Huck Finn's Playland
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| Location | 25 Erie Blvd., Albany, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 2015 |
| Operating season | May–October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 16 |
| Roller coasters | 1 |
| Water rides | 0 |
| Website | www |
Huck Finn's Playland is an amusement park located in Albany, New York. It opened in 2015 and features the rides of the former Hoffman's Playland.[1]
History
[edit]In 2014, David and Ruth Hoffman, owners of Hoffman's Playland in Latham, NY, announced that the park would close in September.[2] The Hoffmans had searched for a new owner for the amusement rides to no avail, and the rides were scheduled to go to auction. Shortly after the park closed, the owners of Huck Finn's Playland announced their intent to purchase the rides and build a new park next to their furniture store in Albany.[3] Abraham Lincoln passed the location twice, far before it became a park. Once as president-elect after meeting with the Albany Legislature, and once after his death, after his body laid in state at the New York State Capitol Building[4].
The park was constructed on a vacant 3 acre lot, and opened in June 2015.[5] The new park features the Hoffman's Playland rides, a new concession building, and an arcade relocated inside the warehouse. The Lusse Auto Skooter bumper cars were purchased but were not rebuilt at the new park. They were sold to Knoebels Amusement Resort in 2017, where they now operate.
The location itself is allegedly haunted[6]. Some ghost stories stem to the park's location in Latham, with claims that there are spirits attached to the paratrooper ride and food trailer. There are other stories dating back to the new location's association with the Warehouse District of Albany. There was much railroad and canal activity along Erie Boulevard, and the first perforated toilet paper was invented in the Huck Finn's building (then the Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company, photos here) by Seth Wheeler[7]. There are rumored to be burial sites from the canal era between the back of the park and the highway. These rumors are unconfirmed, as the alleged burial sites are located in protected wetlands. There are numerous stories about a black robed figure that wanders through the Playland at night protecting the park.
The 2020 season of Huck Finn's playland was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It marked the first time in the park's history without an operating season. It reopened on May 8, 2021, while maintaining social distancing and masks guidelines. By 2023, the mask guidelines were in effect for only unvaccinated guests.
Also, in 2023, Joseph Masher, owner and CEO of Scene One Entertainment, operator of movie theaters, bought the park and is currently the owner. [8] The old owners, Huck Finn's Warehouse, planned to close the park following the 2023 season. However, Masher stepped in and saved the park for future generations. The park's first season under Masher's ownership has been largely successful, with fresh paint and new lights present on many of the rides for the 2024 season. Under Masher's leadership, the park has instituted multiple changes including a wristband day each week and events such as Touch-A-Truck Day[9]. The Playland has also been decorated for Halloween for the first time in the park's history. The park also has added gluten free food options to the menu for the first time[10].
Rides
[edit]| Ride | Year Opened | Year Manufactured | Manufacturer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huck Finn's Playland Railroad | 2015 | 1952 | Miniature Train Company/Allan Herschell Company | The original train was manufactured by the Miniature Train Company and operated until 1979. For the 1980 season, it was replaced by a restored S-24 Iron Horse. A few years later, a second S-24 Iron Horse was restored and put into operation for a total of 2 engines and 6 cars. The engines were manufactured in 1965 and 1967. |
| Merry-Go-Round | 2015 | 1952 | Allan Herschell Company | Merry-go-round with 3-abreast horses and 2 chariots. |
| Boats | 2015 | 1953 | Allan Herschell Company | Circular wet boat ride. |
| Little Wheel | 2015 | 1959 | Eli Bridge Company | Miniature Eli Bridge ferris wheel. |
| Umbrella Ride | 2015 | 1965 | Hampton | Circular car ride. |
| Caterpillar | 2015 | 1955 | Allan Herschell Company | Circular revolving Caterpillar ride. |
| Teacups | 2015 | 1976 | Hampton | Hampton umbrella car ride. |
| Helicopters | 2015 | 1958 | Allan Herschell Company | Circular helicopter ride with individual bars to control height of Helicopter. |
| The Fun Slide | 2018 | 1962 | Classic Fun Slide ride. | |
| Scrambler | 2015 | 1965 | Eli Bridge Company | Classic Eli Bridge scrambler ride. |
| Paratrooper | 2015 | 1974 | Hrubetz | Fast spinning and elevating Paratrooper ride. |
| Tilt-a-Whirl | 2015 | 1974 | Sellner Manufacturing | Classic Tilt-a-Whirl ride. |
| Roller Coaster | 2015 | 1960 | Allan Herschell Company | Little Dipper Herschell roller coaster. |
| Big Wheel | 2015 | 1971 | Eli Bridge Company | 50 foot Eli ferris wheel. |
| 4x4 Trucks | 2015 | 1989 | Wisdom Rides | Individual cars that ran along a tracked route. |
| Sky Fighter Jets | 2015 | 1956 | Allan Herschell Company | Aerial jet ride with shooting guns. |
| Octopus | 2022 | Unknown | Eyerly Aircraft Company | Classic Eyerly Octopus ride. |
Retired Rides
[edit]| Ride | Year Manufactured | Year Opened | Year Closed | Manufacturer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon Flight | 1980 | 2015 | 2021 | Bradley & Kaye | Balloon Flight was removed in 2021 after reaching the end of its service life. The ride originally opened at Hoffman's Playland in 2000. Manufactured in 1980, it was relocated from an unknown park. |
| Red Baron | 1985 | 2015 | 2023 | Bradley & Kaye | Red Baron was manufactured in 1985, and was relocated from the Catskill Game Farm to Hoffman's Playland in 2007. It was removed after the 2023 season after reaching the end of its service life. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Jane Gottlieb, "A Beloved Amusement Park Gets a New Life in Albany", The New York Times, June 24, 2015.
- ^ For Hoffmans, playland's closing an end of thrilling ride TimesUnion.com January 20, 2018.
- ^ Crowds, smiles and sun greet opening weekend at Huck Finn's Playland BizJournals.com January 20, 2018.
- ^ "Abraham Lincoln: The Albany Connections". www.albanyinstitute.org. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
- ^ Huck Finn's Playland to open Thursday TimesUnion.com January 20, 2018.
- ^ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/albany-ny/
- ^ https://greenerpasture.com/Places/ShowNews/93136
- ^ [1] TimesUnion.com November 4, 2023.
- ^ "News". Huck Finn's Playland. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ "Concessions". Huck Finn's Playland. Retrieved 2024-09-26.