Midway State Park

Last updated

Midway State Park
Location Maple Springs, New York, United States
Opened1898
Owner New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
SloganContinuing the Tradition
Operating seasonMay – September
Attractions
Total20
Website Midway State Park
Midway Park
Carousel Midway Park Jul 12.jpg
Carousel (1946), July 2012
USA New York location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationNY 430, Maple Springs, New York
Coordinates 42°12′14″N79°25′14″W / 42.20389°N 79.42056°W / 42.20389; -79.42056
Area44 acres (17.8 ha)
Built1898
Built byAllan Herschell Carousel Company; W.F. Mangels Company
NRHP reference No. 09000133 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 13, 2009

Midway State Park, located in Maple Springs, New York, was established in 1898 by the Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway as a picnic ground. Today, it is recognized as the fifteenth-oldest continually operating amusement park in the United States, and the fifth-oldest remaining trolley park of the thirteen still operating in the United States.

Contents

History

At its origin, Midway Park offered a baseball field, dance pavilion and dining hall, and a sandy beach for bathing. Today, the park uses the original picnic shelters with several more modern additions. The concession building was built in 1915 and still houses the refreshment stands, as well as the Carousel Museum and roller rink. [2]

In 1951, the park was purchased by Martin "Red" Walsh, and was later operated by the next generation of the Walsh family, Michael and Janis Walsh, affectionately known as Mr. and Mrs. Midway to the staff and "park regulars." After the 2006 season the park was transferred into the New York State Parks system. [2] [3]

Several notable people have visited the park since its opening, including Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., Lucille Ball, and Jack Paar, former host of NBC's The Tonight Show. In 1960, the Glenn Miller Orchestra conducted by Ray McKinley played at the park.

Midway State Park has been voted the Best Travel Destination in Chautauqua County by the readers of the Dunkirk Observer.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, as a national historic district. Its 44 acres (18 ha) encompasses 12 contributing buildings, one contributing site, and one contributing object. [1] They include the Lakeside Pavilion (1915), arcade (1930), carousel (1948) and shelter (1924), park office (c. 1950), ice house (c. 1900), owner's residence (late 19th-century), Pavilion 1 (c. 1900), Pavilions 4 and 5 (c. 1920s), and a number of kiddie rides, many of which were built by the Allan Herschell Company. [2]

Timeline

Facilities

Currently, Midway Park has 18 child-oriented rides, plus miniature golf, Go-Karts, a climbing wall, and water games. Many of the kiddie rides were manufactured by the Allan Herschell Company of North Tonawanda, New York.

Guests use the picnic shelters for their family reunions and company picnics. The family arcade, meanwhile, includes games such as skeeball, Pac-Man and Galaga.

Midway operates from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with a limited June schedule.

Current rides

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References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on July 1, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2016.Note: This includes Kathleen LaFrank (November 2008). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Midway Park" (PDF). Retrieved February 1, 2016. and Accompanying photographs
  3. ↑ John F. Bonfatti, "'Continuing the tradition': State plans few changes at Midway Park to preserve Chautauqua County 'jewel'", Buffalo News, 23 June 2007
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gustafson, Ron (1996). Midway Park: A Century of Fun (1898-1998). Nashua, NH: Midway Museum Publications. p. 3. ISBN   1-880545-04-7.
  5. 1 2 Gustafson, Ron (1996). Midway Park: A Century of Fun (1898-1998). Nashua, NH: Midway Museum Publications. p. 5. ISBN   1-880545-04-7.
  6. 1 2 Gustafson, Ron (1996). Midway Park: A Century of Fun (1898-1998). Nashua, NH: Midway Museum Publications. p. 9. ISBN   1-880545-04-7.
  7. 1 2 Gustafson, Ron (1996). Midway Park: A Century of Fun (1898-1998). Nashua, NH: Midway Museum Publications. p. 11. ISBN   1-880545-04-7.
  8. 1 2 Gustafson, Ron (1996). Midway Park: A Century of Fun (1898-1998). Nashua, NH: Midway Museum Publications. p. 15. ISBN   1-880545-04-7.
  9. ↑ Gustafson, Ron (1996). Midway Park: A Century of Fun (1898-1998). Nashua, NH: Midway Museum Publications. p. 19. ISBN   1-880545-04-7.
  10. ↑ "About the Friends of Midway State Park". Friends of Midway State Park. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  11. ↑ Kindberg, Scott (July 2, 2016). "Midway's New Miniature Golf Course Opens". The Post-Journal. Jamestown, NY. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
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