The REAL Palisades Amusement Park
Palisades Amusement Park. which was located in what are now the towns of Cliffside Park, Fort Lee and Edgewater, New Jersey opened in 1898. Located on the Palisades Cliffs overlooking the Hudson River it had a perfect view of the island of Manhattan.
 No amusement park in the world has ever evoked a greater fervor for its fans than the 38 acres of New Jersey land that was once referred to as Palisades Amusement Park. The passion of this wonderland has survived the test of time better than any other childhood memory. Mothers softly sing the Palisades jingle as a lullaby to their infants. Other parents recite tales of their memories of this “Park on the Palisades” to their children as bedtime stories. What is it about this magical place that has kept its memory alive for countless numbers of devoted fans, even decades after it closed its gates to the public?
 To those who knew Palisades, it was their own personal playground and they molded it into a childhood memory that they keep with them throughout those sometimes turbulent years of adulthood. Palisades was a peaceful place where everyone felt comfortable, safe and happy. There are as many fond memories of this fun center as there were visitors to its grounds: The hole in the fence used to “sneak” into the park; the unforgettable flavor of those incredible vinegar-soaked french fries; the roster of talent that graced the free outdoor stage shows; the mechanical “Laughing Sal” mannequin that watched over the entrance to the old fun house; the smell of the cotton candy; the “click, click, click” as the Cyclone roller coaster slowly made its way up the first lift hill; the feel of the salt water spray blowing from the water falls at the swimming pool.
Even the journey over to the Park has become a vivid part of these memories. Old timers remember taking the trolley from all corners of New Jersey. Others recall the ferry ride that crossed the Hudson River from Manhattan’s 125th Street pier. The Orange & Black bus line transported passengers from New York while Public Service buses brought them in from all surrounding points in New Jersey. Children peddled their bicycles from miles around. Parents overloaded station wagons with family and friends to journey off to the fairyland. And these excursions seemed unbearably long for the children who waited to see their first glimpse of that giant roller coaster as they neared the Park.
 A day at Palisades Amusement Park consisted of a thousand laughs, countless smiles, tests of skill at the game concessions, and a carefree diet that consisted of soda, cotton candy, french fries, hot dogs, roast beef sandwiches, frozen custard, hamburgers, sausage and peppers, freshly squeezed lemonade, and thick Southern waffles served with whipped cream.
People rode on colorful machines that whirled and spun at dizzying speeds with names as enchanting as the rides themselves; the Whirligig, the Showboat Fun House, Casper’s Ghostland, Crazy Crystals, the Cyclone, the Bee Hive, the Wild Mouse, the Snapper and the Atomic Boats.
It was a place filled with romance. It was a place where couples first met, fell in love, became engaged, and some were even married within its gates. It is the amusement park that has been credited with originating the name “Tunnel of Love”.
People who were as young as only four years old when the Park closed can still recall their visit minute by minute. Just one trip to Palisades and it was forever a part of your soul.
New Yorkers traveling along the Riverside Drive will never forget the special glimmer of light that rose off the top of the Palisades cliffs. Clearly visible from Manhattan, this view of Palisades became the inspiration for the 1962 Freddy Cannon hit song “Palisades Park”. Through this classic rock ‘n’ roll hit, the rest of the world learned about the little Park we all loved so dearly.
The Park seemed larger than life for most of its visitors. Ferris wheels towered high into the sky. Majestic buildings stood tall with colorful art deco facades inviting patrons to come inside. Midways stretched endlessly in all directions, each offering a unique blend of colors, sounds, and attractions.
When Palisades Amusement Park closed its gates forever in 1971, a little piece of our youthful innocence went with it. But Palisades will forever live on in our hearts and minds.
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