Remembering Rocky Point Amusement Park, 1847 to 1995, Warwick, Rhode Island by Jéanpaul Ferro

For Centuries, the meadows and rocky shoreline of Rocky Point, Rhode Island was a summer gathering place for the Narragansett Indian tribe and the many suzerain that they ruled over that included the Pawtuxet, Shawomet, Cowesett, and Potowomut tribes, where they hunted and fished to stock up for the brutal winter months.
In 1847, Captain William Winslow, owner of the steamship Argo, purchased some 120 acres along the sublime coast of Warwick's 39 miles of coastline. There he built a beautiful New England resort that he named Winslow's Rocky Point. It included an 8-story tower that overlooked Narragansett Bay, where one could see Prudence Island, Jamestown, and Aquidneck Island down the bay. There was a 300-room hotel, Ferris wheel, Merry-Go-Round, the Sea Swing ride right in the ocean at the beach, and many other amusement rides. Through the decides Rocky Point Amusement Park changed hands several times, was destroyed and rebuilt because of the 1938 Great New England Hurricane, when all the monkeys that reside on Monkey Island at Rocky Point escaped and continued to live in the surrounding woods for many years. The Rocky Point Shore Dinner Hall was known as the largest Shore Dinner Hall in the world.
Sadly, Rocky Point closed in 1995 living two centuries of wonderful memories within the heart and soul of all Rhode Islanders and many who came from around New England to visit the park. This is our celebration of that grand old park that brought Rhode Island so much joy. I hope you enjoy the video. Jéanpaul

[@gerardfricot3009]

What a shame that it’s gone. Many childhood memories

[@sallybenoit1527]

Had some wonderful times there. Sure do Miss the SHore dinners.. ❤❤❤

[@agf1958]

Thanks for the memories. I worked there 1975, 1976 and 1977. Was my first job at 17 years old. Was also my last job before leaving R.I. for Arizona I think in 1995, the last year of operation. My favorite ride was the Cyclone, 2nd was the Flume. I was part of the Crash Test Dummies in a group who would ride the Cyclone for close to an hour before the park opens to check the operation and for defects, my friend at the time Dave Palmer and I worked together. The most dangerous I think was the Wildcat. I met Marlo Thomas and her father Danny one year. Seen some great concerts. Had lots of fun.

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

That is awesome!

[@debv1578]

That background music is making us all cry as we remember our fun times there as kids! I go there now a couple of times a week to walk the path then sit on the bench gazing at the beautiful ocean. I'm showing this video to my grandson!

[@MariaBienvenido]

What a beautiful place and amusement park Rocky Point was.

[@AJTramberg]

I left RI 40 years ago, but those days my Dad would take me to RP in the late 70s/early 80s were the best days with my Dad, and of my childhood. Ill never understand how a place so popular and beloved failed. Losing RP was a tragedy.

[@mthom4615]

My dad took.me there in the 1950's to early 60's, we.moved to the city Disneyland us in in California, but when we went there and saw the sign " you.must be this tall" for the rides, I broke out crying i.missed Rocky Point so much. I never could afford to move back...and now...65 years later my memories if Rocky Point and RHODE Island are the most precious I have. Thank you for posting this .

[@johnpaul7597]

As I sat here watching the flood of memories and emotions overtook me... I cried a few times and my eyes were filled up the entire time! The memories are almost too vivid, too precious, too real... it was like watching a video of a family member that passed and is long gone but never to be forgotten! So many great times, with family, girlfriends over the years, enjoying the outdoor concerts at night with fireworks going off overhead, the smell of the sea flooding in (to offset the smell of vomit of course, lol) and of course the chowder and clamcakes my entire family would rush there to get and then eat overlooking the ocean! I worked at the "Shore Dinner Hall" in 1976 as a teenager, used to know all the "sneak in" points as a kid.. good times, great memories!! Thank you sooo much for this video! It's almost too heartbreaking to watch, but worth the precious memories it elicits!!

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

I felt the same way making this, John Paul. I think for all of us Rhode Islanders losing Rocky Point was like losing a family member and it harkens back to a time we simply cannot get back, which is a lot like life itself, which is what makes it so damn sad.

