Playland Park Memories

Coasterphotos.com

hi,

i just happened to come across your site.

(my daughter is doing a report on an amusement park ride called the frisbee.

she needs a photo of it as well.)

thanks for the memory it brought back to me. i remember going to playland park in the late 60's, early 70's. the thing i remembered was that every easter they would give away free chicks to the children. we stood in line, in the hot sun for hours, but it was worth the thrill of coming home with a baby chick.

they also had a photo studio where you could get dressed up in costume and choose a back drop. they had one with jair bars that was more like a frontdrop--fun stuff for a kid.

thanks again.

terry

I LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO FROM 1955 TO 1959. I USED TO RIDE MY BIKE TO PLAYLAND PARK AND RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER AS OFTEN AS I COULD. IT STARTED LIFELONG LOVE OF COASTERS. I WENT BACK AOBUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND WAS SAD TO SEE THE RUINS OF MY FAVORITE PLAYGROUND.

I FOUND YOUR SITE WHEN I LOOKED UP COASTERS AFTER RETURNING FROM DISNEYLAND WHERE I TOOK MY GRANDSON ON HIS FIRST ROLLER COASTER RIDE...AND HE TOOK ME ON THE TOWER OF TERROR.

Hello,

Really enjoyed your site. I grew up going to Playland Park and am the proud owner of several artifacts from the park. I have become friends with the park's historian (who currently lives on the abandoned site). His name is Ed Gaida, and he has a history of Playland Park book in the works. Not sure if you contacted him, but I didn't see his name on the reference pages.

Thanks for all your work.

David

Comments: I enjoyed looking at the history and photos of Playland Park in San Antonio. As a kid in the 50's I use to take the bus from my neighorhood and spend the day at the park with friends (when we had the money). I continued visiting Playland Park with friends and dates through high school and college and up until the late 70's.

I scanned a couple of photos from my high school year book (1962-1963) that show some students ... one riding Playland's Carousel in a formal gown, and the other riding the Bump Cars you might be interested in seeing. If so email me with the request and I will paste them to my reply.

Regards,

Richard

I read, with great interest, your information on PlayLand that once stood in San Antonio. My mother, my oldest brother and I all worked for Mr. Johnson in 1957/58. My mother sold tickets at the entrance, my brother (15 years old at the time) drove the train, and I (at 13 years) worked at the Penny Pitch, directly in front of the roller coaster. As employees, my brother and I were allowed to ride the rides for free for an hour, one night per week. We spent most of the time on the coaster. I have fond memories of the park, but now that I am 61 they are few. My mother will be 84 in February but she still remembers her years at PlayLand Amusement Park. She really never ventured past the front of the park. Half way up the midway was Mr. Johnson's office, with an entrance between the baseball and basketball concessions.
I recall Mr. Johnson as a very large man. Rotund, actually. He was very heavy set and didn't have much of a sense of humor. That's the way I recall him at my age of 13. I remember the barker at the baseball pitch was named "Red" and the operator of the Ferris wheel was named James Dugan. He was from Texarcana, Texas.
I guess we would have been called transient help because my father was stationed at Fort Sam Houston and we were in San Antonio for only three years. Perhaps there were quite a few employees who worked there only until new orders sent them elsewhere.
I have ridden the coaster at Knoebels but I did not know it was the same one I had ridden as a child in Texas. Thank you for the information on the park. I have asked mother to look through her things to see if she has any photos of that time that I could scan and send to you.
 

I was interested to see your page with information on Playland park.  I live in the neighborhood of the old park, grew up in San Antonio, and have many fond memories of the park, mostly from the 1960s.  FYI, the park property is presently on the verge of being developed as part of the campus of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) offices.  Until recently, the Johnson family still owned the park and, as you may know, housed a caretaker there.  When the SAWS deal was finally signed, the family held a sale and sold off the remaining equipment and memorobilia.  I obtained an aerial photo of the park just after The Rocket was completed.  I also own (from another source) a copy of the Rocket blueprints.  I would be glad to scan and e-mail the aerial photo for you.  The blueprint is too large for scanning, but I could photograph it and send it to you also if you'd like to use either or both of these on your site.

