My parents didn't have a lot of money; we never took a real vacation. But Mt. Park was in their price range. We'd ride the Holyoke Street Railway buses out to Mt. Park and my brother and sister and I would each be given a long strip of ride tickets. Boy, talk about kids in a candy shop. Mom would supervise and keep track of us and Dad would go down to the Pavilion to drink beer and watch midget wrestling.
This is so sad... I don' t really care what comments people make. Unless you experienced "Mountain Park" in the the late 1950s or early 1960s, you can't really understand how special this place was. The roller coaster ALONE was worth the price of admission. I was just a little kid back then, but I still remember to this day how amazingly special a visit to Mountain Park was. I will never forget summers in S. Hadley, seeing the roller coaster lights off in the distance over the hiills...
I remember the Gypsies tents as a kid , Rides all day for $6 ,The Midget with the cigar hanging out of his mouth worked the soft ball toss , the plastic cowboy sitting on the bench, the butterfly ride where I was always afraid too hit that damn tree!! The most fond memory was at the age of five. My mom bought me a plastic guitar that I carried around everywhere. Donny Most (Ralph Mouth) from Happy Days was singing and he pulled me up on stage with him!! I just acted like I was playing along with the band!! Loved that place!!!
The week of the "Sandy's" fund raiser (concert), also on WGBY channel 57, was an hour show of Mountian Park. It was great. I truly enjoy watching this. I'm 57 years old and as a kid, spent lots of time there with family and friends. Thanks so much for bringing back so many great memories. This video was very deperssing to watch. I know thousands of people will ALWAYS have GREAT memories of this, once great park.
Nothing sadder than a dead amusement park with fallen 'leftovers'... Wish this could've been saved, but at least the Merry-Go-Round still lives at Heritage State Park in Holyoke...
Dear CAPTAIN: The world has taken a big shit on ALL the simple things in life if you ask me. Mountain Park is just one small example. ... Joe Kulik ... joseph.kulik.919@gmail.com
I remember going there as a kid, then going up there again between 99-01 to walk around the ruins with my husband who hasn't lived in the area when the park was open. We used to walk around and I would tell him things I remembered, like the Dino Den. So I really have two entirely different sets of memories, and I don't find this sad at all, it was a magical place and not even being abandoned and burned could take that spirit away. It still felt surreal in ruins.
My dad worked the concession stand at the Pavilion when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I remember when they would have wrestling matches scheduled. Killer Kawolski and Haystack Muldoon. Not Haystack Calhoon LOL. Dad would serve beer, burgers and hot dogs. When ice cream cones didn't sell he would bring home the expired treats and we would gobble it up. The cones were like cardboard but it was OK with us.. Occasionally I would get a pass to ride free and my favorite one was the miniature gasoline cars. Dad worked there because we had little money and it helped to pay the bills. I absolutely loved the place and it saddens me to see it gone.
I was 11 years old when it closed but I do remember going. We and my sister used to ride the ski lift at the end of the park all the time. I don't remember much more than that, I'm 41 now a lot has happened in life I don't remember 30 years ago all that well lol.
Thanks for the memories. Every summer from 1974 to 1987. Sad the locals felt the need to vandalize what was left. Would have been better to watch and let mother nature reclaim it.
I have pictures of myself on some of the kiddie rides. Had to have been some where around 1985. So sad that it's gone now. I grew up in Mass. and have since moved away, but would have loved to take my children there.
*Mama Yogapants, where did you move to? We moved all up & down the East Coast. We're staying in SC for our perminent home. Never could handle the Cold, Snow or High Cost of living. 🤗🤗🤗*
Mountain Park was like the typical carnival from any 70's or 80's Horror Movie. It was fun, and it had that vibe to it. I think with Riverside (Now Six Flags) being about 30 minutes away, there was no way it could keep up. The Alpine Slide I think lasted a little while longer (basically bobsleding on big skateboards). I hear they don't even ski up there anymore. (That's where we had ski club in school).
