The death of Bushkill Park - Labor Day, 2006

I think this was the last day the park was open, but I may be wrong - it may have been open one or two weekends after this. During the afternoon, two employees came to me and in a very unfriendly manner, demanded to know why I was videotaping. I explained that I was a paying patron there to enjoy the park. I didn't tell them about the overpriced lunch of still-cold barbecue that I had just bought. They walked away without offering an apology. I believe their rudeness was related to the dispute between the park owners and the lessee. I'm thinking the lessee may have thought I was working for the owners and 'spying' on them. I had planned on spending the day there, but the encounter left me angry, so I soon left. I wish I hadn't gone that day, because now my last memories of the park are bad ones.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Amusement
• park

[ssur55]

Watching this video is really sad. I grew up in Easton and had many happy visits to Bushkill Park back in the 60s. It seemed so much bigger then. In this video, it looks closed already. (An answer to the comment about the toilets, they were nice and clean back in the 60s, when Old Sammy who came all the way from Georgia to clean the rest rooms was alive and in charge - Just be nice and slip Sammy a nickle or dime on the way out - thank you). Those were the good old days.

[Inspectorjoe]

I also grew up in Easton in the 60's, and yes, the park was bigger then. I can remember a wood roller coaster which I believe was torn down in '67. Also gone are the wild mouse, (that I rode only once) the salt & pepper, the pretzel and the train. I remember feeding the ducks popcorn from the bridge over the millrace. And Sammy! I had forgotten all about Sammy. I still remember the signs he had plastered all around the bathroom saying things like "Help keep Sammy's place clean".

[dayajotnirmal]

so sad....i grew up going there, and had very nice memories....although i admit even when i went some 30 years ago, it was still growing eerily vacant. i hope they restore it so i can take my hubby there one day when we go back and visit pa

[7321732173217321]

when I was a kid a went here when my dad was a kid he played here I miss this

[JAKEGrubbie]

The Gold Ford Tempo still creeps me out and I think a serial killer drives it and the big dude wow walking around is scary!!

[Michael321990]

@guitboxchicken yea maybe the bummber cars because they are metal and these were to

[JAKEGrubbie]

wow the gold serial killer car creepy and probally kept people out

[JAKEGrubbie]

Hmm I think the dudes to big to ride???

[guitboxchicken]

@masterman3178 The roller coaster in the picture looks like the old kiddie roller coaster Knoebels got rid of. Does anyone know if Knoebels purchased any rides from this park? Knoebels is in Elysburg, PA and they buy/restore/even replicate older favorites, like their recent aquisition "The Golden Nugget" from Morey's Piers in Wildwood New Jersey! The funny thing it, I was on it once in NJ, and now, I'll have the opportunity to relive that experience!

[masterman3178]

This place was always fun when I was younger I remember I puked in the barrel of fun. If I'm not mistaken that's the oldest barrel of fun in the country. I like how at the beginning Peter griffon is walking into the park also when was this filmed I don't remember a roller coaster and that one does not look safe.

[WumWip]

Aw, don't worry everyone! Save those old park maps and recreate the park on RollerCoaster Tycoon 3! Now, you can OWN Bushkill Park, and change it to YOUR likings!

[rch105]

I was born and raised not 2 miles away from this "Gem" by the Bushkill. Many summer days were spent bicycling from home to the park. This was during the times when you could be 11 years old and Mom and Dad knew it vwas safe to let you go. Pedaling along Park Avenue, passing Gypsy's barn and horses, one soon reached the park. Generally the first stop was to get some fresh "real" french fries! I don't recall the price but I remember it only took finding a few quart A-Treat soda bottles!