Fond Memories

A Trip To Heaven 

COME ON - GET A LIFE - Palisades Amusement Park was just a bunch of rides that can be found anywhere in America. It was a place built out of concrete, steel, wood and asphalt.

BUT, anybody who ever went there has a very special place in their heart for the place. It was like a trip to heaven no matter how many times you went there.

I use to go almost weekly with my Uncle Pete - he was married to my mother's sister. They had no children and treated me like their own son. My parents weren't the amusement park type. But Uncle Pete was. It was Palisades Park in the summer, and Coney Island the rest of the year.

We would get up very early and would have to take two buses to get there. We would arrive there just as they would be opening and be one of the first people into the park. We would spend the entire day swimming in the world's LARGEST salt water pool. At lunch time, we would have some of the best southern fried boneless chicken breast sandwiches my mother made us and a glass of the freshly made lemonade. We would stay in the pool all day, get sunburned (I still have several of the pictures we took in the "4 pictures for a quarter" booth in the park) and then around 5:00 pm go out and get on the rides included in the combination ticket.

We would leave for home around 8:00 pm and walk into the house around 9:30 and go straight to sleep. I would have the best dreams of my live.

In April 1971, I met a very beautiful girl named Teri. After dating her a few months, I decided she was worthy enough to take to Palisades Park. In September 1971, I took her there. We got married in June 1972 (we're still together, and love each other more and more each day). However, I still blame the closing of the park on her. I feel that if I hadn't taken her there, the place would still be opened.

Take care and God bless, 

Teri & Lenny Tucker Virginia Beach, VA