My best memory was My mom who thought she was a hot shit when the carnie guessed her age wrong. She was 33 with 5 kids but she hid us around the corner and he guessed 24. :)
My father took me their when I was young and I took my first daughter their when it was still open and then it closed down for some ski thing or resort of some kind was a great place were for people that didn’t have much money to spend. So sad to watch what happened to it.
All good things must come to an end, i remember before it closed they tried adding other things like a Bouncy house which kids began to stab with knives or girls getting felt up in the Fun house coming out of there crying the poster stand where they would just hold the poster out and you throw a ring on it a few more things i can mention but i dont want to turn this into an essay good memories but also bad ones
the merry go round is still in holyoke & is refurbished & is open to the public for riding. I had my 17th birthday party there! it was awesome. Its so sad to kno i wasnt even born to go to this park. T.T But I do kno that the reason why it closed down was cuz Riverside(now Six Flags) was more modern & has better rides than they did. I never seen the site tho. I wanna kno exactly where it is.
We would be playing on our front lawn, and the holyokes would be off in the distance to our right...the lights of the roller coaster would actually be higher than the highest hill off in the distance.. and if we were very still, we could hear the riders scream as they descended downward on the roller coaster... we would get ice cream at "Green Pine" in S. Hadley and beg to go again to Mountain Park miss those days...
I grew up there. Went to this park as a kid and a teenager, Left the area in 87 for military. Watching this is sad because a bunch of thugs decided to destroy a historical place that entertained generations.It would have been nice to see a real amusement park again. And maybe show my kids what a real amusement park was.
i see this video was just posted ,nice job ,too bad she's gone .does anyone know what is going on up there??does anyone know where any remaining items from the park are???i think western mass. needs a park like that back ...
Do a search with Google Earth, you can see the most recent satalite photo from 2005 Most of the buildings have all burned down and I was up near that site about 2 years ago and piles of lumber from the rollercoaster could still be seen...I believe the site now belongs to a mining operation.
who wants to see this? This is sad...nothing like rubbing it in...it was probabaly the last of the 'amusement park' age...its so different now I'm glad I grew up during the late 60's and 70's.
I'll never understand the, mentality or lack thereof in destroying and vandalizing places that go out of business, why for God's sake is this appealing to young people, is it drug and alcohol fueled to destroy these kinds of places, I was raised to respect things especially that which doesn't belong to me, I have a friend who by no means is a kid yet he takes pleasure in trying to destroy the engine and transmission on rental cars, he's done this ever since I've know him, he doesn't engage in any other destructive behavior, he likes to floor it then put it in drive and spin the wheels, he'll put it in park while it's still moving also.
My parents didn't have a lot of money; we never took a real vacation. But Mt. Park was in their price range. We'd ride the Holyoke Street Railway buses out to Mt. Park and my brother and sister and I would each be given a long strip of ride tickets. Boy, talk about kids in a candy shop. Mom would supervise and keep track of us and Dad would go down to the Pavilion to drink beer and watch midget wrestling.
My favorite place since I was 1 years old riding it all sad to watch that video, I remember exactly where all the rides were food booths and games
I spent a lot of time there as a kid, these pictures are heart breaking
This is so sad... I don' t really care what comments people make. Unless you experienced "Mountain Park" in the the late 1950s or early 1960s, you can't really understand how special this place was. The roller coaster ALONE was worth the price of admission. I was just a little kid back then, but I still remember to this day how amazingly special a visit to Mountain Park was. I will never forget summers in S. Hadley, seeing the roller coaster lights off in the distance over the hiills...
*I agree.... My favorite ride was the whip. Wonder how many others loved that ride. 😁😁😁*
She sure was a good park . RIP Mountain Park. I weep for the future.
*Definitely.....*
I remember going here as a little kid in the early 80s 😞
I remember the Gypsies tents as a kid , Rides all day for $6 ,The Midget with the cigar hanging out of his mouth worked the soft ball toss , the plastic cowboy sitting on the bench, the butterfly ride where I was always afraid too hit that damn tree!! The most fond memory was at the age of five. My mom bought me a plastic guitar that I carried around everywhere. Donny Most (Ralph Mouth) from Happy Days was singing and he pulled me up on stage with him!! I just acted like I was playing along with the band!! Loved that place!!!
