Abandoned Fantasyland Entertainment Center | Massachusetts
Fantasyland was a family entertainment center located in Massachusetts. It had amusement park rides, an arcade, and food court featuring fresh, homemade pizza. I used to go here pretty often with my family, especially for the mini-golf. But now, Fantasyland is the leading cause of my current existential crisis.
Filmed/Edited/Narrated by Jason Allard
Additional Footage by David Lawlor | https://rb.gy/s1ujeh
Follow me on Instagram: @Jason__Allard
Email: jsnallard@gmail.com
Drone: DJI Mini 3 Pro | Fly More Plus
Main Camera: Sony A7S III | Sony f/1.2 50mm
Editing: Final Cut Pro w/ custom plugins
Special thanks to Robert Yuski for providing additional historic photos and background information.
Music By:
Dexter Yu | https://rb.gy/exmuzo
ONE | https://rb.gy/zavtua
Made by JJ | https://rb.gy/oh6eb6
Bay State Ice Arena was the first business to occupy the site we now know as fantasyland. A 1973 article outlined the plans for the arena, and that it would be “the heart of a million dollar sports and recreation complex”. This was during hockey’s peak in the area, after the Boston Bruins won the Stanley cup with Bobby Orr in 1970 and 1972. My point is, hockey was hot and business here was good.
So good that the owners brought in talented instructors like the former National Soviet Union coach, Yasha Smushkin. And did I end up finding and watching all his instructional videos online? I sure did. Can I plan hockey now? I sure can…not.
As the ‘70s went on business slowed. Many ice arenas during this time were being converted into disco roller rinks, which is exactly what happened to Bay State Ice Arena.
In 1980 this spot became STAR WHEELS, an indoor roller skating rink that was exactly how I imagined the 80s being. It had a blue rubber coated floor, flashing lights, and BIG HAIR.
In 1990, Robert M. Andreoli, owner of Star Wheels constructed Fantasyland minigolf right next to the building, taking advantage of the sport’s increased popularity.
In 1993 Andreoli expanded the FantasyLand name over to Star Wheels, converting the roller rink into a gigantic indoor amusement center. And thanks to an Almacs flyer I was able to dig up - Fantasyland’s official grand opening was on Saturday June 12, 1993.
Fantasyland continued to operate here for years under new owner Antone Olivera, who added rides and updated games to keep things fresh.
In 2018, Oliviera partnered with Bateman Amusements to take over facility management and help provide technical and operational consultation. The same Bateman Amusements that owns Spring Lake Arcade in Rhode Island, the oldest penny arcade in the United States, and also a place that I would visit all the time growing up. And good news, it is NOT abandoned.
Anyway, the future was looking bright for FantasyLand…until 2020.
It was a familiar story during the pandemic, with businesses shutting down and having no other revenue streams. Sadly, Fantasyland was one of them.
As part of the closing and to liquidate all assets, a massive online auction was held to sell every last piece of Fantasyland to the highest bidder - the carousel, bumper cars, fencing, cabinets…and the most important and iconic item: the Lincoln model 1450 pizza oven, which I imagine is currently living its best life somewhere beautiful…
So what does it look like inside Fantasyland now? Well, since everything was auctioned off it’s just huge empty space with nothing left behind. No more rides, music, or laughter in here…
Currently, it’s listed for sale as commercial or warehouse space - so the future of this building which housed so many memories over the years is uncertain. But at least everything in here was sold when the intent to bring joy to a new generation of kids.
And yes, while I’m sad that this spot and so many others from my childhood have disappeared, I’m still glad that I was able to experience them, because places like Fantasyland are special. Yes it was a business, but one that couldn’t succeed unless people were having fun. So thank you Fantasyland for changing my perspective and making me say “Oh my god I’m getting older and I’m glad I have these memories.” And one more thing…
Can anyone tell me what’s in that Fantasyland ‘za???
