Small Amusement Park to Open on Staten Island

New York Carousel, which operates Fantasy Forest at Flushing Meadows Carousel and the Forest Park Carousel, is finishing construction on Fantasy Shore, a small amusement park on Staten Island. New York Carousel has also added new features to its two carousels in Queens.

The Forest Park Carousel in Woodhaven features realistic, hand-carved animals.

Carousel enthusiasts have some exciting plans to look forward to this summer. New York Carousel, which operates Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel and the Forest Park Carousel, is finishing construction on its new park, Fantasy Shore, in Staten Island, and has made improvements to and is planning to offer special deals for its existing parks.

The new park will open with four rides: a family rollercoaster, a drop tower, a teacup ride, and a train. Chris Mercaldo, associate of business development for Ride Entertainment Group/New York Carousel Entertainment and general manager of Fantasy Shore Amusement Park at Midland Beach, says Fantasy Park is the first amusement park to open in Staten Island in quite a few years. The company hopes it will be a happy feature in an area that has suffered much from Hurricane Sandy.

“If you’re looking for a great place to take your family, you can’t find a better place than one of our parks,” Mercaldo says.

Fantasy Forest in Flushing is offering 50 cent rides Fridays through Labor Day (excluding the Fourth of July) from 5-7pm, at its historic carousel in honor of the 75th anniversary of the 1939-1940 NY World’s Fair and the 50th anniversary of the 1964-1965 NY World’s Fair. The park has also added a new version of the classic whip ride, the Queens Motor Speedway.

The Forest Park Carousel in Woodhaven was given a facelift with new mirrors and LED lights. This 100 year-old “hidden Gem,” says Mercaldo, has realistic, hand carved wooden horses.

“You’re literally riding a piece of history,” Mercaldo says.