Oakland Beach, Rhode Island facts for kids
Oakland Beach is a neighborhood and a popular beach area. It is located in the city of Warwick, Rhode Island. You can find it on Greenwich Bay, which is a part of Narragansett Bay.
In the late 1800s, Oakland Beach was home to Camp Wetmore. This was a training camp for the Rhode Island Militia. Soldiers would train there for six days each year. Around 1895, the camp moved to Quonset Point, which had better facilities.
After World War I, Oakland Beach became a summer vacation spot. Many families from Providence, especially those with Irish, Greek, and Italian backgrounds, built small cottages there. It became a busy community for summer fun.
Contents
A Popular Spot: The 1930s
Oakland Beach was very popular in the 1930s. It had a great swimming beach, places for boats, and many restaurants. People could ride a Ferris wheel and even take a train from Providence to get there.
Fun Attractions for Everyone
The area offered lots of exciting things to do. Visitors enjoyed:
- An arcade with games
- A carousel, also known as a merry-go-round
- A movie theater
- A bowling alley
- Dodgem cars, which are bumper cars
- A skating rink
Facing the Storms
Two big hurricanes caused a lot of damage to Oakland Beach. The New England Hurricane of 1938 destroyed much of the area. Then, Hurricane Carol in 1954 caused even more destruction. The neighborhood never fully recovered its old glory after these storms.
Oakland Beach Today
Even after the hurricanes, Oakland Beach is still a great place to visit. People come here to enjoy many activities. You can relax on the green, or park by the sea wall to see the beautiful Greenwich Bay. It's also a perfect spot for kayaking in the calm coves or walking along the shoreline.
Places to Eat
Oakland Beach has several well-known restaurants. Some of the most famous include:
- Iggy's Doughboys and Chowderhouse
- Iggy's Boardwalk
- Top of the Bay, which used to be the Governor's residence
- The Beach Cafe and Pub, a newer addition to the area
Local Culture
In the late 1980s, a fun song called Born in Oakland Beach became popular. It used the tune of Bruce Springsteen's song Born in the USA. The song was played on local radio stations and mentioned famous local places like Veterans Memorial High School and Rocky Point Amusement Park.
