The Definitive Story About Freedomland U.S.A.

Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History is a new book that 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 at the suggested retail price of $24.95.

Published by Theme Park Press, the world's leading independent publisher of books about the Disney company and its history, the 300+-page tale is permitting baby boomers to recall and recapture their experiences at the park as guests with family or friends, or as employees assigned to concessions, attractions, security and as character actors.

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See Freedomland in the River Journal.

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Located on 205 acres of marshland in The Bronx where Co-op City and its shopping center have stood for many decades, Freedomland U.S.A. was celebrated as the "Disneyland of the East." While it survived only five seasons (1960-1964), to this day the park generates fond memories of its American history-themed attractions.

Freedomland U.S.A. (join 10,000 on the Facebook group) 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. After he parted ways with Disney, Woody created Marco Engineering to build theme parks and other venues across the country. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and the community of Lake Havasu, Arizona, still prosper.

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To arrange a group presentation about the history of Freedomland along with a memorabilia display, contact Freedomlandusa@yahoo.com .

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Dobbs Ferry Resident Remembers

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 the marshland. The variances provided the green light for the construction of Co-op City.

Terry Buchalter of Dobbs Ferry worked at Freedomland. His memories are featured in the chapter of the book that addresses the park's 1964, and final, season.

As management prepared to declare bankruptcy to clear the land for development, the San Francisco themed area of the park already was closed to the public during that season. Trade advertisements aimed at other entertainment venues already had announced the availability of Freedomland's attractions. Portions of Freedomland were turned into a carnival setting, with many games of chance replacing some of the original history-themed attractions.

"It was my first job after graduating from Taft High School prior to starting at City College," said Buchalter. "Underage at 17, and not able to work the games of chance, my job was to stock the game booths… and maintain the inventory of rag dolls ($.35 each), plush toys (poodles $2.50 each) and plastic back scratchers that came packed in huge quantities…I rose to [the] position handling the prize inventory and was paid $100 a week, a handsome sum for a teen in those days."

Buchalter's recollections include the unusual personalities of the game operators who had brought their games of chance to the park along with stories about Irvin Feld (the music producer who owned the concession and eventually owned Ringling Brothers Circus).

Following college, Buchalter became a New York City public school science teacher and eventually the director of the planetarium in the Co-op City school complex.

"I often quipped," said Buchalter, "that I had greater tenure than any other employee in the school since I could trace my roots back to Freedomland."

As the story about the park moves toward bankruptcy so that the land could be cleared for development, Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History puts to rest what has become an urban legend – the closing of Freedomland had nothing to do with the arrival of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair.