Freedomland U.S.A. - Failure and Demolition

Failure and Demolition

In its opening season Freedomland had already begun to run into major problems, both financially and otherwise.

On June 25, 1960, almost a week after the park opened, a stagecoach overturned in the Great Plains section of the park, injuring ten people. Three of the victims were hospitalized, including one with a snapped spine. The park initially denied any responsibility until a visitor publicly released a photograph of the accident. Eventually, the injured parties filed lawsuits against the park.

2 months later, on August 28, 1960, the front office was robbed of $28,836 by four armed men, who escaped in a boat. They were caught two weeks later and jailed the following year.

By the end of the 1961? season, Freedomland was already $8 million in debt. As it struggled to break even, the theme of the park was changed in an effort to appeal to more teenagers. The history exhibits and events would be joined by more conventional amusements, such as bumper cars, roller coasters, fireworks displays, and concerts, which broadened the appeal of the park. These changes resulted in a lawsuit. On September 5, 1962, Benjamin Moore, a paint company that sponsored an exhibit in Satellite City, sued Freedomland for $150,000 in damages. The company wanted to void their lease for their exhibit space, owing to "historical and educational" changes to the park's character. The suit was later dismissed.

On September 14, 1964, citing competition from the 1964 New York World's Fair, Freedomland filed for bankruptcy and was torn down. This remains a questionable reason since the World's Fair would be finished after 1965. The real reason was more likely the quick profits that would be gained by the sale of the land for the Co-Op City housing development that would be built mostly on Freedomland's parking lot. Freedomland filed for bankruptcy and was torn down starting in late 1965 as the park stayed closed for the 1965 season.

The site of the former park is now occupied by the large residential development Co-op City and the Bay Plaza Shopping Center.

Cornelius Vanderbilt Wood died in March 1992. Ironically, the Walt Disney Company opened up an area of nightclubs at the Walt Disney World Resort called Pleasure Island, which was the same name as Wood's most successful amusement park.