Rye Playland

My earliest recollection of Playland is when our family moved from New York City to neighboring HARRIISON in 1927. We often took the bus or sometimes walked the three miles to Playland. For years, on Tuesday and perhaps Saturday (?) nights there were free glorious fiework displays. In the open space near the tower we enjoyed many free circus shows -- often including 'man shot from cannon' act --and he always landed in the net! The picnic areas where we 'dined al fresco', were also welcome to our family during those Depression Days of the Thirties. In 1938 we moved from Harrison to 36 Halsted Pl in Rye thus making us eligible for access to local Oakland Beach (Rye Beach was considered a 'public' beach for non-residents. After leaving Rye I often visited the area and noted with some dismay the gradual decline of Playland from its neat, clean appearance to a somewhat reduced status. Then as time went on, I am glad to see Playland regain much of its earlier allure and popularity. It was great to see that boardwalk scene in BIG with Tom Hanks. Long may one and all enjoy playing at Plaland! My favorite boyhood memories always center on Playland! more

I was a great fan of Playland as a child(and still am) growing up in the 1950's and 60's , for My 45 High School reunion,WP HS. I plan on returning with my grand children, to introduce them to Playland and share the fun I had as a boy.! It's still # 1 , better than WD, or any other park I have been to! mahalo, Franklin , Maui Hi 2008 more

This is a very nice old fashioned amusement park. It has lots of trees and awnings in front of the rides for shade. There are rides for all ages. You can either buy a card for the rides or get a wristband to go on all the rides you want for 6 hours. I like that the 6 hours starts when you go on your first ride and not at a set time like 12 to 6. This way you can get started any time you like. The rides are not cheap. We took 2 kids last week and spent almost $100 on rides for them alone. The older one got the wristband right away and then we had to get the younger one a band too because she was going on so many kiddie rides that the card was almost used up. They have a very cool horse racing ride where you really feel like you're on a galloping horse. This is no merry-go-round! It's fast and you feel like you're going to fall off, but it's fun. My son loved the go carts and the bumper cars. They also have roller coasters and all kinds of other rides. They have Burger King and Nathan's if you get hungry, and a nice boardwalk and picnic tables with a nice view of the water. I've never been there for the free concerts, but I heard they were good. The reason I gave 3 stars is because the people that work there are not friendly at all and a little on the rude side. The elderly lady who was in charge of the horse racing ride yelled at my son because he didn't stand near the height measurement long enough for her to see if he was tall enough. There was no reason to yell at him. We couldn't hear her through the glass in her booth. Sheesh. more

A designated National Historic Landmark located on Long Island Sound in Rye, Playland Amusement Park is America’s only government owned and operated amusement park. It has more than 50 rides, a beach, pool, boardwalk and pier, lake boating, a picnic area, mini-golf, indoor ice-skating, a summer day camp, catered birthday parties, free entertainment and special events. Rye Playland is the amusement park where Tom Hanks visited in the movie BIG for those movie buffs. There's a wonderful simplicity about this park that gets overshadowed by larger, splashier parks, however it's a great place to take your family. Rye Playland, as it was known back in the day, charges no admission to the park, however you must pay to park your car and purchase a wristband to get on the rides. Take the Beeline Bus (for bus maps & schedules call 914-813-7777 or Metro-North Railroad (call 1-800-Metro-Info or if in NYC 212-532-49000). Ride the Dragon Coaster, SuperFlight, Double Shot or take a wild and wet ride on the Plunge! There's a 19-hole miniature golf course, an entire Kiddyland section for the little ones and the park even has a popular indoor Ice Casino and Skating School. Stroll the boardwalk or take a dip in the pool or in the Long Island Sound beach. At night you can watch the fireworks while listening and dancing to the sounds of a big bands orchestra. Tommy Dorsey has nothing on this band! There's something here for all ages to enjoy. www.ryeplayland.org more

Sure Great Adventure is more exciting and Disney is disney but who wants to travel all that way and spend all that money? Don't get me wrong, Playland is not cheap but if you live in Westchester, you can't beat playland. Numerous rollercoasters including the dragon coaster which still holds up today, two water flume type rides which every kid loves and a whole array of other rides both for the nuts and the faint of heart. also enjoy the Thursday night concert series which are free as well as the wednesday night and Friday fireworks which are also free. more

Rye Playland is a fun place to take the family. It is an old-fashioned amusement park like what Coney Island used to be and what parts of the Jersey Shore still are like. They have a classic wooden roller coaster called the Dragon. Hard-core amusement park enthusiasts probably won't find this to be a very exciting park, but it's fine for young kids. A word to the wise: Never send your kids on the rides here unattended. A child just drowned here on an aging water ride. Everything will be okay here if you just follow common sense and accompany small children on rides. more