One scene in particular is of a mystery:
There was a one-of-a-kind prop that had a large spider sitting atop a rider in an actual dark ride car!
Perhaps the park added the stunt themselves. Regardless its effect was both frightening and funny! |
The same ride facade and name would also be found on sister rides on the Atlantic City Pier in NJ, and in a small New Mexico park. Park manager Boyce had stated that Roseland spent over $75,000 on building the Gold Nugget and due to both the pricy UV lights and day glo paint, it was a maintenance headache. He also said the park had to modify a bunch of stunts in order to make them work properly on a consistent basis. But, alas, the Gold Nugget would entertain and terrorize patrons until 1984.
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| In 1984, the Gold Nugget was closed for good, its facade boarded up with its charms and cars all stored inside, at least for one final year. A coin-operated Race Car attraction sat in front of the Gold Nugget who’s sign now ominously said: “Road Rally”. |
But why did the Gold Nugget close? Many things added up to the decision: increasing insurance premiums for amusement parks, vandalism to the ride cars and props plus riders getting out of the cars inside with the possibility of injuring themselves and others plus ever- increasing maintenance costs made the decision.
At the end of the 1985 season, it was announced that Roseland would close for good. Large theme parks like Disney, Six Flags and Cedar Point provided stiff competition for family owned parks. Skyrocketing insurance plus increased land values all made the decision to close all that much easier.
It was announced that an auction for the park would be held, with the parks rides and attractions sold off. On September 16th. Roseland Park was auctioned off piece by piece. The carousel was saved locally and would appear four years later as the centerpiece of a new mall in Syracuse NY, the “Carousel Mall”, now a regional super center called “Destiny USA”. The Skyliner roller coaster was sold, dismantled and sent to a new theme park in Altoona, PA called “Boyertown”, now known as simply Lakemont Amusement Park, a nice family family entertainment center that also features the oldest operating coaster “Leap The Dips”, where it continues to thrill those that remember its lakeside location. The Nugget had less than a stellar send-off, with bits and stunts sold off piecemeal and sent all over the country. |
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Above: 169 Lake Shore Drive in Canandaigua, New York, former site of Roseland Park. |
Today there is a small residential housing development where the park once stood. There is a small, newer water park on another side of the lake called Roseland Water Park that has nothing to do with the original park. And on a hot foggy summer night, if you're very quiet and listening carefully, you still may hear Gertie laughing from across the lake. |
The author would like to thank Mark Skipworth, New York Memories,
the Ontario Historical Society, George LaCross
and all the Roseland Park fans out there.
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© laffinthedark.com - text and/or image reproduction prohibited |
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