A story about the property was recently in the San Antonio Express News. It stated that the property would be developed into either a parking lot annex with a few sport fields or into some sort of apartment complex.

Did you know there was once a stream that ran through the middle of the park. It was called the Aqucia Madre. In the mid to late 1800's it ran S.W.( from the park ) to the back side of The Alamo. It also branched off at the park, crossed west over what is now Broadway St. into the Brackenridge Park area to a mill used for grinding wheat, corn and other food products.The aqucia was diverted around the north side of the property into a underground drainage channel when Playland was born.The aqucia still runs up to the park property originating somewhere in Fort Sam Houston. It is currently being used to water horses that gaze in that area of the fort.

Like most families during the fifties, sixties and seventies, my parents use to always take my brothers, sisters and me to Playland. I first rode the Rocket at the age of 4. My older sister held on to me during the ride. I remember always wanting to go on the Ghost Train.

I haven't seen any old pictures of Playland, but I'm sure there are some out there with some stories to go with them.

I grew up in San Antonio, and have great memories of Playland Park.
Your web page on Playland Park in San Antonion, Texas -- http://www.coasterphotos.com/Playland/history.htm -- is quite good.  Thanks.  I have some corrections for you.

There was no ballroom or stage.
There was an 18-hole miniature golf course.
The tilt-a-whirl was permanent; most of the time it was between the fun house and the ghost train, although it was moved in the late 70's when the park expanded rides into the parking lot beyond the roller coaster.

The merry-go-round had a real barrel-organ for its music, with pipes, cymbals, drums, xylophone, and bells.
Jimmy Johnson kept it in fine condition.

The "bucket circular airplane swing ride" was replaced with the calypso in the late 50's or early 60's.  The calypso was a great "date" ride because it always through the two of you close together.  In fact, the ride had large pink hearts all around it.

The rolloplane would rotate to go horizontal, something I have not seen any other rolloplane do.
It would cause you to lean against the door.
I was always afraid the door would fly open, but of course it never did.

There was also a miniature train at one time in the middle of the park.
It never worked very well; always seemed to be broken.
It was replaced with some kiddy train car ride.

At one time there was a chapel in the grounds just above (east of) the fun house.
Jimmy Johnson owned this land, but other than the chapel never did expand the park there.

Here is the basic layout of the park until they expanded in late 70's; not to scale.
I'm not sure if skee-ball was before or after the ghost train; other than that, I believe it is accurate.
The park was L-shaped.
You walked in at the main entrance at Broadway and Alamo streets, from the west, toward the east.
Then at the penny arcade, the park started going south (no pun intended).
There was also a path from the calypso to the arcade games/bumper cars/mini-golf.
You will have to view this in a fixed-pitch font and at least 800x600, to avoid line wrapping.

 I forgot to mention that the roller coaster at Playland Park, San Antonio, had an unusual start.
You went through a tunnel, before you got to the lift.
You headed into the tunnel, u-turned to the right to head west, then u-turned again to the right to head east again, and then out of the tunnel and onto the lift.

Oh, and the first drop after the lift was a quite scary, especially for a young teenager!

HI,

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST IN PLAYLAND PARK. I AM A 39 YEAR OLD WOMAN IN RENO, NV, AND GREW UP IN S.A.---SOME OF MY BEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES WERE AT PLAYLAND. LAST TIME I WENT TO S.A. IN 96, I KNEW THAT THE PARK HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN, BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT THE WEEDS & DETERIORATION & IT MADE ME SO SAD. I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THE PHOTOS YOU HAVE & AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MORE.

I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY MEMORIALBELIA OR ANY THING LEFT THAT I COULD BUY. I OWN A FLORIST HERE AND THINK THESE THINGS COULD ASSET MY DISPLAYS. IF NOT, THIS IS NOT A PLEA. I WAS JUST SO THRILLED TO SEE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO STILL HAS INTEREST IN THIS PLACE.

