Pirates World: Difference between revisions

Pirate's World was a 87 acre

Pirate's World was developed by Recreation Corporation of America and opened in 1966. It was located on the north side of Sheridan Street, east of US 1.

The park featured "The Crows Nest" observation tower, which had originally been the Belgian Aerial Tower at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair. This structure was bought second hand after the fair and transported to the site, where it was re-erected.[1] It consisted of a central post from which was suspended four metal cages by cables, designed to carry several standing passengers. To balance the structure, two cages would be in the air whilst two were being loaded on the ground, and the cages would be raised and lowered simultaneously.

Also at Pirate's World was the "Grand National Steeplechase", which was originally from Coney Island,[2] along with a Wild Mouse roller coaster, a log flume (also bought second-hand from the New York World Fair), various carnival flat rides including a paratrooper, a sky ride, some carny games, a ski-ball arcade and spiral slides.[3]

In the late-1960s and early-1970s, Pirate's World was the venue for several

Over the years, several film or television programs were also filmed on the site, including Jack and the Beanstalk (1970), Thumbelina (1970), Musical Mutiny (1970), Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny (1972)[5]

Pirates World was successful in its early years, but in 1971 Disney World opened in Florida, which took much business away from the theme park. By 1973 it was in bankruptcy. In 1975 it was closed and subsequently fell into a state of disrepair. The steeplechase ride was bought by Norman Kaufman, deconstructed, and sent back to Coney Island where it was reassembled.[6]

In 1978 a biblical theme park was to have been developed on the site, but that shortly fell through. The land was sold, zoned residential, and condominiums were built over the last traces of the park.[7]

External links

Reunion site, with memories and pictures