22 Facts About Freedomland USA

Freedomland USA was a theme park dedicated to American history in the Baychester section of the northeastern Bronx in New York City.

Freedomland USA soon became involved in the creation of other amusement parks across the United States, under his company Marco Engineering.

Freedomland USA Inc leased some 205 acres of that site for a 50-year period.

Freedomland USA's opening was originally set for June 1,1960; it was then pushed back to July 1 so that the park could be ready for the expected crowds, and then rescheduled again to June 18 due to high excitement generated by the marketing campaign.

On June 18,1960, Freedomland USA was dedicated with 25,000 people in attendance for a ceremony and a special day that raised funds for local youth programs.

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At the time, Freedomland USA was described as having an unfinished quality: one security guard was quoted as saying that the drinking fountains were non-functional, the restrooms were few and far between, the concessionaires were poorly equipped for operation, and many exhibits were not yet painted or decorated.

Freedomland USA had a railroad and an aerial lift ride carrying passengers between different parts of the park.

General manager Frederich V Schumacher hoped that Freedomland would be as large a New York City icon as Central Park or the Statue of Liberty.

However, although optimistic projections called for up to 5 million visitors a year, Freedomland USA would have needed to see two million visitors in its first season in order to break even.

Freedomland USA continued to experience financial troubles: before the beginning of the 1961 season, it was $8 million in debt.

Freedomland USA sought to void its lease for exhibit space, citing "historical and educational" changes to the park's character.

In total, Freedomland USA earned a combined $3 million from admissions from the 1962 and 1963 seasons.

For several months prior to the start of the 1964 season, there were rumors that Freedomland USA would be moved to Florida, where it could operate year-round.

However, in an indication of its deep financial troubles, The New York Times reported that Freedomland USA Inc had paid its employees with bad checks totaling $60,000.

The next day, Freedomland USA Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing competition from the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Freedomland USA Inc had never earned a net profit in each of its five operating seasons, but with a downsize to 30 acres, Freedomland USA estimated that it could possibly earn a $25,000 profit if it were to reopen in 1965.

Freedomland USA never reopened, and Freedomland USA attractions, buildings and other features were auctioned and sold during 1965.

Michael Virgintino, who authored a book about Freedomland USA's history, wrote that the World's Fair was unlikely to be the main reason for Freedomland USA's bankruptcy: it had been announced in 1959, and many of the fair's visitors only attended that event a few times.

Disneyland had seen 6 million guests in all of 1964, while Freedomland USA was only open for three or four months a year, and thus could only potentially see a fraction of that visitation amount.

In nearby neighborhoods such as Williamsbridge, motels built primarily for Freedomland USA remained operational, despite the dearth of visitor attractions in the northeast Bronx.

Miller praised Freedomland USA as "an open-air theatre [that] promised not historical truth but national myth, infused with a spirit", while he questioned whether Disney's America was "a theme park or a bad night on PBS".

Freedomland USA's history has been the subject of several historical writings, including:.