Centreville Amusement Park
 Centreville's miniature railway | |
| Slogan | It's always sunny at Centreville |
|---|---|
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°37′13.11″N 79°22′25.24″W / 43.6203083°N 79.3736778°WCoordinates: 43°37′13.11″N 79°22′25.24″W / 43.6203083°N 79.3736778°W |
| Owner | Beasley Amusements |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Operating season | OPEN May through September |
| Website | centreisland.ca |
The Centreville Amusement Park is a children's amusement park located on Centre Island, part of the Toronto Islands, offshore of the city of Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario. The park was built in 1967 with a 1900 turn-of-the-century theme, and includes a miniature railway. An 1870s cast iron planter to commemorate Queen Victoria's birthday was originally located in front of St. Lawrence Market and is now featured in the centre of the park, Centreville is also home to a carousel built in 1907.
The park is operated by Etobicoke-based William Beasley Enterprises Limited on land leased from the City of Toronto, and is open daily in summer. It is connected to downtown Toronto by one of the Toronto Island ferry services, which links a dock adjacent to the amusement park with another at the foot of Bay Street on the central Toronto waterfront.[1][2]
History
Centreville was built as part of a master plan to convert the Toronto Islands land usage from cottage residences to recreational uses. The park opened in 1967, with several rides on the same site and has expanded over the years, adding one or two rides a year. The park replaced the old Sunnyside Amusement Park, which closed in 1955, as well as Hanlan's Point Amusement Park, which closed in the 1930s to make way for Toronto Island Airport.
Amusements
The Park is home to a 1907-vintage carousel, a log flume, a Ferris wheel, a 'haunted barrel works', an enclosed "Scrambler", a miniature roller coaster, pleasure swan boats, bumper boats, antique-style motor cars and several kiddie rides, such as the tea cups, a swing boat, drop ride and miniature fire engines. The carousel is unique and one of the few of its kind left in existence in North America. There are several food concessions, some games and a gift shop. There is also a wading pool, pony rides and miniature golf.
One of three miniature train rides in Toronto operates at the park (the others being at John Street Roundhouse and Woodbine Centre). It consists of a single train with five passenger cars on a narrow gauge track which circles the park grounds and farm and travels through a tunnel. An aerial ride used to operate at the park. It was a chairlift type and carried passengers from the park across to another island and back.
Far Enough Farm
Also maintained by William Beasley Enterprises Limited, the Far Enough Farm exists on the eastern outskirts of the Amusement Park, just past the Toronto Island Mine Roller Coaster Ride. The farm is home to several domesticated animal species including pigs, chickens, cows, ponies and, of course, peacocks which often freely roam around the farm. The farm provides a quaint and peaceful escape from the sometimes noisy amusement park. It is a great place to relax and allow children to witness and experience a large assortment of animals that would otherwise be difficult to achieve across the lake in Downtown Toronto. [3]
References
- ↑ "Toronto Island Park". City of Toronto. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ↑ "Decrease In Customers Doesn't Kill Profits At Centre Island, Ont., Park". Nielsen Business Media. 2000-11-13. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ↑ http://www.citynews.ca/2013/01/15/toronto-centre-islands-far-enough-farm-to-be-saved/
See also
External links
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