Timberlake Park - Introduction

In the Takonic Mountains north of New York City and east of the Hudson River, there is a unique theme park based on local history, mythical creatures, and a local beverage company. I am talking about Timberlake Park, which has been operating in one form or another since 1936, and has been a modern theme park since 1970. I will be spending the next few months sharing my Planet Coaster recreation of this park, along with a discussion of the history of this unique year-round resort.

Of course, this park is completely fictional, but that has never gotten in the way of a story about theme parks before, has it?

 

This park is a combination of two separate tourist attractions: The first to open was Fort Timberlake, a Great Depression-era recreation of a French fort from the French and Indian War. Below is a screenshot of my recreation of the modern-day version of the fort as seen from above the current park entrance.

 

The second portion of the park is the Cider House Hospitality Center which opened in 1957 as a free cider mill tour and gift shop. This attraction proved to be so popular that it was expanded to a theme park in 1970. 

By the early 1980's, the theme park combined with the fort attraction, and the two operated as a single attraction with two separate entrances.

 

I will be exploring the history of this park and using it as an excuse to discuss some of my thoughts regarding the design of theme parks. I hope you enjoy!