Canobie Lake Park is an amusement park in Salem, New Hampshire, United States. It was founded as a trolley park on the shore of Canobie Lake in 1902. It is one of only thirteen trolley parks left in operation. The park is owned and operated by three families.

The park originally featured botanical gardens and a few amusement rides. After the automobile became the most popular mode of travel in the United States, the trolley line serving the park was closed. Attendance in the park declined, resulting in the closure of the park in 1929. It was purchased at auction by Patrick J. Holland in 1931, and reopened in 1932. He oversaw the installation of a wooden roller coaster named Yankee Cannonball in 1936. The park recovered, and has seen the installation of many rides since, including Untamed and the former Canobie Corkscrew.

History

Canobie Lake Park opened on August 23, 1902, as a trolley park owned by the Massachusetts Northeast Street Railway Company.Seed, Douglas, & Khalife, Katherine (1996). Salem, NH. Volume II - Trolleys, Canobie Lake, and Rockingham Park, Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. . In its earlier years, the park was known for its flower gardens, promenades, and gentle attractions. After the decline of trolley as a mode of travel, the park declined in popularity, culminating in its closure on St. Patrick's Day in 1929.

In 1931, the park was auctioned off with the intent to subdivide the land into residential lots. Patrick J. Holland, a construction contractor from Ireland, bought the property for $17,000. He and his workers restored the park with new gardens, attractions, and modern electricity. In 1932, the park reopened, three years after its initial closure.

In 1936, the Greyhound roller coaster was installed, having been relocated from Lakewood Park in Connecticut. Holland died in 1943, leaving the park to his wife and son, who continued to operate the park until 1958. Three close friends from New Jersey purchased the park in 1958, and their families still operate the park today.

Some films and novels have used Canobie Lake Park as a setting or filming location. Stephen King, a horror novelist, based the amusement park in his novel Joyland on Canobie Lake Park. During a visit in 2012, King took photographs inside the dark ride attraction Mine of Lost Souls because he wanted to incorporate a haunted dark ride into his novel. The park was also used as a filming location for the 2013 film Labor Day, based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard. It also appeared in an episode of Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, as well as in the season six opening for the show Zoom.

Events Canobie Lake Park holds many events in the park throughout the year, including live performances and fireworks shows. The park has multiple venues for live entertainment, including the Country Stage, Midway Stage, and Dancehall Theater. The park's Dancehall Theater has hosted performers such as Duke Ellington, Sonny & Cher, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. The park also hosts shows from impersonators of celebrities.

Beginning in 2008, Canobie Lake Park holds a Halloween event called ScrEEEmfest in the fall. Attractions include haunted houses, live shows, and kid-friendly activities.

Current attractions

Roller coasters Name Opened ManufacturerType Notes Unknown2026 SBF Visa GroupSteel children's spinning coaster Dragon Coaster1991 ZamperlaSteel children's coaster Untamed2011 GerstlauerSteel Euro-Fighter roller coaster Yankee Cannonball1936 Philadelphia Toboggan CoastersWooden out-and-back roller coaster Originally opened at Lakewood Park in 1930 as Roller Coaster and later as Meteor. Closed in 1932, and moved to Canobie Lake Park in 1936, where it reopened as Greyhound. Renamed to Yankee Cannonball in 1983. Recognized as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark.

Thrill rides Name Opened ManufacturerType Pirate1986 S.D.C./Amusement TechnicalSwinging ship Psychodrome1989 Eli Bridge CompanyScrambler"CANOBIE SPECIAL", Boston Globe, April 16, 1989. Starblaster2002 S&S PowerDouble Shot launch/drop tower Time Winder2024 ZamperlaNebulaZ Turkish Twist1979 S.D.C.Rotor Wipeout2004 Chance RidesWipeout Xtreme Frisbee2007 HUSS Park AttractionsFrisbee

Family rides Name Opened ManufacturerType Antique Carousel1902 Charles I. D. Looff/Dentzel Carousel Company/Stein & GoldsteinCarousel with Wurlitzer style 153 band organ Antique Cars1968 Arrow DevelopmentCar ride Blue Heron2005 UnknownBoat ride on Canobie Lake Boston Harbor Patrol2008 Sartori Amusement RidesFlying carpet Canobie 5001977 Arrow DevelopmentCar ride Canobie Express1975 Crown Metal ProductsRideable miniature railway Caterpillar1963 Traver EngineeringCaterpillar Crazy Cups1958 Philadelphia Toboggan CoastersTeacups DaVinci's Dream2003 Wooddesign Amusement Rides B.V.Swing ride Dodgem1930s UnknownBumper cars Giant Sky Wheel1981 Preston & Barbieri/S.D.C.Ferris wheelIce Jet2017BertazzonMatterhorn Mine of Lost Souls1987 S.D.C./Sally CorporationDark ride Over the Rainbow2001"More sure signs of spring: Canobie Lake Park opens", New Hampshire Sunday News (Manchester, NH), April 29, 2001 ZamperlaBalloon Race Rowdy Roosters1948 Bisch-RoccoFlying Scooters Skater2005 ZamperlaDisk'O Sky Ride1969 SkyTransSky ride Twist & Shout1949 Sellner ManufacturingTilt-A-WhirlVenetian Carousel2019 BertazzonDouble-decker Venetian carousel Wave Blaster2009 ZamperlaKang'A'Bounce Zero Gravity2008 Battech EnterprisesRound Up

