Rockaways' Playland

Thompson's Amusement Park The park site was originally developed as a resort area in 1876 by William Wainwright. In 1900, George Tilyou, owner of Steeplechase Park in Brooklyn's Coney Island, purchased land in the Seaside neighborhood along Rockaway Beach. He called the plot "Steeplechase Park". Within a year, Tilyou offered to sell to LaMarcus Adna Thompson, Still, Thompson managed to buy the property by 1901 and begin construction on an amusement park. or 1903, on land that extended to the Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk. In 1903, a ferry dock was built adjacent to the park, enabling visitors from other boroughs to visit it or one of the other several amusement districts along the beach and boardwalk. By 1905, Thompson was operating the amusement park by himself. Katlin opened several facilities and amusements including a new arena, gymnasium, and swimming pool. Renaming it Rockaways' Playland, Geist soon launched an expansion project that added a dance hall, menagerie, and roller coaster. Following a rebuilding program costing between $3 million and $5 million, Geist reopened Playland in 1939. When Geist died in 1960, his son Richard took over the park and added numerous contests, such as beauty pageants every Monday evening and children's contests each Saturday afternoon. == Attractions ==

At its opening, Thompson's Amusement Park included a steeplechase-style ride, where patrons would race along a track on horse-shaped vehicles, as well as a bathhouse on the boardwalk. The park also included a midway with a funhouse, Skee-Ball ramp, and shooting gallery when it opened. A "tent city" with cabanas was located on the northern part of Thompson's Amusement Park. An 8,000-seat arena was also added; A wooden roller coaster called the Atom Smasher was added in 1938. == In popular culture ==

The Atom Smasher was featured in the 1952 film This Is Cinerama. The release of This Is Cinerama and its popularity and positive reception brought thousands of visitors to Playland. Playland was also shown in the 1982 movie ''Sophie's Choice''. ==References==