Palace Playland
4.2(2.9K)google
3.1(73)yelp
KidsYouth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyOutdoorOcean ViewThrillingMust-SeeCarnivalBeach
Overview
Palace Playland is a seasonal amusement park located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. It has operated on the same site since 1902.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration3-6 hours
Best TimeThis legendary beachfront amusement park operates seasonally from late May (Memorial Day) through early September (Labor Day). The prime block is 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM on a mid-week evening when ocean breezes cool the boardwalk. Ride the grand giant Ferris wheel for a bird's-eye view of neon-lit rollercoasters over the dark crashing waves and catch their classic Thursday night beach fireworks display.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned right on the beachfront boardwalk at 1 Old Orchard Street. No complex transfers are needed; self-drivers can utilize any of the downtown paid beach lots surrounding the pier. Transit riders take the Amtrak Downeaster straight to the station platform situated right next to the park's main rollercoasters, requiring a walk of less than 200 meters.
Travel Tips
- This rare beachfront amusement park restricts public access strictly from late May through Labor Day weekend; come September, the entire midway undergoes mechanical winter deactivation, rendering off-season drive-bys non-viable.
- While offering free general park admission, individual roller coasters rely on high-tariff individual tokens or ride wristbands; procuring multi-ride passes online prior to arrival remains critical to bypass multi-tier queue stagnation.
- The open beachfront orientation exposes towering steel tracks to sudden gale-force maritime winds, prompting immediate individual ride safety holds past 30 mph; the entire amusement footprint enforces a strict zero-smoking policy.
Reviews
Positive
- A rare beachfront amusement park! The iconic giant Ferris wheel lights up with neon at night, and riding coasters next to ocean waves is visually spectacular.
- It preserves many vintage arcade games and classic rides, including old-school carousels, delivering fantastic nostalgic charm and family fun.
- It uses a free-gate admission system where you pay per ride or buy a wristband, offering flexible spending for drivers who just want to walk around.
- Excellent location off the main beach drag with direct driving access, surrounded by endless pizza shacks and ice cream spots for superb convenience.
Heads up
- Buying individual ride credits or full-day wristbands for a large family gets exorbitantly expensive, making total ticket spending feel steep.
- On summer weekend evenings, lines for popular thrill rides face chaotic queue management. Immense crowds and loud music make the setting noisy.
- As an older open-air seaside park, some mechanical ride surfaces look dated and rusted; public restroom capacity is limited and maintenance is poor.
- Strictly seasonal operations; it shuts down completely from late fall through winter behind wire fences, leaving the neighborhood empty.