carousel...
which was moved from its original site. It is now located next to the old train station and clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
. The rest of the site is devoted to condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
development. The park's "Giant Coaster", built in 1917 and removed from the park in 1985, now operates as "The Wild One"
The Wild One (roller coaster)
The Wild One is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is a classic style woodie with a series of bunny hills for a large amount of air time and a 450° spiral helix....
at Six Flags America
Six Flags America
Six Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations...
, Baltimore/Washington DC.
A small miniature golf course is located on one of the smaller sites that once housed a water slide, and previously a few rides. Dream Machine arcade is still in operation, as well as the historic "Fascination
Fascination (game)
Fascination is a game commonly found in North American amusement parks, boardwalks and arcades. The game would be considered in the same family as skee ball, in that prizes are often won for playing the game...
" game room. The remains of the "Turnpike Cars" roadway ride remain hidden in overgrowth beside the parking lot.
The Company Theatre of Norwell is creating an original musical based on Paragon Park. The premiere performance will take place during the Summer of 2012. Book by Zoe Bradford & Michael Hammond with Music and Lyrics by Adam Brooks.
See also
- List of amusement parks in New England
- List of defunct amusement parks
- Amusement rideAmusement rideAmusement rides are large mechanical devices that move people to create enjoyment. They are frequently found at amusement parks, traveling carnivals, and funfairs.-Notable types:*Afterburner*Ali Baba*Balloon Race*Booster...
External links
- Paragon Park The Musical
- Paragon Park Memories
- Official Site of the Paragon Park Carousel
- http://spitpermit.com/?p=590