Sylvan Beach, New York: Historic Sylvan Beach Amusement Park

This lakeside amusement park is home to one of the last dark rides made by the Pretzel Amusement Co., out of their 1000+ rides built. Like a pretzel, the ride's track twists and turns, which is how the company chose its name. Look for the pretzel-shaped counterweights on the cars. Inside, the ride's simple gags have been untouched but well maintained since 1954, and include crude mechanical devices like a crashing cymbal.

This little 1940s themed "seaside boardwalk" town, with its very own late 19th/early 20th century amusement park and the landmark Yesterday's Royal restaurant (formerly the Hotel Royal, circa 1912). It all sits on the sandy eastern shore of Oneida Lake near Syracuse, NY and its long-time owners the Goodenow Family of Utica, NY have partnered with Doug Waterbury of the beautifully restored North Pole, NY aka Santa's Workshop (America's 1st theme park) to revitalize Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, believed to be one of the ten oldest amusement parks in the nation, with its origins traced to 1881. This slice of Americana is rarely found today anywhere in the country. The plan calls for a 5 year, 5 million dollar investment to restore, revitalize and expand the entire Retro Playground to its former glory.