'I'd give anything to be back on that ride again': Sharing summer memories of Lincoln Park

For almost a century, summer in the SouthCoast was synonymous with Lincoln Park. Once a destination on Route 6 in Dartmouth on the Westport line, the amusement park featured dozens of rides for everyone — the Scrambler and the Tilt-a-Whirl, Flying Cages that whipped kids through the air and a boat merry-go-round gliding along the water, and the famous (and infamous) wooden rollercoaster, the Comet. 

What began as a pine grove in 1894 owned by a railway company became the SouthCoast's entertainment mecca in the mid-20th century, a place where people could see live bands, skate and dance, have a picnic, and enjoy the thrills of rides and carnival games.

Lincoln Park’s gates were shut in December 1987 and never reopened. But the park lives on in the memories of its fans.

We asked readers to write in and share what made Lincoln Park so special, and you responded.

Southcoast Wonders: Dartmouth's Lincoln Park was a summer hotspot — but why did it close?

‘Lincoln Park was our Disney World': An entertainment capital close to home

Part of Lincoln Park's charm was its closeness. It was originally a park owned by the Union Street Railway Co., built as a destination between Fall River and New Bedford. When highways were built post-World War II, Lincoln Park was only a quick drive down the road on Route 6 — and cheaper than a vacation.

“Lincoln Park signaled the beginning of an exciting summer for us ‘70s SouthCoast kids,” wrote Lisa Souza of Fall River. "The rides, the food, the games ... Lincoln Park had all the ingredients for a good time and was locally and financially accessible to pretty much everyone. Since most of us were not growing up wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, Lincoln Park was our Disney World.  It was never a bad day for a ‘70s Southcoast kid if Lincoln Park played a role in it!"

Christine of Somerset agreed that it was well within reach for people locally. “Money was tight when I was growing up, so a surprise visit to Lincoln Park was exciting! Also our school bus driver used (to) keep the bus one Friday night a month and, for a couple of dollars, bring us to the roller-skating rink.”

It was so close, in fact, that you didn’t even need a car to get there. For some people locally, Lincoln Park was a bike ride away. For others, it was a spot built by public transportation and stayed that way.

“Mom and Dad taking my two brothers and I along with the delicious special food Mom made for our lunch all packed in a picnic basket, taking it all on the Pleasant Street bus, since we didn’t have a car, and eating at the picnic tables," wrote Angie Amarantes of Tiverton.

'Used to be a blast': Community spirit at Lincoln Park

While Lincoln Park was open to everyone, there were times when it went private. Organizations could rent out the entire park for a day. It was a way to show employee appreciation and build community spirit.

Quaker Fabric Corp. of Fall River was one such company, opening up the park every year to thousands of employees and their families for a day of unlimited rides, face-painting, Bingo, prize giveaways and more.

Other groups got in on the fun as well.

“Used to be a blast when we had the diocesan holiday, where Catholic school attendees went to Lincoln Park for a day of fun and camaraderie,” wrote Mike Dusoe of Sandy, Utah.

“My father worked for Texas Instruments in Attleboro," wrote Lynn Drummey of Seekonk. “Every year T.I. would give their employees a family day at Lincoln Park. We were all so excited to attend this event! This included free tickets to attend and lunch for all."

Remember Lincoln Park? This ticket booth may jog your memory

'The thrill of the roller coaster’: The Lincoln Park rides and snacks

In 1946, Lincoln Park added the Comet, a wooden roller coaster that reached a top speed of 55 mph with a peak of 65 feet. It became Lincoln Park’s showpiece. They gave it a little sister in 1951: the Comet Jr., a steel roller coaster for kids.

The Giant Slide greeted guests as they entered the park, kids of all ages rocketing down its hills on scraps of carpet. Then there were the Crazy Cups, the Tilt-A-Whirl, Dodgem, the Whip, the Monster Ride and more. Along Route 6 were the Scrambler and the Roundup. The park had a famous Clambake Pavilion and snacks at stalls scattered between the rides.

Shawn Murphy of Swansea remembered “desperately trying to get the Flying Cages to go around even once, but only ending up with a bruised shoulder from flinging yourself against the very thin vinyl pad in the cage!"

“As far as rides go, I was a big bumper car guy, and I would go roller skating there occasionally," wrote Mark Chekares of Fall River. “When we were in middle school, our church youth group had an outing there, and eating the trashy food ... was a highlight. My buddy and I ordered a lingui?a pizza, and the chunks of lingui?a had to be the size of marshmallows. I'm pretty sure the meat wasn't even cooked through because it was sliced so poorly. The pizza was disgusting, but we laughed at the size of those monstrosities all night."

“We loved the tilt a whirl and the thrill of the roller coaster. We would go on three times,” wrote Amarantes. “We loved listening to the music as we walked around the park buying snacks, later in the day clam cakes, hot dogs and salt water taffy, and visited a family friend who had a candy booth and always gave us some to bring home.”

“Remember clearly today at 70 years old when my two uncles took me on the large roller coaster for the first time!” wrote Edward Hill.

'I'd give anything to be back on that ride again with Dad': Family memories

Lincoln Park advertised itself in the mid-20th century as “fun for all the family" — and that focus on the people is what readers most cherish.

“I grew up going to Lincoln Park once a year when my father had his vacation,” wrote Anne Johnson of Somerset. “My favorite memories are of riding the small roller coaster with my Dad and playing miniature golf with my parents.”

For Susan Stokes of Fall River, it was literally all about family. “My Mom was the secretary to the general manager,” she wrote. “My brother and I would spend lots of fun summer days there during the late ‘60s. I was the bookkeeper during the ‘80s and my brother worked in the paint/arts department. My son was even in a park commercial when he was 4. It was a fun family affair for us!"

"My favorite memory of Lincoln Park was operating the carousel in the summer of 1973, after my freshman year in college," wrote Ricky Sahady of Fall River. “It allowed me, on a daily basis, to experience the joy and excitement of youngsters as they boarded for the rides — which eventually led to a 36-year career in the Fall River School Department."

Laura Monteiro of Somerset described riding the Monster Ride for the first time with her father at age 7. “I was exuding the typical overconfidence of a child ... until we got inside," she wrote. “As the tiny car brought us through the maze-like funhouse, I remember shutting my eyes so tight because — to me — it was terrifying! I still remember the flashes of neon and frightening imagery. What I also remember is hearing my father hysterically laughing while I was slowly passing away beside him from fear.

“When I realized that I had actually survived the ride, I could not wait to get off. Now, almost 40 years later, I'd give anything to be back on that ride again with Dad."

Dan Medeiros can be reached at [email protected]. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Readers recall Lincoln Park's rides and memories of family outings