Rocky Point State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky Point State Park |
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The large arch is one of the few artifacts which remain of the former amusement park.
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| Location | Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island, United States |
| Area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Elevation | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Established | 2014 |
| Governing body | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & Recreation |
| Website | Rocky Point State Park |
Rocky Point State Park is a fun state park located on Narragansett Bay in Warwick, Rhode Island. It's a place where you can relax and enjoy nature. For a long time, since the mid-1800s, this land was a popular spot. It was best known as the Rocky Point Amusement Park. After the amusement park closed in 1994, the area was empty for many years. But then, the city and state bought the land between 2008 and 2013. It finally opened again as a state park in October 2014, ready for everyone to enjoy.
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History of Rocky Point
Rocky Point has been a public attraction since the mid-1800s. It is located about 10 miles from the state capital, right on the coast in Warwick, Rhode Island.
From Dining Spot to Amusement Park
In 1847, William Winslow bought the land. He started serving dinner and offering fun activities. By the mid-1900s, Rocky Point had become a very popular amusement park. It had many exciting rides. These included roller coasters, a log flume, a Skyliner, a Freefall ride, a ferris wheel, and a carousel.
The park was also famous for its Shore Dinner Hall. This huge eating area could seat 4,000 people. It was just outside the park gates. Here, visitors could enjoy tasty local foods like clamcakes, steamers, lobster, and New England clam chowder.
Changes in Ownership and Park Life
Private owners managed the park throughout its history. William Winslow, a steamboat captain, first brought passengers there for meals or to use the park. In 1865, Byron Sprague bought it from him. Then, in 1869, the Continental Steamboat Company bought it. They hired Randall A. Harrington to manage the park. Harrington helped make it a top resort.
After a big fire in 1883, the park changed. It started to focus more on rides, shows, sports, and other attractions. The park changed owners a few more times but stayed popular through the 1900s.
The Park's Closing and Abandonment
In the 1990s, the company that owned the park faced money problems. The park finally closed in November 1994. Many of the rides and attractions were sold off. However, much of the park was left empty for years. It became a place where people explored abandoned buildings. This caused safety worries because of fires and damaged structures. So, in May 2007, the remaining buildings began to be taken down.
Becoming a Public Park
The City of Warwick bought 41 acres of the land in 2007. They used money from the state and federal governments. The city officially owned this part of the land in August 2008.
Reopening for Everyone
Rocky Point opened to the public again in June 2011. A new walking path was built along the shore. The mayor of Warwick at the time, Scott Avedisian, said it was the first time in 80 years that a piece of shoreline in the city was opened for public use.
Making it a State Park
On election day in 2010, Rhode Island voters had a chance to decide something important. They voted on a plan to buy the remaining 83 acres of land at Rocky Point. The idea was to combine it with the 41 acres already owned. This would create a new state park. The voters approved the plan by a large margin.
The purchase was approved in September 2012. The last part of the land was transferred to the state in March 2013. The remaining buildings, including the famous Shore Dinner Hall, were taken down in the summer of 2014. After the area was cleaned and prepared, it officially reopened as a state park on October 25, 2014.
What You Can See and Do Today
Today, Rocky Point is a place for quiet activities. Most of the old amusement park is now open space. However, a few structures from the amusement park still remain.
These include:
- The Circle Swing ride tower, built around 1906.
- The upper and lower stations and support towers from the Skyliner gondola ride.
- The ruins of an old water tank.
- A large arch near the entrance.
The arch was originally one of 11 "Peace Through Understanding" arches from the 1964/65 World's Fair in Flushing, Queens, New York. It was moved to Rocky Point in 1966. It was repaired and restored in 2016.
In the summer, the park shows movies on its lawn. It also hosts a 5K run. In 2017 and 2018, the state park held Food Truck Nights. A large public fishing pier opened in July 2020, where people can enjoy fishing.
