Bronx Theme Park Coming To The Villages

Freedomland U.S.A. (visit the Facebook group; it also can be found on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter) was celebrated as the "Disneyland of the East." While it survived only five seasons (1960-1964) in the Bronx, to this day the theme park is recalled by many guests who experienced its unique American history-themed attractions. Contrary to what has become an urban legend in New York City, Freedomland's failure was not caused by the arrival of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair.

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Freedomland Visits The Villages

The presentation Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History will be offered at The Enrichment Academy of The Villages, Thursday, March 10, 6 p.m.

General Admission Seating. Tickets $12 for residents and $15 for guests.

Registration is required: in-person at The Villages or online at The Enrichment Academy (https://www.theenrichmentacademy.org/speakers.html)

For information: (352) 674‐1800.

Published by Theme Park Press, Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History documents the entire story from conception to bankruptcy of one of the most innovative and beloved theme parks in America. It is available on Amazon, Goodreads and other online stores.

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Freedomland's attractions included fighting the Chicago Fire, a trip on a bull boat in America's untamed wilderness on the Northwest Fur Trapper adventure and several dark rides. Besides Earthquake in the San Francisco themed area and Buccaneer in the New Orleans area, Freedomland also featured the Tornado recreation dark ride in New Orleans section and a Mine Caverns ride deep into the earth in the Old Southwest themed area. The dark rides and several other attractions at the park were created by Arrow Development, which designed attractions for Disneyland and many other parks.

Another popular Freedomland attraction allowed guests to witness the early stages of audio-automatronics as they rode on a correspondents' wagon through the battle lines of rival Civil War armies. Guests also enjoyed Wild West shoot-outs at Fort Cavalry and staged robberies on vintage steam trains.

What Happened To Freedomland?

Freedomland U.S.A. was conceived and built by C.V. Wood and his Marco Engineering Company. Known to many as Woody, he was Disneyland's first employee and he brought Walt Disney's imagination to life by leading the team that built that park. He then created Marco Engineering to build theme parks and other venues across the country. Several continue to prosper.

Unknown to Woody and the general public at the time, landowner William Zeckendorf, Sr., local politicians, city planners and construction unions considered the park a "placeholder" until property variances permitted significant development on marshland. The variances provided the green light for the construction of Co-op City, the largest cooperative housing community in the world.