Bowcraft Amusement Park or Bowcraft Playland was a small amusement park located on U.S. Route 22 West in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. At the time of its closing, it contained 21 rides appropriate for both children and adults. Bowcraft Amusement Park was open weekends from May through October and daily June through Labor Day.
The park's history dates to 1946, when an archery and skiing enthusiast named Ted Miller opened a small archery and ski equipment store, complete with a small ski slope on-site, and named it Bowcraft Park.
In the 1980s, the park included a miniature golf course, which was eventually removed to make room for an overall expansion of both the park itself and the parking area.
The park offered a choice between purchasing tickets for individual rides, or an all-inclusive "Fun-Pass" which gives the ticket holder unlimited riding.
In 2016, a developer purchased the property with plans to demolish the park and build 190 apartments and 10 townhomes.[1] The town of Scotch Plains scheduled a hearing to discuss the application for the planned property development on September 26, 2016.[2] The park owners issued a statement saying that despite the planned development, closure was not imminent, and the park would open for the 2017 season in April as always.[3] The park permanently ceased operations in October 2018 and in the following month, all official park websites and social media pages were deactivated, and the park's rides were put up for sale on various websites.[4]
Other attractions in the park included a children's play area, arcade, and midway carnival games.
Film appearancesedit
The conclusion of the 1991 film Mortal Thoughts was filmed there, and the park is featured on the film's poster.[5]
The opening scene from the 1994 movie North was filmed at Bowcraft.[5]
Referencesedit
^"Bowcraft Amusement Park to become apartments and townhouses". 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
^"Scotch Plains Planning Board to Discuss Bowcraft Property Development at Monday, Sept. 26 Meeting". 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
^"Bowcraft is not closing — at least for now". Mycentraljersey.com. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
^December 03, Cassidy Grom | For NJ com | Posted; December 03, 2018 at 11:30 AM | Updated; PM, 2018 at 04:38. "N.J. amusement park is closing, but you can buy the giant swinging ship for $95K". NJ.com. Retrieved 2019-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ abGordon, William (1995). Shot on This Site. Citadel Press. p. 204. ISBN9780806516479. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
bowcraft, amusement, park, bowcraft, playland, small, amusement, park, located, route, west, scotch, plains, jersey, time, closing, contained, rides, appropriate, both, children, adults, open, weekends, from, through, october, daily, june, through, labor, cros. Bowcraft Amusement Park or Bowcraft Playland was a small amusement park located on U S Route 22 West in Scotch Plains New Jersey At the time of its closing it contained 21 rides appropriate for both children and adults Bowcraft Amusement Park was open weekends from May through October and daily June through Labor Day Bowcraft Amusement ParkCrossbow roller coaster of Bowcraft in 2009LocationScotch Plains New Jersey USAStatusDefunctOpened1946 1946 ClosedOctober 2018 October 2018 Operating seasonApril OctoberAttractionsTotal21Roller coasters2Water rides0 The park s history dates to 1946 when an archery and skiing enthusiast named Ted Miller opened a small archery and ski equipment store complete with a small ski slope on site and named it Bowcraft Park In the 1980s the park included a miniature golf course which was eventually removed to make room for an overall expansion of both the park itself and the parking area The park offered a choice between purchasing tickets for individual rides or an all inclusive Fun Pass which gives the ticket holder unlimited riding In 2016 a developer purchased the property with plans to demolish the park and build 190 apartments and 10 townhomes 1 The town of Scotch Plains scheduled a hearing to discuss the application for the planned property development on September 26 2016 2 The park owners issued a statement saying that despite the planned development closure was not imminent and the park would open for the 2017 season in April as always 3 The park permanently ceased operations in October 2018 and in the following month all official park websites and social media pages were deactivated and the park s rides were put up for sale on various websites 4 Contents 1 Former Attractions Rides 1 1 Kiddie Rides 1 2 Family Rides 1 3 Thrill Rides 1 4 Other Attractions 2 Film appearances 3 References 4 External linksFormer Attractions Rides editKiddie Rides edit Merry Go Round Frog Hopper Helicopters Big Trucks Motorcycle Jump Kiddie Boats Pony Rides Family Rides edit Balloon Ride Drop Zone Super Slide Train Xpress Speedway Popp Dragon Coaster sold to Clementon Park and Splash World Tilt A Whirl Bumper Cars Thrill Rides edit Galleon Pirate Ship sold to Alabama Splash Adventure Muzik Express Paratrooper Scrambler Crossbow roller coaster sold to Tosselilla Summer Park The Swingin Gym Flying Cages Other Attractions edit Other attractions in the park included a children s play area arcade and midway carnival games Film appearances editThe conclusion of the 1991 film Mortal Thoughts was filmed there and the park is featured on the film s poster 5 The opening scene from the 1994 movie North was filmed at Bowcraft 5 References edit Bowcraft Amusement Park to become apartments and townhouses 2016 09 15 Retrieved 2016 09 16 Scotch Plains Planning Board to Discuss Bowcraft Property Development at Monday Sept 26 Meeting 2016 09 15 Retrieved 2016 09 16 Bowcraft is not closing at least for now Mycentraljersey com 2016 09 21 Retrieved 2019 08 23 December 03 Cassidy Grom For NJ com Posted December 03 2018 at 11 30 AM Updated PM 2018 at 04 38 N J amusement park is closing but you can buy the giant swinging ship for 95K NJ com Retrieved 2019 01 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b Gordon William 1995 Shot on This Site Citadel Press p 204 ISBN 9780806516479 Retrieved 2016 09 16 External links editBowcraft Amusement Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase 40 39 56 N 74 23 15 W 40 665444 N 74 3874 W 40 665444 74 3874 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bowcraft Amusement Park amp oldid 1209664177, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
