Adventure Land | Newbury Mass | Unisex Tee

Much to people’s amazement – a popular family amusement park existed in neighboring Newbury. Created by NY developer George Spalt, who had opened Storyland in Hyannis, purchased  land on Scotland Road to build his vision.

The Disneyland-style park was designed around a core storybook and western theme (as was all the cultural and entertainment rage in the 1950s) complete with a wild west town "Dodge City,” a castle entrance, storybook exhibits, and an  animal park. Adventure Land’s grand opening was in June of 1957 to great local fanfare. 

Attractions and entertainment included a stagecoach ride, a roller coaster, a "Gingerbread House" restaurant,  gunfight reenactments in "Dodge City," and fairy tale exhibits like the Old Woman who lived in a Shoe. After a Spalt visited Disneyland in 1959 – a Comstock railroad was added as well as a 70’ft H x 66’L pirate ship that loomed over adjacent Rte. 95.

Interest in the park waned by the early 1960s and finally closed in 1969.  When I-95 was expanded into a four-lane highway, the state purchased the land and demolished the park.  The Massachusetts State Police Troop A barracks were built where the Adventureland office used to stand.

This wonderful t-shirt was design from an original brochure from the 1950s and the little cowboy was a mascot for the park and adorned the cover of marketing material as well as tourist gifts such as felt pennants.