*I know right!!! Love the cowboy on the bench. WOW....How exciting to be pulled up on stage & doing what you did!!! The good ole days. 😁😁😁*
The week of the "Sandy's" fund raiser (concert), also on WGBY channel 57, was an hour show of Mountian Park. It was great. I truly enjoy watching this. I'm 57 years old and as a kid, spent lots of time there with family and friends. Thanks so much for bringing back so many great memories. This video was very deperssing to watch. I know thousands of people will ALWAYS have GREAT memories of this, once great park.
*Absolutely.... I'm 57 also & my parents went & played minute golf while my brother & I rode rides. 😁😁😁*
Nothing sadder than a dead amusement park with fallen 'leftovers'... Wish this could've been saved, but at least the Merry-Go-Round still lives at Heritage State Park in Holyoke...
Thank you for posting. Many great memories here in what seems like a different world a long time ago.
*Yes, Many worlds ago it seems.*
The world took a big shit on the simple things !! Mountain Park will always be an awesome memory for me ,
Dear CAPTAIN: The world has taken a big shit on ALL the simple things in life if you ask me. Mountain Park is just one small example. ... Joe Kulik ... joseph.kulik.919@gmail.com
I worked at the Park for two summers. One thing that can not be taken away are my memories!
*Awwwww what rides did you work?😁😁😁*
I remember going there as a kid, then going up there again between 99-01 to walk around the ruins with my husband who hasn't lived in the area when the park was open. We used to walk around and I would tell him things I remembered, like the Dino Den. So I really have two entirely different sets of memories, and I don't find this sad at all, it was a magical place and not even being abandoned and burned could take that spirit away. It still felt surreal in ruins.
My dad worked the concession stand at the Pavilion when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I remember when they would have wrestling matches scheduled. Killer Kawolski and Haystack Muldoon. Not Haystack Calhoon LOL. Dad would serve beer, burgers and hot dogs. When ice cream cones didn't sell he would bring home the expired treats and we would gobble it up. The cones were like cardboard but it was OK with us.. Occasionally I would get a pass to ride free and my favorite one was the miniature gasoline cars. Dad worked there because we had little money and it helped to pay the bills. I absolutely loved the place and it saddens me to see it gone.
I LOVED this place as a kid. Loved that damn train , and those little cars they had. Good times. Too bad it had to Go.
I was 11 years old when it closed but I do remember going. We and my sister used to ride the ski lift at the end of the park all the time. I don't remember much more than that, I'm 41 now a lot has happened in life I don't remember 30 years ago all that well lol.
Also missing the ski resort along with the Alpine side and wave pool. Spent lots of time up there enjoying life as a kid.... miss it ALL
Nothing worse than seeing a place that used to be an amusement/theme park covered in graffiti
Holyoke can’t keep anything decent lol
I used to go to Mt. Park quite often. I'll always regret never taking a camera along.
Tough to watch!
I grew up there.
Sad.
Thanks for posting though
when i was in key program I went here about 17 I cried after getting off the roller coaster boy I miss this place look any better then did 2009
Thanks for the memories. Every summer from 1974 to 1987. Sad the locals felt the need to vandalize what was left. Would have been better to watch and let mother nature reclaim it.
Alot of good memories. So sad it closed
Great choice of music! My Dad is a huge Rush fan so this is cool.
I have pictures of myself on some of the kiddie rides. Had to have been some where around 1985. So sad that it's gone now. I grew up in Mass. and have since moved away, but would have loved to take my children there.
*Mama Yogapants, where did you move to? We moved all up & down the East Coast. We're staying in SC for our perminent home. Never could handle the Cold, Snow or High Cost of living. 🤗🤗🤗*
Mountain Park was like the typical carnival from any 70's or 80's Horror Movie. It was fun, and it had that vibe to it. I think with Riverside (Now Six Flags) being about 30 minutes away, there was no way it could keep up. The Alpine Slide I think lasted a little while longer (basically bobsleding on big skateboards). I hear they don't even ski up there anymore. (That's where we had ski club in school).
