Quassy Amusement Park a Survivor Among "Trolley Parks"

Interest in the park continued to grow following the war, and more rides were added in 1948, including a train and a thrill ride called the Octopus. According to park records, a new Kiddyland was added in 1952, as was the Clambake Pavilion, now referred to as the Fieldside Pavilion. The Kiddyland was said to be the first installed by the former Allan Herschell Co. of North Tonawanda, New York. The Herschell firm was then considered the largest manufacturer of amusement rides in the world, best known for its carousels. The new Herschell Kiddyland built at Quassy included a Little Dipper roller coaster, Sky Fighter jets, boats and a pony kart ride. Quassy's Kiddyland remains much the same today as it did more than 50 years ago, but the kiddy boat ride has since been relocated in the park.

Other Herschell rides were added over the years at the park including a helicopter and the Monster steel roller coaster. Quassy's Monster coaster is one of only a handful still in existence.

The park continued to develop during the post-war era, as it was easily accessible to the driving public. But as trends continued to change, so did Quassy. Dancing and roller skating fell out of favor, and by 1964, the huge dance hall and roller rink had been transformed into an indoor miniature golf course. In 1969, the golf was replaced by indoor electric bumper cars. The large structure underwent its last major transition in 1972, when the park moved its arcade into the building. Today, there are dozens of redemption and video games in the arcade, including popular Skee Ball alleys.

The park also has a variety of other family rides such as the Tilt-A-Whirl, Saturn Six, Music Fest, Paratrooper and bumper cars. There are more than two dozen rides and attractions currently in the park, which is owned and operated by a third generation of the Frantzis family. Guests still come to enjoy Quassy Beach and the relaxation offered at this historic, traditional park. Quassy has indeed survived the test of time.

~ Ron Gustafson, author/historian, ron@quassy.com

Acknowledgements: Middlebury Library (Helen Benson scrapbooks)
Middlebury Historical Society
Bob Goldsack, amusement parks historian
National Amusement Park Historical Association, Jim Futrell, historian

The Survivors
Following is a list of the 11 remaining "trolley parks" still operating in the United States, as compiled by the National Amusement Park Historical Association. The date next to the park name is the year the facility opened.

Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, Connecticut (1908)
Canobie Lake Park, Salem, New Hampshire (1902)
Midway Park, Maple Springs, New York (1898)
Sea Breeze Park, Rochester, New York (1879)
Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon (1905)
Dorney Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania (1884)
Lakemont Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania (1894)
Bushkill Park, Easton, Pennsylvania (1903)
Waldameer Park, Erie, Pennsylvania (1896)
Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (1898)
Camden Park, Huntington, West Virginia (1902)

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