Remember Adventurer's Inn? That surreal, almost dreamlike amusement park (now long gone) that still resides in the subconscious minds of many who have been there? Well, the OOBs do - and here are some rememberances culled from the Out Of Bodies archives - set in motion by a visitor to our mailbox when he innocently commented....
"what a well done website!
a tribute to a better(?) time. does anyone remember
golf city and adventurer's inn?
- toothman68
A quick Google search brings up the basics for those who don't know...
It was located just off the Whitestone Expressway on Linden Place. Opened in the mid-1950s and operated through the late 1970s. The city condemned the property in the early 1970s and turned it into an industrial and commercial area, with the park winding down by 1978 and its arcade section surviving into the mid 1980s.
In it's early years it featured a small collection of rides and miniature golf course, later expanding to larger rides in the 1960s which included Bumper Cars, The Rotor, The Toboggan, Flight to Mars (infamously misspelled Fligth to Mars on the ride itself), the Batman slide, and a classic red-caged Ferris wheel where riders could flip themselves upside down. It was one of the last local neighborhood amusement parks in northern Queens after spots like Kiddy City and Fairyland closed down.
I dug way deep into the OOB Archives - found the original time we brought this subject up in January 2012!! (Wow! How time flies!) - and landed on a few nice rememberances of the other fellas, myself, and even some visitors to our site... Here they are as they appeared back then - with some present day musings tossed in every now and then...
Lloyd remembers...
Adventurer's Inn was one of my favorite places in the world! My grandmother used to live in the apartment buildings right around the corner from AI, and she used to bring me there all the time. When I was in elementary school I had many a birthday party there (remember Don?!). As I got older, Adventurer's Inn grew with me! They kept expanding - from a kiddie park to a full blown amusement park (I believe they got a lot of their later attractions from New Jersey's Palisades Park, which closed around the time they expanded). Later, after High School, long after the amusement park was shut down, Don and I would go to the arcade at night and play Popeye and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom! We got so good at the Popeye Arcade Game that we could play all night long on one quarter!
Our video tribute to our favorite arcade game at the time.
Joe remembers...
Yeah, Adventurer's Inn was quite a place in the mid seventies, and you guys are right, it started to go downhill from there. Many of the rides, as Lloyd states, were leftovers from Palisades Park, but some were also from Coney Island and the garbage cans around the place were from the 1964 World's Fair, right down the road in fact!! I remember in it's later incarnation as an arcade, walking through with friends dressed in full ape make up and freaking out all the little kids!!!! The bad thing I remember is that giant cat-sized rats use to chase us back to the car when we left. Not fun!!! Regards to my old friend and fellow film guy Lloyd Goldfine, who, as a young zombie tried to kill me!!!
Someone managed to tip toe through the ruins, just prior to when the bulldozers arrived and snapped this pic of the "Fligth" to Mars ride. For years I wondered about that misspelling!
Donald remembers...
Although the rides and restaurant closed around 1978 or so, the arcade remained open for at least another 10 years or so, I believe - and even though the concrete landing at the top of the arcade entrance way was sinking, and the circular mosaic design of the Adventurer's Inn Pirate was nearly obscured in a perpetual puddle of water - I can still remember visiting this place with fondness. I do actually recall at least one of Lloyd's birthday parties there, when the park and the rides were open - and regarding Lloyd as some type of celebrity. But the longest amount of time I've spent there in one stretch was in 1985 when the union at the company I had just started working for went on strike for three long months. I couldn't have been too worried... Instead of walking picket lines I spent much of that time plunking quarters at the arcade, being I lived just moments away in College Point. By the end of the strike I was a Popeye/Indiana Jones Master.
I also vividly recall (much to my horror) one of the long term employees at the arcade who you'd get your quarters from. Lloyd and I nicknamed him "Quasi" *** (for his uncanny resemblance to Quasimoto). With his change belt straining around his enormous girth, Quasi would be the guy we'd have to contend with before playing our favorite video games. With our hands extended we'd patiently wait - as he'd pinch out one quarter at a time. This up close encounter was horrifying. Quasi's one eye would leer down at his belt, while the other was fixed on us. He would never speak, but his breathing would be loud and laborious. It took us every ounce of courage not to forget the whole deal and bolt for the doors.
***Quasi is mentioned in our Addicted To Popeye video, above.
Ruins of the Bumper Car Ride and the Batman slide. I can recall sliding down the Batman slide only once, and remembering it not being worth the climb to the top.
Visitors to our site also remembered Adventurers Inn... here are just a few...
I worked there in 1969 on the flight to mars. A man named Ralph owned it. I used to wear a mask and scare people. I got fired for stealing tickets and giving them to friends (Tommy Rocco, Petie Infontino, Dennis Wurtz. George St. Rudy Uhle.
Funny times!!
- Jimmy Rieth, July 2013
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I loved Adventure's Inn as a child and teenager! It was my favorite place to go when I was growing up! I remember when I was very young as we walked into the park I would always think, This is "Adventure's Inn!" It's for adventurers - like me -or why else would my parents take me here?" :) I remember going with my family and our family bringing the neighbor's kids sometimes and later on going with friends from junior high school. When I was very young I used to love going on the "Tilt -A - Whirl." When I got older The "Fligth" to Mars," "the Scrambler" and the "Polar Express" were my favorite rides. I also seem to remember "the Spider" and "The Round Up." I remember the bumper cars. I seem to remember if not too many people were waiting in line, the attendants would give an extra long ride. I dont remember eating there that much except for cotton candy. I remember my dad always trying to win stuffed animals for me. For a short time my older sister was employed there as the girl who changed into a gorilla. I saw the act once, though I knew it was just an act, it was enough for me. I remember this guy standing nearby, he was much older than me. I was a kid and he was an older teenager. I remember when my sister "changed" into the gorilla, he almost ran out. I remember once being upset about something as a young teenager and my sister taking me there to cheer me up because she knew how much I loved it. I remember going to the arcade later on but I always wish it never closed. Great memories!
- Adrienne Troise, November 2014
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I just came across this blog , from another web site. I'm not sure if anyone is going to see this now ( 2016 ). I am proud to say I worked at adventures inn in 1969 -1970 or 71. I met many great people. ( workers and visitors to the park ). I worked the kiddie park area, the boat ride & the helicopters. I loved seeing the looks on the little kids. So many smiles. Working there I fell in love for the first time. (young teenage love ). While I was working there I made friends with someone who now 47 years later we are still best friends. Both married with grandchildren. Before the arcade closed, I would take my two sons to play pinball and video games. Adventures Inn in Flushing NY is a very fond memory for me. I only wish I had taken pictures back then. Regards to all those who were teens at that time in College Point. A special shout out to Pam H. If you ever see this. From Rick A.
- Rick Abbadessa, August 2016
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Today...
I'm fairly sure our Out Of Bodies brothers Dan and Mark have never been to Adventurers Inn, as history would have it they were geographically busy elsewhere. Today, the spot where the arcade used to be is a Tesla facility - before that it was a Toys R Us, Party City, and the College Point Multiplex Theater. I hope someone had the good mind to put up a plaque somewhere commemorating Quasi's lifelong service to the Adventurers Inn arcade!
