The classic dark ride Flight to Mars came to Gaslight Village by way of Palisades Park and Coney Island. The theme park also hosted sing-alongs, melodramas, and an Ice Revue.Īmong the featured rides assembled for the park were an 1800 Merry Go-Round, an 1825 Bicycle ride by George Tilyou (founder of Coney Island’s Steeplechase Park), the Green Monster, Mexican Scrambler, a Ferris Wheel, the Shaving Mug, a Paratrooper, the Round-Up and Bumper Cars. Around the bandstand special comedy performances where often held, such as those by a pack of Keystone Cops.

Nearby the Palace Theater had continuous showings of silent movies including those featuring Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. A big part of the charm of the park was its entertainment which utilized a two-way stage that, with seating for one thousand, allowed for vaudeville acts to perform outside during nice weather and inside the Opera House when the weather was inclement. The park was designed in part by Arto Monaco, who owned the popular Santa’s Workshop and Land of Make Believe in Essex County. While Storytown closed at 5:30 pm, Gaslight Village didn’t get rolling until about that time and was open until 10:30 pm. Its “Gay Nineties” theme was actually more popular among adults then children, perhaps by design. Of course Gaslight Village was well known for its “ yesterday’s fun today” radio and television commercials. What many don’t know is that Gaslight Village was briefly located at what is now Smoke Rise Campground in Pottersville, NY, about 25 miles north, a location that had a long history of roadside attractions. Owing to the success of Storytown (now known as Six Flags Great Escape), Charley opened Gaslight Village in 1959 on the site of the former Delaware and Hudson Railroad‘s Lake George rail yards (where the turntable stood). He later went on to build the Tiki Resort (one of America’s last original Tiki bars), a short lived wax museum, the Sun Castle resort, and more. “Charley” Wood.Ĭharley already owned a number of other investments, including Holiday House on the shores of Lake George, and Storytown, U.S.A., an amusement park with a Mother Goose rhymes theme (later expanded with Ghost Town, a western boot-hill theme, and Jungle Land, an animal park) which he opened in 1954. The other cabins and the Wild West sites are not pet-friendly.Gaslight Village in Lake George, NY was opened in 1959 by Charles R. Pets are welcome at the campground and campsites, as well as the Kenai and Kodiak cabins. And, parents can feel comfortable letting their kids play at the playground because we have a locked security gate at the entrance to keep out unwanted visitors. We offer regular activities and events for our guests to enjoy, including live bands and DJs on the weekends. It’s even common for locals to book a weekend with us to get a break from the demands and routines of everyday life. People come to Campers Paradise to have fun, relax and escape the real world. Guests also appreciate the abundant shade and privacy of our sites compared with those at other campgrounds.

We frequently hear from our guests how much they appreciate our campground’s soothing and relaxing atmosphere. The cabins, tent sites and RV pads are placed among existing trees, so no two sites are exactly the same. Our campground was built into the woods rather than clearing and leveling the area. In fact, Campers Paradise was voted most beautiful campground in Pennsylvania! If you’re looking for a secluded getaway nestled in mature trees, our campground is sure to impress. Campers Paradise campground and cabins is located in the Allegheny National Forest region, just south of Cook Forest and a mile from the Clarion River in northern Pennsylvania.

Gaslight campground