My best memory was My mom who thought she was a hot shit when the carnie guessed her age wrong. She was 33 with 5 kids but she hid us around the corner and he guessed 24. :)
*OMGOSH..... I did that once & won a prize for my daughter. 😁😁😁*
My father took me their when I was young and I took my first daughter their when it was still open and then it closed down for some ski thing or resort of some kind was a great place were for people that didn’t have much money to spend. So sad to watch what happened to it.
I wish I could go there,still a child,tho
All good things must come to an end, i remember before it closed they tried adding other things like a Bouncy house which kids began to stab with knives or girls getting felt up in the Fun house coming out of there crying the poster stand where they would just hold the poster out and you throw a ring on it a few more things i can mention but i dont want to turn this into an essay good memories but also bad ones
couldnt they put something like Mountain Park back there? its too bad they closed it
the merry go round is still in holyoke & is refurbished & is open to the public for riding. I had my 17th birthday party there! it was awesome. Its so sad to kno i wasnt even born to go to this park. T.T But I do kno that the reason why it closed down was cuz Riverside(now Six Flags) was more modern & has better rides than they did. I never seen the site tho. I wanna kno exactly where it is.
Love this Good upload
So sad to watch. Went there many times as a kid.
We would be playing on our front lawn, and the holyokes would be off in the distance to our right...the lights of the roller coaster would actually be higher than the highest hill off in the distance.. and if we were very still, we could hear the riders scream as they descended downward on the roller coaster... we would get ice cream at "Green Pine" in S. Hadley and beg to go again to Mountain Park miss those days...
*Nothing like our childhood memories for sure. Things have really changed over the yrs.*
If only someone bought that
I grew up there. Went to this park as a kid and a teenager, Left the area in 87 for military. Watching this is sad because a bunch of thugs decided to destroy a historical place that entertained generations.It would have been nice to see a real amusement park again.
And maybe show my kids what a real amusement park was.
*Thank you for your service. My husband served 20 yrs Navy & we settled in the Warmer State of SC. 😁😁😁*
My Father And His Brother They Were Sad When They Are Crying When It Closed Down
FYI the park closed in 1987 it was not open for the 88 season!
i see this video was just posted ,nice job ,too bad she's gone .does anyone know what is going on up there??does anyone know where any remaining items from the park are???i think western mass. needs a park like that back ...
There are many Good videos of M.P. 'as it was' I'd rather watch those.
Wow! I was a kid when I went here on a school trip. I learned early on I was terrified of roller coasters. Too bad it’s destroyed
*Me too I was never a fan of Roller Coasters. 😁😁😁*
Bob, u got a brother named Dana by chance??
@jeepers2655
Thanks for the info:)
milt..how dry I am in AZ ;)
I hear there's a old Lincoln park in N.H anyone know about that
Do a search with Google Earth, you can see the most recent satalite photo from 2005 Most of the buildings have all burned down and I was up near that site about 2 years ago and piles of lumber from the rollercoaster could still be seen...I believe the site now belongs to a mining operation.
@jeepers2655
Silver Lake Beach amusement park..got me on that one:)
Went there twice as a teenager in the last couple years it was open. Was a dump by then. Too bad.
who wants to see this? This is sad...nothing like rubbing it in...it was probabaly the last of the 'amusement park' age...its so different now I'm glad I grew up during the late 60's and 70's.
rush fan?
Do sad to see it ruins
I'll never understand the, mentality or lack thereof in destroying and vandalizing places that go out of business, why for God's sake is this appealing to young people, is it drug and alcohol fueled to destroy these kinds of places, I was raised to respect things especially that which doesn't belong to me, I have a friend who by no means is a kid yet he takes pleasure in trying to destroy the engine and transmission on rental cars, he's done this ever since I've know him, he doesn't engage in any other destructive behavior, he likes to floor it then put it in drive and spin the wheels, he'll put it in park while it's still moving also.
If not for arson and vandalism a lot of these old parks would be mostly intact.
six flags, big e.
Putting the song " losing it " by RUSH was a nice touch.
Chemistry, Subdivisions. Great touch. Drawing a parallel to lakeside park?