Community Corner
Bronx Theme Park Advertised In Newark Star-Ledger
1960s Freedomland U.S.A. subject of new book about its history.
Only a few days before the June 19, 1960 grand opening of Freedomland U.S.A., the American history theme park in The Bronx, a full-page ad to attract guests from New Jersey appeared in an issue of the Newark Star-Ledger.
Freedomland, which operated for five seasons (1960-1964), was hailed as the Disneyland of the East. A recent article in the New York Post -- Freedomland theme park was a 60s Apple slice of Americana -- headlined the park as "The Bronx Disneyland."
Freedomland featured the Chicago Fire that roared with flames many times each day along with a trip on a bull boat in untamed wilderness on the Northwest Fur Trapper attraction. Dark rides focused on the San Francisco's earthquake, a buccaneer attraction with connections to Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, a tornado recreation and a mine ride deep into the earth. 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.
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Guests also enjoyed Wild West shoot-outs at Fort Cavalry and staged robberies on vintage steam
trains. Young children especially enjoyed a ride aboard Danny the Dragon, the fire-breathing mythical monster with a heart of gold, while teens and older adults were entertained by more than 150 celebrities of the day who appeared at the park.
The Freedomland Facebook memory page boasts close to 10,000 fans. A new book, Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, follows the unique tale of the park from conception through bankruptcy. It is available on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes&Noble and eBay. Presentations about the park's history can be arranged for groups by contacting Freedomlandusa@yahoo.com .
