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A Park named Dizzy-Land (?) has been reported here. 1960's ? Without more information I have the feeling it was just the name of an 'arcade' in Salem Willows.


When you have had enough of Salem's witches, demons, and historical walks grab the family and head over to the Salem Willows.

Just a short distance away from the historical district, the Willows is a great place for a dip in the ocean or a few rounds of skee-ball. The park is named after the European white willow trees adorning the common areas. The tree's were planted in 1801 to provide shaded areas for smallpox patients. As with Hospital Point in Beverly, this was originally the site of a smallpox hospital during the epidemic. When the need for such a clinic had ended, the land was turned over to the public. Salem Willows officially became a public park in 1858. In 1880 an amusement park was created on the property and has stood ever since. Much of this is thanks to the Naumkeag Street Railway Company creating horse-drawn trolleys to the Willows. The trolley ferried park goers back and forth from Salem proper.

Early on, a Bavarian Carousel was added to the park. Unfortunately the original carved Flying Horses were sold to Macy's in New York. The carousel now resides in the Kiddieland section of the park.

During the early nineteen-hundreds Restaurant Row was a popular destination for sea food enthusiasts. The restaurants became a destination unto them selves. Today there are just a couple take-out restaurants providing quick eats to tourists.

The Willows also sports a classic arcade with vintage coin-op video games and pinball. You can even play classic skee-ball or air hockey in the Casino. Kidieland is home to the carousel; wooden boat, car, and lady-bug rides.

If you just want to relax and cool off there is a small sand beach at the north-eastern side of the park. For fishermen the public pear is a great location, picnickers can grab lunch under one of the historic willow trees or dine at one of standard seating areas.



Salem Willows is named for the European white willow trees planted here in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients convalescing at the old smallpox hospital. Later the area became a park. During the first half of the 20th Century Restaurant Row on the park's North Shore served fresh seafood favored by locals and visitors alike. A Carousel with carved flying horses was another special attraction at Salem Willows which then, as now, operated an amusement center. Now, almost 100 years later Salem Willows provides a seaside promenade still popular throughout Essex County, Boston, and beyond. Visitors still flock here in the summer to enjoy the seashore, the arcade, the flying horses and ample picnic grounds and recreational facilities. Although the last of the original restaurants closed in the 1960's there are still several take out stands to choose from. One often overlooked feature of the amusement park is that parking is still free and there is no admission charge.


Credits: Salem Willows Park


On the north shore of Boston, the Salem Willows midway was never very big, but could boast that two of the finest carousel machines ever made operated at the resort. In the 1880's, Joseph Brown built and opened his 'Flying Horses' believed to be the first in New England. His hand carved animals consisting of elephants, camels, lions, ponies and horses gave much pleasure and delight to all who rode them. Salem Willows also enjoyed an antique four-abreast Looff carousel....


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