MY FIRST RIDE ON A ROLLER COASTER WAS THE ROCKET--I THINK I WAS 5 YEARS OLD.

I HAVE BEEN A JUNKIE EVER SINCE. WE GO TO "PARAMOUNT'S GREAT AMERICA" & RIDE "TOP GUN" & "THE VORTEX". THAT IS THE CLOSEST AMUSEMENT PARK TO US. IN SANTA CLARA, CA, ABOUT 4 HOURS FROM US.

ANYWAY, SORRY TO GO ON SO LONG. I WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT YOUR SITE.

THANKS FOR SAVING SOME OF MY MEMORIES.

Please add - The House of Mirrors.

Nice site - means a lot to me.

Thanks

Joe

Dear Friend,
     Thank you for bringing a bit of my child hood back.   I myself was wondering where I could get information on the park.   I did not find much.   I would really apprreciate it if you come by any old Playland photos. 

        I was about maybe eight or younger.   I remember my parents taking me to the park.   I still can't resist eveytime I pass by the old ground but to fall into a day-dream mode.    Thank you for careing enough to share your work with us.    Let me know about the photos if possible.   Thank you.     Johnny 

Great Site, but you forgot to add the great golf course and archery range. I visited there often in the 50's and 60's.

Thanks for the memories.

J. Rod

Jason - I wish I had photos of Playland.  Some information maybe could help you with a map/layout- the area just to the left of the entrance was an area of pinball machines, vending machines and photo cut outs boards (the ones that you put your head in).   Then came the bummer cars.  Shortly after was the funhouse with a section of the mirror maze.  The best mirror maze I have ever been in.  Very large and complex.  Then came a dark/spook house ride with cars.  In that spook house was a painter in the rafters whose paint bucket would flip over as it prentended to spill paint.   That area also had a midway of carnival games.   To the far right of the was The Rocket coaster and was in very poor shape when we rode it in 1975/76.  I will check for photos.

  Just wanted to say thanks for your research of Playland Park in San Antonio. I went by the park today on my way home from a bookstore, and I had to stop and get out & look thru the fence I was instantly flooded with many memories. As you first walk into the park to your left under the big open tin roof there it was, the round canal set inside the cement foundation where I used to ride the kiddie boats. My uncle & my mom used to take me and my cousin there all the time. I also remember the fun house , and there was a large doll like figure in the window laughing very loud. The roller coaster was awesome!!!!!!!!!!
 

I grew up on Ft. Sam Houston-'72-'80. I was 7 yrs. old when I first went to playland. However as I got a bit older, my friends and I would play along the creek that eventually led behind the "Rocket". I recall a little church and headstones and other scary "props" back there. Scared the daylights out of 10 yr old. Great times.I believe it was originally built with the military base in mind. A source of entertainment for the soldiers.

Thank you for bring back some great memories. Having grown up in S.A. [early fifties-late sixties] , I had gone to this park at least once a year when young, and then more often as I got older. Sure was glad they were able to recycle the Rocket it was a fun ride. I was living in New Mexico in the eighties and read in a small business trade magazine, about the Knoebels moving the coaster. And what a fitting name, The Phoenix!  Playland usually did a pretty good business on the weekends , but was never really super crowded. One thing that I will never forget, is that the Park was located directly across Broadway St. from the very large Buttercrust Bakery. So anytime you were near the park, the fresh baked bread smell was wonderful. To this day , I am always reminded of  Playland Park whenever I smell fresh baked bread. Were you aware that Houston also had a Playland Park with a good coaster.  I can't remember the coaster's name now. The park was located on S. Main, next to an oval race car track, where A.J. Foyt [ the 4 time Indy. winner] learned to race. I believe that Playland was shut down not long after Astroworld was built. Astroworld is located close to  S. Main as well..         Thanks again,  

Hi!

