Freedomland U.S.A.
Freedomland U.S.A.
One of the most magical places I ever visited as a child was Freedomland U.S.A., a sprawling theme park in the Bronx that opened in 1960 and was unlike anything I had ever seen.
When you arrived and parked, you didn’t just walk into an amusement park — you stepped back in time, entering through Little Old New York, styled after the 1890s. The streets were alive with Model T cars, horse-drawn trolleys, and actors in period clothing. I remember shopfronts selling old-time goods and costumed performers shouting political speeches and staging fake bank robberies. It was immersive before anyone used that word. I was a kid, but I felt like I had walked into a living movie.
From the Old New York train station, you could board an authentic-looking train that looped through the park and dropped you at any of the themed areas — each one immersive in its own way.
Themed Areas and Experiences
Old Chicago (1871)
Every 20 minutes, the Great Chicago Fire would "break out," and kids like me could help put it out using hand pumps. We even got firefighter certificates! There was also a massive artificial lake that mimicked the Great Lakes.
The Old Southwest (1890)
Cowboy shootouts in dusty towns. Actors fell from balconies after staged gunfights. The Casa Loco tilted house made you stumble like you were in a cartoon. It was exhilarating.
San Francisco (1906)
A dark ride simulated the 1906 earthquake. Chinatown was full of mystery and color. I remember lanterns glowing in the dark.
The Great Plains (1803–1900)
You could visit Fort Cavalry, Borden's Farm, and the Pony Express station. They had live farm animals and hay bales stacked up.
New Orleans
Pirates, Mardi Gras jazz, and a Crystal Maze mirror house that went on forever. They even had a simulated tornado ride.
Satellite City (The Future)
Rocket ships and moon landers! It was like walking through a sci-fi magazine from the barber shop.
Though it only lasted from 1960 to 1964, Freedomland made an impression that has lasted a lifetime. It wasn’t just a park. It was storytelling you could walk through.