Playland

If you are looking for something fun to do in Westchester County during the summer, head over to Playland in Rye! This is an amusement park that first opened in 1928, is owned by the Westchester County government, and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

The park itself has many major components to it. One of the first ones that people encounter when they enter the park is the beach and pool. The beach is part of the Long Island Sound, has what the website calls the Sun & Sea Shop, and recently got a new addition of a waterfront slide. I remember there always being a pool in this area of the park, but according to the website, it appears it has had some significant changes. The pool now has zero depth entry, lounge furniture, and panoramic views of the Long Island Sound. There are also new amenities like a boardwalk shop and grab n go snacks. There is another new addition to this side of the park, which is paddle boats. They are located on the Playland Lake alongside the Historic Boathouse, and guests have the choice of either a swan or a dragon as their vessel. 

There is also a big arcade that is full of fun and innovative games. It was closed during the 2023 season as it was undergoing what the website calls a complete transformation, so maybe we will find out what that means this summer. The park also has ten fun midway games scattered around that have winners every time. These include a water race game, a fishing game where you must catch a frog, a game where you must hang on a bar for two minutes, a basketball game where you must score one basket, skeeball, a dart throwing game, a balloon popping game, and a game where you try to knock down three blocks. 

The park also has several opportunities for shopping. One of these shops is called the Play! Shop, which is described as Playland’s first branded retail experience, and sells Playland souvenirs such as casual apparel and gifts. There is also the Dragon Gift Shop, which sells classic Playland merchandise, cold drinks, candy, and playful gifts and toys. There is also Sun & Sea on the boardwalk, which sells towels, souvenirs, beach toys, sundries, ice cream, drinks, and snacks. There are also mobile carts around the park that offer some of the park’s best sellers, and fun things to take home for kids.

The standout part of the park is all the rides it has. There is a small section of the park designed specifically for kids called Kiddyland that features several fun rides for young kids. I remember going there when I was younger, and it still has some rides that I remember going on. These include Convoy, which is a ride where guests ride in trucks around a circular track, Jump n’ Bean, which is a drop tower ride, the Playland Express, and the Kiddy Coaster. There are also several rides for the whole family, many of which I remember going on, like a small roller coaster called the Family Flyer, a ride called Kite Flyer, a ride with an elliptical track called The Whip, a circular ride called Music Express, and a ride that moves in a clockwise and counterclockwise motion called Catch a Wave, which according to the website is temporarily unavailable. There have also been two new family rides that opened in 2022, a spinning ride called Tornado, and a ride called the Old Rye Motorbike Factory, which goes in a circle and has a lever you can pull to throw your bike into the air. There are also a few thrill rides at the park, some of which I remember going on many years ago. These include Saw Mill River, which used to be called Log Flume, a roller coaster called Crazy Mouse, a drop ride called Double Shot, and a ride called The Playland Plunge, which drops fast enough to create a tidal wave. The park also has a signature ride called the Dragon Coaster. I remember going on it a few times when I was younger, and I remember finding it very exciting with how fast it was. I also enjoyed riding it because it’s a wooden roller coaster, which means that it does not go upside down. It is currently closed until the spring, which I find interesting, as I am wondering what changes are being made to the ride that have made it be closed for so long. 

Tickets are typically $39.99 for general admission and rides. So this summer, come enjoy one of the most fun parts of Westchester County!