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Some sources name the chapel as “Chapel in the Pines” and others as “Sacred Heart”. The chapel had previously been located in Renssalaer, where the state department was taking it down for highway construction. This chapel was a real chapel, marking the first (but not last) time that Gillette would rehome an item or attraction. On opening day, the park had log cabins, a museum, a “tilted house” challenging guests to walk on its uneven floors, a gift shop, and a chapel. Its motto was “Christmas City…a village of warmth and love…where on the warmest day you will find a cool breeze blowing pine needles to the ground.” Opening Day at the Park Gillette knew he had something special, and set up Santa’s home that children could visit during the rest of the year.Ĭhristmas City was located on Route 9, and drew crowds from both Albany and New York City. Santa was a huge draw during the Christmas season. In particular, Christmas City had its roots in a promotion Gillette did in Albany several years earlier. He even had to fill in a giant hole in order to create the flat lot where cars now park for the day. He cleared away hundreds of cars to create his theme park. Arthur Gillette had found an old car junkyard in Lake George, the prime spot for an amusement park. So why not, he thought, why not have Santa around for longer? Christmas City, USAĬhristmas City opened up in 1963. The children had always loved seeing Santa, and were always sad to see him go. This was one of the largest replica western villages at the time.īut Arthur Gillette really liked Lake George, and he kept thinking about the pre-Christmas Santa’s villages he’d set up in small towns around Massachusetts. This time, it was Carson City, a western theme park which he opened in 1958. Not one to stay idle, Gillette quickly latched on to a new idea. A hotel developer ultimately purchased the land. In 1957, the land prices rose too high, and Gillette had to sell the park. We know that the park was only open for one season. There is little available information about it. He decided to set up the Lake George Amusement Park back in Lake George, NY.
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Lake George Amusement Park and Carson CityĪrthur was getting tired of the traveling, though. This book is a great resource on this park and other small NY parks. They traveled with their company throughout the East coast in the late 40s and early 50s, and continued to do well.
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Within the next several years, he added a pony ride and a boat ride to the annual summer carnival setup.Īs the carnival continued to prosper, Arthur and his brother opened the Gillette Brother Shows, a traveling amusement company, which is still in operation today.
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In 1947, they operated the carousel at Pontoosuc Lake Beach. They decided to take a chance at the amusement park business for good. The ride was popular, so that winter, he rebuilt a vintage wooden carousel with his brother. He operated the carousel at North St / Maplewood Ave in Pittsfield, just down from Pontoosuc Lake. In 1946, Gillette assembled a crude carousel completely out of spare parts. All the while, he dreamed of opening up an amusement park like the one of his childhood. In his early adulthood, he did handyman jobs, operated small small roadside stands, and fixed equipment and machinery. Expansion and Collection at Magic ForestĪrthur Gillette was a man with a mechanical mind.Īs a child, Gillette visited the Savin Rock Amusement Park.Fiberglass Figures Come to the Magic Forest.Magic Forest and the Fiberglass Figures.Lake George Amusement Park and Carson City.Gillette’s Pontoosuc Lake Beach Carnival.The Festival Commons, is an ideal location for your next event. The nature trails are part of a environmental park (the West Brook Conservation Initiative) that filters storm-water before it current to the lake. Other attractions in the park such as a skateboard park, kids park and nature trails make this event venue unique. The beauty and proximity of The Festival Commons offers something unique for each season and every occasion. With panoramic views of “The Queen of American Lakes,” guests can also take advantage of all that Lake George has to offer in terms of activities and sight-seeing, all within a very short walk from the grounds.
Gaslight village lake george movie#
Today the 2.5-acre space is perfect for a variety of events including outdoor theater, movie screenings, dance, music, historic re-enactments, craft, flea and farmers-style markets, circuses, automobile shows, holiday festivals, fund-raisers, corporate functions, press events and more! This unique park was named after the founder of the former Gaslight Village, a vaudeville-style amusement park that once stood on the grounds. Wood Park at the southern end of idyllic Lake George. Festival Commons is located in the Charles R.