Books about small amusement parks

February 13, 2007 7:25 AM

I'm looking for a book about Mom & Pop theme parks.

Can anyone recommend a book about amusement parks? I'm not looking for a history of Disneyland and its ilk, but rather the little two-bit parks that spring up in tourist traps around the US.

posted by CRM114 to society & culture (4 answers total)

Not a book, but Rick Seback: Great Old Amusement Parks is available on DVD and VHS from PBS.org
posted by Dave Faris at 7:47 AM on February 13, 2007

I searched Amazon for Rye Playland (ugly website of the amusement park in my hometown, which didn't exactly "spring up," but it is small and maybe two-bit). Doing that, I found Amusement Parks of New York. The author, Futrell, wrote similar books on New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Through that I also found out that there is a National Amusement Park Historical Society; I don't have time to look now, but they probably have some good suggestions.

I can't recommend any because I haven't read them, though. You might try searching Amazon with names of other small parks, if you know any.
posted by CiaoMela at 11:40 AM on February 13, 2007

I'll second Great Old Amusement Parks if you're interested in the subject, adding that pretty much any Sebak documentary is fantastic.
posted by kyleg at 3:32 PM on February 13, 2007

I'd recommend Roadside America for great listings of two-bit parks and tourist traps. Here's the book version that predates the website: Roadside America.
posted by jrb223 at 4:17 PM on February 13, 2007