Midway State Park facts for kids
| Location | Maple Springs, New York, United States |
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| Opened | 1898 |
| Owner | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Slogan | Continuing the Tradition |
| Operating season | May – September |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 20 |
| Website | Midway State Park |
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Midway Park
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Carousel (1946), July 2012
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | NY 430, Maple Springs, New York |
| Area | 44 acres (17.8 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | Allan Herschell Carousel Company; W.F. Mangels Company |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000133 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 2009 |
Midway State Park is a super cool amusement park located in Maple Springs, New York. It first opened way back in 1898 as a picnic spot. Can you believe it? Today, it's one of the oldest amusement parks that's still open in the United States! It's the fifteenth-oldest, to be exact. It's also one of the few remaining "trolley parks" from a long time ago.
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Welcome to Midway State Park!
Midway State Park has been a place for fun and laughter for over a hundred years. It started as a simple picnic area and grew into the awesome park it is today. People love visiting for its history and exciting rides.
A Look Back: Park History
How Midway Park Started
When Midway Park first opened, it was a great place for families to relax. It had a baseball field, a dance hall, a dining room, and a sandy beach for swimming. Many of the original picnic shelters are still used today. The building where you get snacks was built in 1915! It now holds refreshment stands, a Carousel Museum, and a roller rink.
Who Owned the Park?
In 1951, a man named Martin "Red" Walsh bought the park. Later, his son Michael and his wife Janis took over. They were known as Mr. and Mrs. Midway because they loved the park so much! After the 2006 season, the park became part of the New York State Parks system. This means the state now helps take care of it.
Famous Visitors and Awards
Many famous people have visited Midway Park over the years. These include Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., the son of a former president, and the famous actress Lucille Ball. Even Jack Paar, a well-known TV host, came to visit. In 1960, the Glenn Miller Orchestra played music there! The park was also voted the Best Travel Destination in Chautauqua County by local readers.
In 2009, Midway State Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a really important historical site! The park covers 44 acres and includes many old buildings and attractions. Some of these are the Lakeside Pavilion (from 1915), the arcade (from 1930), and the carousel (from 1948).
Important Moments in Time
- 1894: The name "Midway" came about because a new steamboat dock was built in the middle of two older ones.
- 1898: Midway Park officially opened as a picnic spot for the Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway. It had a dance hall and dining room.
- July 12, 1898: The park had its grand opening with music, dancing, baseball, and boating.
- 1907: A long pier, 450 feet long, was built at Midway Park for boats.
- 1915: The park was bought by the Chautauqua Lake Navigation Company. A huge new pavilion was built for roller-skating and dancing.
- 1924: A big wooden roller coaster called the Jack Rabbit was built, but it was taken down less than 20 years later.
- 1951: Martin "Red" Walsh bought the park and started adding new rides and attractions.
- 1984: Martin's son, Michael Walsh, and his wife Janis, took over the park.
- July 12, 1998: Midway Park celebrated its 100th birthday with a huge party!
- 2007: The park officially became part of the New York State Parks system.
- 2009: The park was recognized as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2016: A brand new mini-golf course, Putt-A-Round Chautauqua, opened at the park.
Fun Things to Do: Park Facilities
Rides and Games for Everyone
Midway Park has 18 rides that are perfect for kids! Plus, there's miniature golf, Go-Karts, a climbing wall, and fun water games. Many of the smaller rides were made by the Allan Herschell Company, which is famous for amusement park rides.
Families often use the picnic shelters for their family reunions and company picnics. The family arcade is full of classic games like skeeball, Pac-Man, and Galaga.
When Can You Visit?
Midway Park is open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. In June, it has a special schedule, so make sure to check before you go!
Current Rides
Gallery
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Arcade (1930), July 2012
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Carousel Shelter (1924), July 2012
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Lakeside Pavilion (1915), July 2012
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Tilt-A-Whirl at Midway Park
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Midway Kiddie Boats 2016
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Midway Helicopters refurbished in their new location 2016
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Midway Tidal Wave 2016
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Midway Train 2016 in the new station house (2015)
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Midway Bumper Cars 2016
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Midway Tugboat Paddlers 2016
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Midway Tubs of Fun 2016
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Midway Handcars 2016
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Midway Water Wars 2016
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