Abandoned from Above
Massachusetts
Drive-In Theater
Abandoned Places
Urban Exploration
Forgotten Places
Lost Entertainment Venues
Abandoned Amusement Park
Abandoned Minigolf
Abandoned Roller Rink
Abandoned Ice Arena
History of Abandoned Places
Urban Decay
Nostalgia
Ghost Stories
Exploration Stories
Haunting Tales
Hidden History
Adventure Vlogs
Urban Exploration Photography
Urban Adventure
Exploring Abandoned Buildings
Uncovering the Past
Explore with Me
Adventure Seekers
Abandoned Places Documentary
Видео Abandoned Fantasyland Entertainment Center | Massachusetts канала Jason Allard
Filmed/Edited/Narrated by Jason Allard
Additional Footage by David Lawlor | https://rb.gy/s1ujeh
Follow me on Instagram: @Jason__Allard
Email: jsnallard@gmail.com
Drone: DJI Mini 3 Pro | Fly More Plus
Main Camera: Sony A7S III | Sony f/1.2 50mm
Editing: Final Cut Pro w/ custom plugins
Special thanks to Robert Yuski for providing additional historic photos and background information.
Music By:
Dexter Yu | https://rb.gy/exmuzo
ONE | https://rb.gy/zavtua
Made by JJ | https://rb.gy/oh6eb6
Bay State Ice Arena was the first business to occupy the site we now know as fantasyland. A 1973 article outlined the plans for the arena, and that it would be “the heart of a million dollar sports and recreation complex”. This was during hockey’s peak in the area, after the Boston Bruins won the Stanley cup with Bobby Orr in 1970 and 1972. My point is, hockey was hot and business here was good.
So good that the owners brought in talented instructors like the former National Soviet Union coach, Yasha Smushkin. And did I end up finding and watching all his instructional videos online? I sure did. Can I plan hockey now? I sure can…not.
As the ‘70s went on business slowed. Many ice arenas during this time were being converted into disco roller rinks, which is exactly what happened to Bay State Ice Arena.
In 1980 this spot became STAR WHEELS, an indoor roller skating rink that was exactly how I imagined the 80s being. It had a blue rubber coated floor, flashing lights, and BIG HAIR.
In 1990, Robert M. Andreoli, owner of Star Wheels constructed Fantasyland minigolf right next to the building, taking advantage of the sport’s increased popularity.
In 1993 Andreoli expanded the FantasyLand name over to Star Wheels, converting the roller rink into a gigantic indoor amusement center. And thanks to an Almacs flyer I was able to dig up - Fantasyland’s official grand opening was on Saturday June 12, 1993.
Fantasyland continued to operate here for years under new owner Antone Olivera, who added rides and updated games to keep things fresh.
In 2018, Oliviera partnered with Bateman Amusements to take over facility management and help provide technical and operational consultation. The same Bateman Amusements that owns Spring Lake Arcade in Rhode Island, the oldest penny arcade in the United States, and also a place that I would visit all the time growing up. And good news, it is NOT abandoned.
Anyway, the future was looking bright for FantasyLand…until 2020.
It was a familiar story during the pandemic, with businesses shutting down and having no other revenue streams. Sadly, Fantasyland was one of them.
As part of the closing and to liquidate all assets, a massive online auction was held to sell every last piece of Fantasyland to the highest bidder - the carousel, bumper cars, fencing, cabinets…and the most important and iconic item: the Lincoln model 1450 pizza oven, which I imagine is currently living its best life somewhere beautiful…
So what does it look like inside Fantasyland now? Well, since everything was auctioned off it’s just huge empty space with nothing left behind. No more rides, music, or laughter in here…
Currently, it’s listed for sale as commercial or warehouse space - so the future of this building which housed so many memories over the years is uncertain. But at least everything in here was sold when the intent to bring joy to a new generation of kids.
And yes, while I’m sad that this spot and so many others from my childhood have disappeared, I’m still glad that I was able to experience them, because places like Fantasyland are special. Yes it was a business, but one that couldn’t succeed unless people were having fun. So thank you Fantasyland for changing my perspective and making me say “Oh my god I’m getting older and I’m glad I have these memories.” And one more thing…
Can anyone tell me what’s in that Fantasyland ‘za???
Abandoned from Above
Massachusetts
Drive-In Theater
Abandoned Places
Urban Exploration
Forgotten Places
Lost Entertainment Venues
Abandoned Amusement Park
Abandoned Minigolf
Abandoned Roller Rink
Abandoned Ice Arena
History of Abandoned Places
Urban Decay
Nostalgia
Ghost Stories
Exploration Stories
Haunting Tales
Hidden History
Adventure Vlogs
Urban Exploration Photography
Urban Adventure
Exploring Abandoned Buildings
Uncovering the Past
Explore with Me
Adventure Seekers
Abandoned Places Documentary
Видео Abandoned Fantasyland Entertainment Center | Massachusetts канала Jason Allard
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13 октября 2024 г. 18:00:21
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