Palace Amusements
Palace Amusements was a historical indoor amusement park in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Built in 1888, and expanded several times over its history, the 100-year-old structure saw the good and bad of the storied Asbury Park boardwalk, withstood multiple nor'easters and hurricanes and both the Great Depression and World War II. After a worsening economic situation in both Asbury and the country in the mid-1980s, the park had to close its doors for good in 1988.
Palace Amusements in 1997 | |
Location | Asbury Park, NJ |
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Theme | Indoor amusement park |
Owner | Ernest Schnitzler (1888–1920) August Williams (1920–1939) Edward Lange & Zimel Resnick (1939–1986) Sam & Henry Vaccaro (1986–1988) |
Opened | August 17, 1888 |
Closed | November 27, 1988 |
Previous names | Palace Merry-Go-Round |
Area | 0.9 acres (0.36 ha) |
Attractions | |
Total | 12 |
Roller coasters | 1 |
Water rides | 1 |
Status | Closed/Demolished |
Location | Asbury Park, New Jersey |
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Coordinates | 40°13′4″N 74°0′12.76″W |
Built | June 1888 |
Built by | Ernest Schnitzler |
Architect | Ernest Schnitzler William B. Stout |
Architectural style | Late Victorian |
Demolished | May 26, 2004 |
NRHP reference No. | 00001406[1] |
NJRHP No. | 3705[2] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | November 22, 2000 |
Designated NJRHP | October 12, 2000 |
Several efforts were made to save the historic structure, including its hand-carved carousel and infamous murals and decorations, but in 2004, after an independent structural inspection, the building was deemed unsafe (and already damaged in several areas) and was ordered demolished. A local grassroots organization was able to save several pieces from the building, including the famed Tillie mural.
In popular culture
The Palace is mentioned in 1974 Bruce Springsteen hit "Born to Run" in the lines "Beyond the palace, hemi-powered drones / Scream down the boulevard"[3].
References
- "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form" (PDF). National Park Service. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- "Palace Amusements Building (ID#3705)" (PDF). New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Monmouth County. NJ DEP Historic Preservation Office. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- https://genius.com/2115435