Whalom Park
Encyclopedia
Whalom Park was an amusement park
located on Lake Whalom in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, that operated from 1893 to 2000.
Whalom Park was established in 1893 by the Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway as a traditional, English-style park of gardens and walking paths. At the time of its last day of operations in 2000, Whalom was known as the 13th oldest amusement park in the United States, as well as the second-oldest trolley park
in the world. The park had been in continuous seasonal operation for 107 years.
The "Flyer Comet" wooden roller coaster
was one of the park's best-known rides. Most remaining structures at the park, including the Flyer Comet, were demolished in October 2006, to make way for development. The site is currently being redeveloped into a 240-unit condominium complex.
was shot at Whalom Park in 1982
First Version
Second Version
List of defunct amusement parks
Amusement ride
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located on Lake Whalom in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, that operated from 1893 to 2000.
Whalom Park was established in 1893 by the Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway as a traditional, English-style park of gardens and walking paths. At the time of its last day of operations in 2000, Whalom was known as the 13th oldest amusement park in the United States, as well as the second-oldest trolley park
Trolley park
In the United States, trolley parks, which started in the 19th century, were picnic and recreation areas along or at the ends of streetcar lines in most of the larger cities. These were precursors to amusement parks. These trolley parks were created by the streetcar companies to give people a...
in the world. The park had been in continuous seasonal operation for 107 years.
The "Flyer Comet" wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
was one of the park's best-known rides. Most remaining structures at the park, including the Flyer Comet, were demolished in October 2006, to make way for development. The site is currently being redeveloped into a 240-unit condominium complex.
Rides and attractions
| Name | MFG | Year Added | Year Removed | Notes |
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| Carousel A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders... |
Charles I. D. Looff Charles I. D. Looff was a master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides in America. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island in 1876. During his lifetime, he manufactured over 50 carousels,twelve amusements parks, several roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built... |
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Featured 2 Looff Sea Dragons, Broken up at auction April 15, 2000 |
| Ferris wheel A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on... |
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| Flyer Comet (Whalom Park) The Flyer Comet was a wooden roller coaster located at Whalom Park in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, USA. Built in 1940, it was torn down in 2006.-History:... |
Philadelphia Toboggan Company The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B... |
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| Flying Scooters Flying Scooters, also known simply as Flyers, is an amusement ride consisting of a center post with ride vehicles suspended from arms attached to the center post.... |
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The Allan Herschell Company The Allan Herschell Company was a company that specialized in the creation of amusement rides, particularly carousels and roller coasters. The company manufactured portable machines which could be used by traveling carnival operators... |
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AKA: The Hampster Cages, Bought and restored by Knoeble's |
| Octopus (ride) The Octopus is a type of amusement ride in the shape of an octopus. Five to eight arms attached to a central axis spin and move up and down in random, while cars at the end of the arms spin on rotary bolts. Each Octopus ride has the arms attached the middle of the ride. The middle of the ride will... |
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Parts of this ride were still sitting in back of the maintenance shop when the park closed in 2000 |
| Paratrooper (ride) A Paratrooper also known as an "Umbrella Ride" is a type of fairground ride based on cars suspended below a wheel which rotates at an oblique angle. The cars are free to rock sideways and swing out under centrifugal force and the wheel rotates. Invariably, the cars on a paratrooper have an umbrella... |
Frank Hrubetz & Company Frank Hrubetz & Co., Inc. was an American manufacturer of amusement park flat rides. Established in 1939, the company was located near the Salem, Oregon airport. It sold both trailer-mounted and permanent model rides to theme parks throughout the world. Popular models included Paratrooper, The... |
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Originally located at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA |
| Twist (ride) The Twist, also known as the Twister, Cyclone, Sizzler, Scrambler, Merry Mixer, Jambalaya, or Grasscutter is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience the illusion that they will crash into other suspended, spinning cars. Riders are seated in small carriages clustered... |
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| Pirate ship (ride) A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum.... |
