Centreville Amusement Park
 Centreville's miniature railway | |
| Slogan | It's always sunny at Centreville |
|---|---|
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°37′13.11″N 79°22′25.24″W / 43.6203083°N 79.3736778°WCoordinates: 43°37′13.11″N 79°22′25.24″W / 43.6203083°N 79.3736778°W |
| Operated by | Beasley Amusements |
| Opened | 1967 (amusement park), 1959 (farm) |
| Operating season | May through September |
| Website | centreisland.ca |
The Centreville Amusement Park is a children's amusement park located on Centre Island, part of the Toronto Islands, offshore of the city of Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario. The park was built in 1967 with a 1900 turn-of-the-century theme, and includes a miniature railway. An 1870s cast iron planter to commemorate Queen Victoria's birthday was originally located in front of St. Lawrence Market and is now featured in the centre of the park, Centreville is also home to a carousel built in 1907.
The park is operated by Etobicoke-based William Beasley Enterprises Limited on land leased from the City of Toronto, and is open daily in summer. It is connected to downtown Toronto by one of the Toronto Island ferry services, which links a dock adjacent to the amusement park with another at the foot of Bay Street on the central Toronto waterfront.[1][2]
History
Centreville was built as part of a master plan to convert the Toronto Islands land usage from cottage residences to recreational uses. The park opened in 1967, with several rides on the same site and has expanded over the years, adding one or two rides a year. The park replaced the old Sunnyside Amusement Park, which closed in 1955, as well as Hanlan's Point Amusement Park, which closed in the 1930s to make way for the island airport.
Amusements
The Park is home to a 1907-vintage carousel, a log flume, a Ferris wheel, a 'haunted barrel works', an enclosed "Scrambler", a miniature roller coaster, pleasure swan boats, bumper boats, antique-style motor cars and several kiddie rides, such as the tea cups, a swing boat, drop ride and miniature fire engines. There are several food concessions, some games and a gift shop. There is also a wading pool, pony rides and miniature golf.
One of three miniature train rides in Toronto operates at the park (the others being at John Street Roundhouse and Woodbine Centre). It consists of a single train with five passenger cars (cars about 14 to 21 passengers) on a narrow gauge track which circles the park grounds and farm and travels through a tunnel.
An aerial ride used to operate at the park and is in the process of being modernized and rebuilt. It was a chairlift type and carried passengers from the park across to another island and back.
Far Enough Farm
Also maintained by William Beasley Enterprises Limited, the Far Enough Farm exists on the eastern outskirts of the Amusement Park, just past the Toronto Island Mine Roller Coaster Ride. The hobby farm opened in 1959 and is home to several domesticated animal species including rabbits, goats, pigs, chickens, cows and ponies as well as emus and peafowl which often freely roam around the farm.[3] The farm is staffed by a manager with farmers and farm hands by Beasley and is open 365 days a year.
See also
References
- ↑ "Toronto Island Park". City of Toronto. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
- ↑ "Decrease In Customers Doesn't Kill Profits At Centre Island, Ont., Park". Nielsen Business Media. November 13, 2000. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
- ↑ "Toronto Centre Island's Far Enough Farm to be saved - CityNews". Citynews.ca. January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2016.