Every year I visit one or two parks that impress me. Not for mega dollar new rides but for just being a fun place to visit. This year (2000), Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is one of several parks that I found to be excellent treasures that few people had heard of.

The park started in the late 1800s and has slowly expanded. While the park progressed through the years, it wasn't until the present ownership that it has really blossomed. In 1981, there were eight rides which has expanded to 21 today. In addition to the rides, the park also has arcades, a sit down full service restaurant and several food outlets.

What makes the park special though is a combination of things. First, it has an old time feel and flavor but is still well maintained. Second has to be the attitude with which the park is operated. From the owner on down, everyone I met was nice and polite, something all too rare today.

Several of the rides are older styles not found in many parks today, but through proper care over the years, these rides are still in excellent condition and providing fun. The park also has to be commended for retaining it's very classic Pretzel dark ride named LaffLand (see rides below). This is an important treasure and everyone should be indebted to Sylvan Beach Amusement Park for preserving it, including the pretzel shaped weights on the cars (extremely rare).

Don't forget the nearby beach and picnic areas too. Even though this is a resort area, don't expect the high resort prices at Sylvan Beach Amusement Park. The prices are quite fair, even for a park not in a resort area.

Rides

Some of the rides, like the Scrambler and Tilt-A-Whirl are common at many parks. Other rides like the Bomber (Roll-O-Plane) and Tip-Top (Bubble Bounce) are becoming more difficult to find. The park also includes Bumper Cars (made by Barbieri/Azzurra), an antique Carousel (not owned by the park but operated as a concession), A Rock-O-Plane and Crazy Daisy (smaller Cuddle-Up) rides. An SDC Galaxi roller coaster has recently been installed also. A Kiddie Whip (or circle whip) ride and a Kiddie Carousel are also found in the park but not in Kiddieland.

They also have a nice Kiddieland for little ones. Rides here include a smaller Ferris Wheel, Roto-Jets (kiddie rockets), a Tank Ride, boats, kiddie circular car ride and Kiddie Turtles (kiddie Tumble Bug) among others. The prize here though is a very rare kiddie ride built by the Pretzel company called Whirlo (kiddie tubs). As with all the other rides, it too appears in excellent condition and is in good hands for the future. While not in Kiddieland, the Super Slide is fun too.

But the ride of choice (for me) is LaffLand, A Pretzel built dark ride. This ride is about as traditional as they come and is a blast to ride. The ride is prized by the owners and kept is excellent working order. It still retains many of it's original stunts including many that cannot be seen at any other park. Even more amazing is that the original cars still have the Pretzel weights on the sides. If you love dark rides, this alone makes a Sylvan trip worthwhile, the rest of the park is just icing on the cake. For extensive information on this ride and additional information on the park, see the LaffLand article at Laff In The Dark which includes extensive photos as well.

Directions

Getting to Sylvan beach Amusement Park is fairly easy. Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is located on the east side of Oneida Lake between Syracuse and Utica, NY. Take the East-West New York Thruway (I-90) to exit 34 (route 13). Pay toll and proceed North on route 13 for about 7 miles. Signs will occasionally mark how far it is to the park. Just when you get to the bridge, you will likely see the park and some rides on the left. Cross the bridge and make a right turn to loop under the bridge and into the parking lot. A parking fee is charged.

How to contact the Park

Sylvan Beach Amusement Park
PO Box 149
Sylvan beach, NY 13157
315-762-5212

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