Rye Playland, a Wonderful Alternative to the Mega-Park

Long before the era of the mega-amusement park with its large crowds and high prices, there were smaller, local parks. If you lived in Brooklyn, Coney Island was where you would go. In Queens, it was Rockaway Playland. But if you grew up in the northern part of New York City, or in Westchester County, Rye Playland still is the place to find the thrills a bumper car or a roller coaster can provide.

Opened in 1928 by the Westchester County Parks Department, its buildings were designed in the Art Deco style of that time. The park covers 280 acres, including a beach and pool for swimming on hot summer days, an 80-acre lake for boating, a large parking lot, and of course an amusement park for children of all ages. The park’s distinct style should be recognizable to anyone who saw the roller coaster scene in Fatal Attraction, or cried as Tom Hanks looked for the Zoltan game, and a return to childhood, in Big.

Playland is a relatively small amusement park, with twenty-nine adult rides and fourteen in its Kiddy Land. However, it does offer a nice variety of classic amusements. There are Bumper Cars and “The Whip.” Playland has two carousels. The Grand Carousel travels at a stately pace, but the Derby Racer moves at a speed of 25 miles per hour, and its horses move back and forth in addition to up and down. The Derby Racer is one of only three “racer” carousels left in existence.

The highlight of any visit to Playland is a ride on The Dragon Coaster, Built in 1928, and renovated in 2026, this is and old fashioned wooden coaster. Its signature feature is a tunnel that riders enter through the mouth of the dragon.

While Playland might not have all of the thrills that a larger amusement park does, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a summer day. And it won’t break the bank in entrance fees.

Nuts and Bolts

• Rye Playland is located at 1 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY
• It is open from the end of May until early Sept. In July and August it is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 12 noon to 10:00 PM and Sunday from 12 noon – 9:00 PM. There are fireworks every Friday night at 9:00
• Entrance fees for Westchester County residents are $27 for the Big Ride Band (unlimited rides on all adult rides)/ $20 for the Kiddy Land Band. For non-Westchester residents the fees are $32 for the Big Ride Band/ $25 for Kiddy Land. Spectators (people who don’t want to get on any ride) are free. Parking is $15 ($20 on Holidays).
• Beach and Pool Hours are more limited. The pool and beach require a separate fee.