Retrospective Series – January 1972
Forty-eight years ago this month, the wrecking ball had begun its work marking the end of decades of fun and amusement at this iconic park perched high atop the New Jersey Palisades overlooking New York City.
Thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome and zoom in for a closer look. M 🙂
What is it now? Condos? Houses? Drug rehab places? Or another park?
Also, I don’t see the wrecking ball. I was hoping to see exploding bricks and timber as the ball cut through structures.
I remember Grandpa used to be in that booth in the front taking tickets for 20 or 30 years!
Disperser: I believe this was New Year’s Day, 1972, and the wrecking crew was wrecked from the night before; and yes, Winston Towers would be built, a large high rise condo complex overlooking the river and NYC. M 🙂
AL, Yes indeed, our family and Jeanne’s family had ties to the park. Hope all is well with you this New Year! M:-)
I remember going there when I was about 13-14. Good times!
Lots of memories. My Uncle was a Bell installer and he got the job of setting up Clay Cole’s remote set up back in the late 60’s. Met Freddie Cannon, Joey Dee and some of the Young Rascals when they did Cole’s shows. Thanks for bringing that memory back!
“Skip the bother and skip the fuss,
Take a Public Service Bus…
Public Service sure is great,
It takes you right up to the Gate!!”
“Palisades has the Rides,
Palasades has the Fun,
Come On Over….” 🙂
Entrance gate —-WHAT happened to the “S”?
The missing “S” over the entrance… an interesting question. All references that I can think of include the “s,” and that of course would be the town of Palisades Park. Stay tuned! M 🙂
The missing “S” …The site originally opened in 1898, as a Trolly Park known as “The Park on the Palisades” and changed hands 10 years later and re-named Palisades Amusement Park. Two years later, 1910, it was purchased by Nicholas and Joseph Schenec who REMOVED THE “S” calling it Schenck Bros. Palisade Park! “Ding!”
Continuing about the “S” …Around 1935, the park was once again sold, this time to Jack and Irving Rosenthal, and shortly after renamed one more time to Palisades Amusement Park, which would remain until the park was closed in late 1971. The entrance facade in the first image above is apparently original pre-1935!
Thanks to Wikipedia for this and additional information. This post is a frequent doner to Wikipedia.