Palace Amusements, Asbury Park, New Jersey – Legends of America
For a century, Palace Amusements in Asbury Park, New Jersey, served as a vibrant beacon of entertainment, captivating generations with its array of rides, games, funhouses, music, and arcades nestled along the iconic Jersey Shore. More than just an amusement park, it was a cultural landmark, a repository of memories, and a testament to the enduring allure of classic seaside entertainment.
The Victorian Genesis
The story of Palace Amusements began in 1888, when Ernest Schnitzler, a visionary entrepreneur, conceived and erected a magnificent Victorian-style Carousel House. This original structure, a spacious 100-foot by 100-foot wooden pavilion, was crowned with a distinctive hip roof, evoking the elegance and grandeur of the era.
Inside this architectural gem resided a breathtaking carousel, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and artistry. Hand-carved wooden figures of horses, giraffes, camels, goats, and deer adorned the carousel, each meticulously detailed and painted in vibrant colors. Initially named the Kingsley Street Merry-Go-Round, the attraction soon became affectionately known as "The Palace," a moniker that would eventually define the entire amusement park.
Expanding Horizons
In 1895, Schnitzler embarked on an ambitious expansion project, extending the building westward to accommodate a groundbreaking steam-powered Ferris wheel. This innovative design allowed riders to embark on their aerial adventure from within the building itself, before being transported outside. A short flight of stairs then led to an observation platform, offering panoramic views of the glistening Atlantic Ocean.
Schnitzler himself designed the 67-foot diameter Ferris wheel and its accompanying observatory, further solidifying his legacy as a pioneer in the amusement park industry. While the observation deck was later removed in the 1920s when the wheel transitioned to electric power, the Ferris wheel continued to operate until 1988, earning it the distinction of being the oldest operating wheel in the world at the time.
A Labyrinth of Mirrors
In 1903, another intriguing attraction emerged: the Crystal Maze. Constructed on a 31-foot by 100-foot plot of land adjacent to the Ferris wheel on Lake Avenue, this two-story steel and masonry structure housed a mirrored amusement hall on the ground floor, while the upper floor served as a residence for the Schnitzler family.
The Crystal Maze was a disorienting and enchanting experience, where visitors navigated a labyrinth of mirrors, encountering endless reflections and optical illusions. It was a place where reality blurred and laughter echoed, adding another layer of excitement to the Palace’s repertoire.
Surviving the Great Depression
Ernest Schnitzler’s stewardship of the Palace spanned over three decades, before he eventually sold the business to August M. Williams. This transition occurred during a tumultuous period in American history: the Great Depression. The economic downturn decimated the amusement park industry, with over 1,500 parks closing their doors between 1929 and 1935.
Yet, against all odds, Williams managed to keep the Palace afloat. His resilience and determination, coupled with a stroke of ingenuity, allowed the park to weather the storm.
The Rise of Nick Nichols and Mr. D
One of Williams’ most astute decisions was hiring Nick Nichols, a talented designer, and a Polish carpenter known as Mr. D. Together, they conceived and constructed a thrilling Fun House that stretched to the eaves of the Palace roof.
This Fun House was a marvel of engineering and imagination, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Built at strange angles, it featured barrel-like rotating passages, spiraling staircases, shifting planks, and cleverly concealed air holes that played havoc with visitors’ equilibrium. Glass panels and strategic lighting created spooky shadows, tilted rooms, and human-like figures that appeared suddenly, adding to the sense of disorientation and excitement.
In addition to the Fun House, Nichols and Mr. D also created the Palace’s first dark ride, located on the ground floor of the Crystal Maze building. This ride twisted and turned along its tracks, immersing riders in a world of darkness and mystery.
The Lange and Resnick Era
In the 1930s, the Palace changed hands once again, this time to Edward H. Lange and Zimel Resnick. This dynamic duo would shape the Palace’s destiny for the next 47 years, ushering in a new era of growth and innovation.
Lange and Resnick wasted no time in revitalizing the park, giving it a fresh coat of paint and sprucing up its attractions. In the early 1940s, they acquired a 100-foot by 30-foot area north of the rotating wheel, where they initially installed 3,000 square feet of arcade games. However, after several seasons, this space was transformed into a more unusual attraction: a sheet metal donkey ride. While the donkey ride proved to be short-lived, it was eventually replaced by a Wax Museum, which remained a popular draw for several seasons.
Over time, Lange and Resnick filled every available space in the Palace with arcade games, including skee ball machines, pinball machines, and other popular amusements.
The Carousel Fire
Despite the many changes and additions, the carousel remained the Palace’s premier attraction. However, tragedy struck in 1942, when a fire broke out during an extensive restoration of the carousel. Fourteen of the carousel’s horses were burned beyond repair. New horses were quickly ordered, and the carousel was soon back in operation, continuing to delight visitors for years to come.
Other rides and amusements were also introduced during this period, including the Haunted Caves dark ride and Hell ‘N Back, further expanding the Palace’s offerings.
Expansion and the Tillie Face
Prior to 1955, the Palace’s growth was limited by the presence of two hotels that blocked its expansion. However, with the opening of the New Jersey Turnpike in 1951 and the Garden State Parkway in 1955, the area saw a shift from overnight stays to day trips, leading to the decline of the hotels.
Palace Amusements seized the opportunity and purchased the hotel properties. In 1956, the Fun House and Bumper Car Building were constructed to the north and west-north, respectively. This final addition created the 36,000-square-foot L-shaped amusement park that became so well-known.
It was during this expansion that the colorful paintings of bumper cars and the iconic "Tillie" face first appeared. This grinning face, named after George C. Tilyou, the owner of Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, New York, became a symbol of Palace Amusements and a beloved icon of the Jersey Shore.
Decline and Closure
After 47 years at the helm, the Lange family decided to retire in 1985. Sam and Henry Vaccaro purchased the business, and for a brief period, the crowds were large and business was booming. However, the character of the crowd began to change, and many parents became hesitant to bring their children to the park.
Adding to the challenges, a 50-mile slick of discarded medical and household garbage washed ashore during the summer of 1987, devastating the Jersey Shore and causing a dramatic drop in visitors.
The final blow came from Joseph Carabetta, a Connecticut developer who partnered with the Vaccaro brothers. Carabetta’s plans to rebuild the waterfront led to the closure of the Convention Hall, which had hosted annual shows and events that brought thousands of visitors to the area. Carabetta also exercised an option in their contract that required the Vaccaro brothers to turn over their waterfront properties in exchange for a note worth more than $4 million.
On November 27, 1988, Palace Amusements closed its doors without any prior notice. The closure cost 25-to-30 seasonal and full-time employees their jobs.
Abandonment and Demolition
After the closure, Carabetta abandoned the Palace and eventually filed for bankruptcy, never repaying the note to the Vaccaro brothers. Over the next several years, the abandoned amusement park fell into disrepair. Water damage caused the structures to deteriorate, and a significant portion of the roof collapsed.
However, the original square Victorian pavilion, which housed the Palace Merry-Go-Round and Ferris Wheel, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Despite several efforts to save the historic structure, including its hand-carved carousel and murals, the building was deemed unsafe after an independent structural inspection in 2004 and ordered to be demolished. A local grassroots organization managed to salvage several pieces from the building, including the famed Tillie mural. The building was razed in May 2004, marking the end of an era.
Palace Amusements may be gone, but its legacy lives on in the memories of those who experienced its magic. It remains a symbol of the Jersey Shore’s vibrant past and a reminder of the enduring power of amusement parks to bring joy to generations.