Palace Playland is a seasonal amusement park located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. It has operated on the same site since 1902.
History In the 1900s, Palace Playland's startup decade, the then-small amusement park centered on a roller skating rink and adjacent merry-go-round. Simple summer refreshments were served, such as lemonade and salt water taffy.
In the 1950s, Palace Playland was operated by future banker and philanthropist Bernard Osher, a Maine native.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Palace Playland was noted for operating a 1910 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel, PTC #19; however, in 1996, the valuable antique was withdrawn from service and moved to Ohio.
In the 1990s, Palace Playland claimed to be "New England's largest pinball and video arcade." A guidebook writer recommended the park to "aficionados of the garish."
Today In the 2010s, Palace Playland described itself as "New England's Only Beachfront Amusement Park." In 2010–11, the park tore down and replaced its Ferris wheel. The Playland has positioned itself as a provider of amusement-park-experience services to French-speaking residents of Quebec, including offering a webpage in French. In 2018, Palace Playland opened another new roller coaster known as the "Sea Viper" replacing the "Galaxi". In April 2020, Palace Playland implemented a cashless card system for its arcade.
Palace Playland is located directly on the waterfront, across Maine State Route 9 from the Old Orchard Beach station.
Rides +Roller CoastersNameOpenedManufacturerNotesSea Viper2018Preston & BabieriUsers board a cart resembling a sea snake. Then, passengers whip around sharp turns and steep gradients at high speeds. Replaced the former Galaxi coaster and partially sits on a 1-acre expansionWipeout2018SBF Visa GroupAdded alongside Sea Viper part of a $4 million expansion. +Thrill RidesNameRideTypeNotesYear AddedHyperJumpTechno JumpThis ride was manufactured by Preston & Barbieri.2023KrakenPendulumTechnical Park Street Fighter Revolution. Replaced Adrenalin2024MatterhornMatterhornMACK RidesNitro SpeedSpinner (Breakdance)Manufacturer:Kolmax-plus. Replaced Orient Express2025PiratePirate ShipManufacturer: HUSS. Retrofitted by: Amusement Technical2005RiptideReplaced Moby Dick2012Wind SurferCliffhangerReplaced Cliffhanger2025 +Family RidesNameRide TypeNotesYear AddedDodgemBumper CarsDrop ZoneDrop Tower2007Electra WheelFerris WheelReplaced the parks former Sun Wheel(Ferris Wheel)2011Gold RushRoller CoasterManufactured by Zamperla.2026Super StarTroikaManufacturer: HUSS1979Tilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-WhirlWave SwingerWave Swinger2008 +Kiddy RidesNameRide TypeNotesYear AddedCarouselCarouselChance Rides Menagerie CarouselConvoyCrop Duster2008Dizzy DragonsSimilar to Tea Cups, riders enter a dragon's stomach and can spin their dragon either direction.2012DumboEuro SlideFun Slide2005Frog Hopper2001Grand Orient Fun HouseFun HouseRelocated from the Galaxi side of the Park to near the Ferris Wheel in the early 2000sHampton CarsHampton MotorcyclesMotorcycle Jump2005Samba Balloon2025Tea CupsKiddie Tea Cups2002Winky The Whale +Notable Former AttractionsNameRide TypeNotesYear RemovedLiquid Lightning Water SlidesWater SlidesIt was originally called "Tallest Water Slides in Maine" when it first opened.2002TerminatorKamikaze2008GalaxiRoller CoasterReplaced by Sea Viper2017Fiesta LocaOctopus2018Cascade FallsLog Flume2021Orient ExpressRoller CoasterReplaced by Nitro Speed2024
See also Euclid Beach Park - discussion of history of PTC #19 Funtown Splashtown USA - nearby OOB amusement park
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