Walking around an amusement park that is not yet open for the season brings the eerie feelings of abandonment. Sylvan Beach Amusement park isn’t an abandoned property, but I’d call it forgotten. Neglected. It doesn’t help the eerie atmosphere to learn that Ghost Hunters featured Sylvan Beach on one of their episodes and concluded that three spirits are actively haunting the property:
Park owner Doug Waterbury says many people have passed away on the property over the years, and some believe that their ghosts are lingering.
The Ghost Hunters’ analysis turned up evidence of a voice they believe is the spirit of Jack, as well as a knocking sound they think is his spirit. In Play Land the investigators heard a whistle they believe was trying to get their attention.
In Treasure Land, there was another whistle sound – which the investigators believe was Scottie who was a worker at the park.
Read the whole recap here.
Me having a jolly old time before knowing the place was haunted
Sylvan Beach Amusement park has been around for a very, very long time. The grounds that are now home to the park were purchased in 1902; previous to that, in the late 1800s, traveling operators (“pitch men”) would come pitch their tents in the summer and be gone by early September. Sylvan beach became all about the senses – wonder, amusement, thrills, and strange sensations, like the “Cave of the Winds” and “Trip to Hell” attractions, along with acrobats, trapeze artists, and high divers.
The Midway in the early 1900s
High Dive, a popular attraction in the 1900s
Doing some further research, and looking up the photos taken throughout the years, Sylvan beach seems pleasantly stuck in the past – like a blip in today’s super-fast, super-crazy, mega huge sensory-overload amusement parks. Maybe the haydays are gone, but the town of Sylvan Beach is very cute, and park admission comes with beach access – a great deal for a day of lazing around, which I look forward to when we go back this weekend, when the park is actually open! (And maybe it won’t rain???!?!??!!)
There are literally centuries of memories at Sylvan Beach. Whatever the future of the park is, those won’t soon be forgotten.
Abandoned in NY 
I grew up in Canastota NY. I try to visit once a year or so. The amusement park is deteriorating. I think some cobwebs have been there since 1970’s . It was the place to be in those days ! Much has changed since then .