[@johnpaul7597]

@@jeanpaulferro8909 ...and as a musician, I have to say that the choice of music really lends to the impact.. very minor oriented with a n extremely emotional quality to it, which tugs on the emotions attached to the memories... absolutely incredible, could not've been a more suitable choice of music to accompany the imagery evoked.. so meloncholy.. perfection! The family memories, my having worked there as a teenager, the fact that my great aunt Jenny lived in that house on the left right after you swing to the right at the bottom of the hill when exiting the park.. she read palms and used to spook all my girlfriends and friends with her stories.. she had a framed photo of that street from back when it was trolley-cars bc she lived there from before it even existed.. I think of her every time I do go there for a walk, which literally feels like I'm visiting a graveyard it kind of gets to me at times.. remembering, and knowing it's all gone. Sad, yet a reality of life we all have to embrace for nothing remains the same.. only the memories of the them.. the events, and more importantly the people many of which are since long gone. Okay, enough melancholy lol.. gotta lighten this up by saying "Peace & Many Blessings" to you and your loved ones.. JP

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

@@johnpaul7597 Thanks John Paul. I once wanted to be a musician but my anxiety problem precluded me from ever being able to go onstage so I turn to writing. But that old musician part of me is still alive deep down inside me.

[@MichelleBourque-w9z]

My family &I would go to Rocky Point every year,my Dad would buy us a bracelet to get on the rides and we would spend the whole day there what memories I have of that wonderful park ❤

[@tomp8871]

I had a young lady invite me down there which I did. Had a great time and views (were great when you get up high). Then I met the freefall, man my neck went then, and that was it for the day for me! Still enjoyed 👍

[@dolivier]

We would go every year , when the state works had there family outing . They were at Rocky Point 😊 My whole family would go. It was the best day , I still remember. Missing some of people today after seeing this.

[@billymoretti8437]

Excellent as usual! Love watching your videos of Rhode Islands Past!

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

Thanks. Appreciate it!

[@patriciakingsbury4714]

Those where the days n I took my family there we loved it .....😢

[@HeavyZeppelin68]

Grew up in Warwick during the 1970-80s...worked at RP in the games section in 1986... thanks for sharing this!

[@jack-1955]

They had the best clam cakes. I remember my parents taking my two sisters and me there to see the Three Stooges when they were doing their farewell tour.. I believe that was in 1961. A lot of fond memories of that park. Thanks for posting this. 😊

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

My dad worked at the Shore Dinner Hall in 1958 and President Eisenhower had a summer house in Newport. One morning they announced that President Eisenhower was coming for dinner. My dad said they scrambled to shine everything up and make it perfect. Only there was an issue in Washington and the President had to cancel at the last minute. My dad is 83 and still laughs about this story 'til this day about the President coming to the Shore Dinner Hall and having to cancel.

[@scottmoore4601]

I loved it! This brought back so many childhood memories. Thank you for producing it!

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

My pleasure!

[@mthom4615]

So beautiful and so sad to watch

[@Irpsnerple]

Thank you very much. Some of my best childhood memories were at Rocky Point Park. xoxo There was more history than I ever realized. I'll be 72 in July and this was a most interesting, educational and delightful trip down memory lane. xoxo

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

Glad to oblige!

[@acousticedison]

The ride they called the Bug was a fairly rare ride. We had one outside of St.Louis at the Westlake Amusment Park in Bridgeton. It was one of my favorite rides when I was young. My grandparent home where I was living at the time was on a high and you could see the last part of the Thunderbolt Coaster and her the chugging sound the motor that drove the arms of the Tumble Bug around the circle of small hills.

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

Very cool!

[@rolipol02]

Chowder hall was my favorite

[@billgannon9111]

Saw Roy Orbison at The Palladium. 1962

[@kppd41]

It’s true, you don’t know what you got until it’s gone

[@The12voltguy]

Who was the jack hole that decided to burn the busses ? That was intelligent!!! The video was awesomely done.

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

That I do not know. But it was someone at the park. Makes for a great story. Almost as good as the escape monkeys after the '38 hurricane that lived in the nearby woods for years, because everybody came down and was feeding them.

[@pcprodoc]

The ride you named "Apallo" is nothing of the like. Apallo was a smaller version of the Musik Express. The ride you labled Apallo was a The Rocket ride but in the background was the "Sky Diver'. Otherwise, thank you for the reminder of what once was a thriving park. I was an employee from 1989 - 1992,

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

You are correct! That is "The Rocket!"

[@Jeffgomes-i2i]

When I was a kid the school department would take the kids that did safety patrol duty crossing kids across the street good times ⏲️

[@ralphflori4129]

gone....a vapor

[@jeanpaulferro8909]

Yeap. It's whole is still felt.

[@Thrashmetal_74]

Well this is what happens when you have people running the show but they have there hands dipped in the candy bowl just like all the other amusement parks around new England