Sylvan Beach Amusment Park

The condition of this place reflects the slow customer base. It’s a very nostalgic place and I enjoy coming here every year, which I’ve been doing for 20yrs now. Some things are in disrepair but there have been fixes and patches. Over the past few years they’ve closed a couple things so the stuff that is still operating can still function. The carousel arcade in the center is in 5 star condition but it’s owned separately from the test of the park. Laffland is a piece of history as the infamous Pretzel Ride company built and I’ve heard it is the oldest non mobile spook house in the entire country. This place is absolutely worth a day trip if you’ve never been here before and serves as a great places for boardwalk fun in a time where boardwalks are nearly extinct.

I really want to like this place. Vintage arcades and rides, what could be bad about this? Well in my opinion there is a difference between vintage and run down and dirty. The dated look and feel of the place is amazing. I love the small semi creepy feel of the park and really love how it is a little bit of a time capsule. The issue is cleaning and maintenance. Things are broken, have never been cleaned, dirty and dangerous. There was a ice cream stand which the countertop had not seen a rag in at least a few weeks. Someone in our party tripped over a piece of metal sticking out at the arcade and cut two toes open. This place could be one of the coolest and best old amusement parks in the country it just needs some attention to make it vintage instead of run down and dirty.
Once last comment is the price of the games in the arcades are crazy. Wish the prices were vintage. There was a wheel of fortune game that cost $ 5.75 for one play. Which lasted about 1 minute.

The park is a little run down and a little expensive. On the bright side, when we went the lines were short and the kids enjoyed themselves. It is right next to the beach too, so we took a break from the rides to go swimming and then came back for a few more rides.

Took the kids there yesterday and I’m still kinda miffed that it costs $ 21.95 per kid and they basically have like…, six rides, and one of them is the bumper boats that costs another three bucks per kid.

I love this place. I wish I lived closer as I would visit more often.
The park is so charming. They have a small arsenal of rides that are hard to find elsewhere: the Rotor, Crazy Dazy, Tip Top, and Galaxi coaster are just the few of the rides not found many other places. Laff Land is such a fun little dark ride. I love this park so much!

This was a nice bit of nostalgia. If you want a flash back to the lovely little lake side amusement park, then you definitely need to stop here. The setting is lovely. There are kiddie rides and rides for the older crowd. There are plenty of little games to do as well. I was surprised to see a fascination game room. Be prepared though as many of the rooms smell musty and the rides are full of cobwebs. Honestly, I am impressed they are able to maintain such a massive and old park. There’s rust on the rides, gunk on stuff too, but these are basic and fun rides. They even have a Laff in the dark. The park staff was very nice.

Sylvan Beach is one of the best summer fun places in this area. There’s so much to do from swimming, to getting on rides, and good food spots.

I agree with Burger B’s review! I have been coming to this park since I was a baby. Both my Mother and Grandmother enjoyed this park growing up as well, which tells you there is some history here!
Sylvan Beach saw it’s hay day long before most of us were ever born. II know it doesn’t look like much, and seems really dated (which it is) but the games, rides and the environment are all just, well… classics! I actually still have all coupons I had been saving from hours and hours of ski ball, and I truly truly love the fascination game!
I’m 35 years old and couldn’t wait to ride the historic carousel last month. Built in the late 1800’s, everyone in my family grew up riding this treasure, and for an old carousel it moves! I mean really moves… So much that I actually got a little dizzy!
You won’t find big or fancy thrill rides here, just the classics. Kiddie rides, Bumper Cars, Boats, Tilt-​O-​Whirl, the Scrambler, and Laffland. A truly timeless midway, with plenty of traditional carnival games.
Please don’t turn your nose up at this historic park. Give it a chance and I’m sure you’ll have a memorable time!!!

doesnt look safe

This park is retro in it’s décor and rides. The people that work the midway are very helpful and friendly. My son has special needs and they helped him get used to certain rides that he was afraid of.
The location is so convenient to where we stay in Verona Beach. We stay in a beautiful home located right next to the Verona Beach state park on the beach and it is only one mile from the home. We can take our bikes to the amusement park or even walk there.
The fast food is the best. We love the fried dough!
Our favorite ride is the Himalayan. They play all our favorite dance and upbeat songs from the past and present while your riding.
We’ve been coming to the midway for several years now and plan on coming back this summer. It’s nostalgic and we love the memories we’ve made there.

OKAY… it’s Sylvan Beach. It’s always been kind of trashy but the old rides and buildings still have a lot of fun left in them. A couple descent restaurants are still around so you can eat, go on some rides and play Skeeball.

Simply put, it’s like a scaled down version of Coney Island — minus the updating that Coney Island is now receiving. I’m originally from the area, so of course I’ve been to Sylvan Beach on many occassions. They have some decent rides — all quite old — my mom used to ride a lot of the same rides back in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Their arcade games are oldies but goodies (I love the Tic Tac Toe!) and it’s located, obviously, on the beach. Most people that go there own summer camps in the area so it’s never jam-​packed. Parking used to be free, but now it’s all metered — unless you go to the paid parking lot to park for the day. They do a lot of events in the summer — concerts, car shows, etc.

This place is simply legendary. I’ve been going to the Sylvan Beach Amusement Park since I was a toddler. Granted, it’s not the most up-​to-​date facility, but that’s part of the charm. If you’re looking for shiny new, high-​tech rides, stop reading this review and go waste your money at one of the large, corporate-​owned parks.
This place is both historal and fun. They still have an operational Fascination parlor, which rocks! (There are only about 10 still open in the U.S.)
The arcade is huge. Oh. and check out Laffland. It’s one of those old-​fashioned haunted house-​type-​rides with wooden things that pop out. Very good vintage fun! Sure, it smells slightly musty inside. but again, it’s all part of the charm. ;-) They have other amusement park standards, like a merry-​go-​round, scrambler, and bumper cars.
I’m only scratching the surface of the games and rides they have here. Every time I go, this park gives me goosebumps to think that several generations of folks have been frequenting this place over the years. I highly recommend it! :-)