I enjoyed looking at your site on the old Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas. I grew up in SA and went to the park a couple of times. Unfortunately, those times were when the park was on its last legs and I didn't really get to see the park in its glory days. But I still had a good time as I recall.

I have an old newspaper advertising supplement for Playland Park. Would like a copy of it to see if it might give you some more info on the park?

we worked there as kids, from 1977-1978. we worked the mid-way, where all the games where played. my parents have a house on grayson street. just a few blocks norht of the park. As kids, i remember the fire works during the fourth of July. oh, there so much to remember, like "RED" who had the milk bottle game, would smoke his cigarettes from a black pipe. Joe, the hamberger cook with the "buttercrust" hat. the rocket was the ride robert cruz loved to ride, we would sit in the very back, with our hands up in the air, and just wait for the drop. We spent so much time there, hey it was only 10cents to get in, and on the ride-o-rama days it was 5 bucks. ride all day. the kiddie rides, bumber-cars"where my brother worked", to the surf-n-bounce, the hammer was like the zipper, but had more of a turn that made you think. the fun house was cool. I loved the little chaple, the music was great. please let me know if I can help, thanks for the memory of my childhood.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AND SPENT MANY DAYS AND NIGHTS AT PLAYLAND. I NOW LIVE IN SUBURBAN DETROIT. YOUR WEBSITE BROUGHT BACK MANY FOND MEMORIES. I STILL HAVE DREAMS AT NIGHT BEING AT PLAYLAND AND HAVING A BALL. THAT PICTURE OF THE FRONT GATE, I PASSED THROUGH THERE MANY TIMES. (THE LAST TIME IT WAS 10 CENTS!) IT SADDENS ME TO SEE IT IN THE STATE THAT IT IS IN NOW. I HAVE DREAMS THAT IT WILL OPEN AGAIN SOME DAY. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES! PLEASE RESPOND.

Great site! I remember going to the Butterkrust Bakery on a school field trip, in the shadow of the Rocket across the street (before it was dismantled). I was curious--do you know of anyone selling any old Playland Park memorabilia? Thanks!

Thanks so much for your web page regarding Playland Park. I grew up in South Texas near Corpus Christi but had cousins in San Antonio. It was wonderful growing up in the 1950's & 60's. Some of the most wonderful memories I have are family trips to San Antonio and my cousins and I would have so much fun at Playland Park. I was completely overwhelmed with nostalgia yesterday (2/22/06) when my husband and I drove by what used to be the Park. Wish he could have seen it in the 50's and 60's. It was awesome! I am so glad I have the memories and that there are other people out there that share memories of a most magical fun place for a kid to enjoy. Those were the days! Thanks again for your web page.

First of all thank you for the trip down memory lane,it felt good! to remember playland.

Now I realize almost everyone who has passed on an Email to this site has memories of their very much younger youth days,well my days were in 76-77 when I took pictures with gorilla backgrounds or inside a cage(jail like)oh it was so much fun I was already 17 years old but the fun and excitement of riding the Rollercoaster,really just being there made me feel like those younger kids I'm sure,I am a former Fox Tech High School Student here in San Antonio,Tx but I left to Nashville for some years and I returned to see playland, when I got home but I was sad to see that it was gone ,but you know even the old remains actually made me remember the old days,again Thankyou for having this website for old softies like me.

I am so glad that I got to see even a few pics of the roller coaster. I rember being 3 years old and being able to ride with my mom. I remember so fondly the little houses, I remember a little chapel, I remember my dad lifting me over the little gate so that I could go in. The train, haunted house, the hammer, oh my gosh, so many good memories there. I wish people would put more pics up so that we can see and remember. I remember some of the things my dad would win, like those long neck pepsi bottles, wow it is all coming back to me. I also remember the ride that had a crown in the middle. that was one of my favorites too. I have stopped outside of the park just to glance and look. and I tell you it is one of those things that you never want to forget. I remember how big it looked and now it look's so small to me. My last memories were of my step mom working at the golf course, we played free, and knew people who would let us ride free on rides. the roller coaster !

was diffrent though, they had a tunnel that was lit up in florescent colors...does that sound right? anyway I just remember especially the star at the top....anyway sometime I haer the song Roller coaster and I remember hearing it allot when I would go to Playland....I tell you memories...good ones.....Please if anyone has any pics please post them for all to see, that should be shared....those are good things to live on....