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| Tilt-A-Whirl Tilt-A-Whirl is one of the best-known flat rides, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing of Faribault, Minnesota... |
Sellner Manufacturing Sellner Manufacturing is the Faribault, Minnesota manufacturer of the Tilt-A-Whirl and other amusement park rides. Started by Herbert Sellner in 1926 and still family owned.-History:Herbert Sellner made lamps, toys and library tables... |
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| Tumble Bug A Tumble Bug is an amusement park ride with a circular track.Only two full-sized Tumble Bugs remain operating today in the United States—one at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and one at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, PA. All full-size instances were made by Traver... |
Harry Traver Harry Guy Traver was an American engineer and early roller coaster designer.Traver was born in Gardner, Illinois... |
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Sold To Edaville Railroad Edaville Railroad The Edaville Railroad is a heritage railroad in South Carver, Massachusetts.Opened in 1947, the Edaville Railroad is generally regarded as one of the oldest heritage railroads in the United States.... but never assembled. Sold as scrap metal in 2010. |
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Streco Turnpike Cruiser The Streco Turnpike Cruiser was a two-passenger open microcar built especially for amusement park and carnival use by the Streifthau Manufacturing Company of Middletown, Ohio , a family-owned firm managed by Edgar and Lindy Streifthau.... |
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Replaced in the early 1990s by two Honda go-karts due to maintenance issue, Honda go-karts were in the park until the park closed in 2000. |
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Sold |
| The Whip (ride) The Whip was a ride originally designed and built by W.F. Mangels Company of Coney Island, New York, USA. William F. Mangels patented the ride in 1914 and it soon became an extremely popular ride.... |
William F. Mangels William F. Mangels , amusement manufacturer and inventor, worked at Coney Island and was a major player in the development of American amusement parks at the turn of the twentieth century... |
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| Skating rink A skating rink may refer to:* an ice rink used for ice skating* a roller rink used for roller skating... |
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The Building that held the arcade was originally the park's Candle Pin Bowling alley. |
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Included a Barrel of Fun/Barrel of Laughs, Demolished in 2006 |
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Destroyed by arson, March 2, 2002. |
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Silly Savage was one of the park mascot's at Whalom Park, a lion-like creature with a top hat. |
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Another mascot. |
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Wally Whalom was also a mascot at the park, but unlike Silly Savage and Super Chick in costumes, he was a clown. |
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Barnaby The Walking Talking Puppet was a puppet who gave shows to guests around the park. |
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The Whalom Park Center Stage was an outdoor theater for shows that attracted guests. |
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Kiddieland was a section of the park for younger children where there were rides designated for younger kids and a small theater for puppet and marionette shows. |
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There was a sit down restaurant in the park besides the other food stands that were inside Whalom Park. |
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Mini Golf Land was a miniature golf course that was located near The Whip The Whip (ride) The Whip was a ride originally designed and built by W.F. Mangels Company of Coney Island, New York, USA. William F. Mangels patented the ride in 1914 and it soon became an extremely popular ride.... |
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The picnic groves had picnic tables and a pavilion, and a small playground. |
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Whalom Park had it's own waterpark with waterslides in it. |
Appearances in pop culture
The music video for the song "Touch and Go" by The CarsThe Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
was shot at Whalom Park in 1982
TV advertisement jingle
There were two versions of the jingle:First Version
- If you're looking for something exciting to do,
- Then Whalom Park is the place for you!
- With lots of rides and loads of fun,
- Whalom Park's for ev-ery-one!
- For fun and excitement,
- A place to unwind,
- Whalom Paaaark...for a whale of a time!
- Whalom Park, you'll have a good time
Second Version
- If you need excitement, then come for the fun!
- Whalom Park, it's for everyone!
- Amusement rides! And water slides!
- Whalom Park, it's family sized!
- Picnic's and good times! Rides, games, and shows!
- Whalom's got it! C'mon let's gooooooo!
- Great for the family! It's one of a kind!
- Whalom Paaaark...for a whale of a time!
See also
List of amusement parks in New EnglandList of defunct amusement parks
Amusement ride
Amusement ride
Amusement rides are large mechanical devices that move people to create enjoyment. They are frequently found at amusement parks, traveling carnivals, and funfairs.-Notable types:*Afterburner*Ali Baba*Balloon Race*Booster...