Water rides +NameOpenedManufacturerTypeBlue Heron2005UnknownBoat ride on Canobie LakeBoston Tea Party1998Hopkins RidesShoot the chutePolicy Pond Log Flume1983Hopkins RidesLog flume

Castaway Island Name Opened Manufacturer TypeAnaconda2018Aquatic Development GroupRaft slideConstrictor2018Aquatic Development GroupRaft slideLil Squirts Play Pad2018Aquatic Development GroupWater play areaPython2018Aquatic Development GroupRaft slide Rain Fortress2005 WhiteWater West"Canobie's new Castaway Island water complex opens", New Hampshire Union Leader, May 26, 2005 Water play area with several small slidesTidal River2018 Aquatic Development Group Combination lazy river and wave pool

Children's rides Name Opened Type Alpine Swings2003 Miniature swing ride Autobahn2009Spinning vehicle ride Boats1954Spinning boat ride Fire Engines1954Spinning fire engine ride Flower Power1994 Miniature The Whip Helicopters1959Spinning helicopter ride Jeeps1953Spinning Jeep ride Jump Around2009 Spinning vehicle ride Jungle Bounce2003Miniature drop tower Junior Sportscars1958Miniature car ride Kiddie CanoesLate 1980s Miniature boat ride Kiddie Carousel1954 Children's carousel Mini Dinos1960Spinning dinosaur ride Mini Skooter Late 1980s Miniature bumper cars Pony Carts1954 Spinning pony ride Sea/Land Rescue1989 Spinning plane ride Sky Fighters1954 Spinning plane ride Tanks1954Spinning tank ride

Former attractions

Roller coasters NameYear openedYear closed ManufacturerType Notes Canobie Corkscrew19872021 Arrow DevelopmentSteel roller coaster Originally operated at Old Chicago from 1975 to 1980 as Chicago Loop, before moving to the Alabama State Fairgrounds as Corkscrew from 1982 to 1986. Closed due to maintenance costs. Jr. Roller Coaster19701984 Allan Herschell CompanySteel children's roller coaster Mammoth Roller Coaster1902Between 1933 and 1935 Frederick IngersollSide friction wooden roller coaster Sometimes referred to as Figure 8 Rockin' Rider19702004 S.D.C.Steel Galaxi roller coaster Wild Mouse1962 or earlier B. A. Schiff & AssociatesHybrid steel wild mouse roller coaster

Attractions NameYear openedYear closed Manufacturer Notes Bowling alley19021960s Unknown After purchasing the park in the 1960s, the owners burned all the pins from the bowling alley to keep warm during their first winter Calypso19751988 Mack Rides Replaced with the Moon Orbiter Equinox20122014 KMG Removed due to mechanical issues. Fascination1930s2001 Unknown Replaced with the Jackpot Casino House of Seven Gables19381978 Unknown Walkthrough dark attraction Kosmojets19672003 S.D.C. Replaced with Wipeout Matterhorn19872006 S.D.C. Moon Orbiter19892002 Unknown Replaced with Star Blaster Ocean Trip 20012008 SBF Visa Group Replaced with Boston Harbor Patrol Paratroopers19742006 Unknown Replaced with Skater Petting zooUnknownUnknown N/A Round UpLate 1950s2007 Unknown Replaced with Zero Gravity Roller skating rink1930s1978 N/A Building later housed ScrEEEmfest haunts The Swamp1930s1985 Pretzel Amusement Ride Company Dark ride Swimming pool19122007 Unknown Removed to make way for a larger park entrance Tiki-Maze19652016 S.D.C. USA Missile19712011 Unknown A simulation ride. Removed to make way for Untamed. Vertigo Theatre19872009 Unknown Removed to make way for "Wave Blaster" The WhipMid-1950sEarly 1980s Unknown Removed due to difficulty in maintenance Tall Timber Splash19942023 WhiteWater West A water coaster

Incidents On July 27, 2001, two trains collided at the base of Yankee Cannonball's lift hill, injuring five people. The incident was blamed on operator failure to engage the ride's brakes. On July 1, 2014, five individuals attacked police officers after they were told they could not carry weapons in the park. Three of the five were charged with felony rioting. On August 6, 2016, a stuntman rolled off of a safety net and fell 20 feet during Canobie Lake Park's "Rocket Man: The Human Cannonball" performance. The stuntman was unharmed.

See also

List of amusement parks in New England

References

External links