I remember Playland Park as a young child. I really liked the Putt-Putt course but most of the year it was covered with leaves. My parents would not let me ride the roller coaster because it had a big sign out front that said "Ride at Your Own Risk".

hello,

i noticed that one woman was interested in any memorabilia from playland. i know that for many years a flea market located on fredericksburg road in san antonio has several old displays from there, such as a "little miss muffet" diorama (quite large), and other things that I can't recall at this time. i do not believe they are for sale, and there are many other collectables from theme parks/circuses that i think belong to the owner, mostly vintage posters. here is the address/phone:

Northwest Center Flea Market

3600 Fredericksburg Road

(210) 736-6655

I opened the Northwest Flea Market in 1973. and still have it today. I spent many hours at Play land park in the late 50's and early 60's. I went to the auction when play land park was sold off. I hink that it was in the late 70's or early 80's. I got many things from play land park at that sale. I think it was chanle 5 that inter view me at the sale, becouse of the amount that I bought,mostly smalls. Like around the small rail road I got the Big Bend clock, the Almo and many other items that was burnt in a fire at the flea market about 4 years ago. I still have on display "Little Miss Muffit, sitting on her tuff-it". It is still complet. Did you ever meet Ed Gidia that was around there years after it closed? Just letting you know that some of the smalls still Live ON.

Thanks for your page about Playland Park. That brought back many fond memories of going to Playland in the 60's and 70's. 

For the record, there was no house of mirrors. The mirrors were in the Fun House, which included several rooms. 

I'm not sure I remember them all, but I remember several. You first entered a completely dark hall and had to feel your way along. 

This led to a room that was indirectly lit with blue and red lights which confused your eyes, and it was built at an angle, so that the room appeared to defy gravity. "Up" was actually at a 20-25 degree angle. To top it off the floor was concrete and divided by 2 metal rails, so that you had to make your way across it, back, and across again to get out. I recall falling and hitting my head my first time in the Fun House as a child. I don't think they could build a room like that today without being sued. 

The hall of mirrors was another room. It was a maze with some walls being mirrors, others glass, so that it was difficult to find your way through. 

I don't remember if there were other rooms, but I do remember that periodically there were hidden airjets that would blast you and startle you, and the grand finale was that AFTER you thought it was over OUTSIDE the last room, there was an entire row of these airjets pointed straight up, and the girls had to remember to hang onto their skirts to avoid putting on a show.

Just wanted to say thank you for your work in putting this site together. It was 1979 or 1980 when I was newly married and had just moved from Dallas to S.A. My wife had grown up in S.A. and one night took me to Playland Park. I was never much of a coaster fan until that evening. Were it not for the park closing at the end of the day I never would have gotten off the coaster. Aside from the great memories all I have left is a souvenir photo of the now ex wife and myself. Now if only I could remember where I left the keys to the time machine.........

No one has mentioned the giant lady in a dress and hat who would laugh and laugh. I think she worked from some sort of bellows mechanism. She bent at the waste and her skirt would blow up and show the edge of her slip. Does anyone remember her? And what about the little church that had stained glass windows? It had organ music playing from it.

I purchased, restored and sold the Roll-O-Plane that stood at Playland Park. It was a 1946 model and was sold to a mobile operator in the 80's. It was very neglected and did not run between 1989 and 1998 when I purchased it for $7,000 from Pride of Texas Shows. I spent two years and $55,000 restoring it and operated it in Ohio for 2 seasons. It is now owned by Miracle Amusements in Maineville, Ohio.