They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What may seem an eyesore to one person, just might be a beautiful masterpiece to another. There are places beloved by communities and protected in the hearts of those that hold their memories of its tattered hallways and decayed rooms dear. This is the way that we feel when we explore places that have been forgotten by time. Left to rot and decay and only holding the silent whispers of what once was. We know that there are people out there with malicious intent toward these places that we venture into. It saddens us when we see the filth and destruction they leave behind, but we want to make something very clear… We are explorers and lovers of history. We in no way, shape or form condone the criminal activities that take place in the historical decaying places that we document. Social media has brought many of these places to the limelight, but the intention is to show the beauty and mystery of abandonment. Not to invite trouble. Trouble will find its way on its own and to say that the peaceful documentation of these places leads to criminal activity, is mind blowing. We have met so many amazing fellow explorers in our travels and are so thankful and humbled by the positive responses we have received. We know that this type of exploration is not for everyone…many people don’t understand why we find such beauty in decay, we can only explain it as a beautiful journey into the past. We invite you to watch our explores and come along as we visit these amazing places. As for the criminal activity that occurs, those individuals are responsible for their own actions. It is a terrible part of our society, but reality, nonetheless. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for loving this location just as much as we do. We hope that through this video, the memories held within will remain.
Back in the 70s , me and my family would spend the day on this historic amusement park. They had a boat ride that me and my dad would ride over and over again. I miss this place very much and so sad it's gone forever
What a treasure you shared here. I spent my 13th birthday riding the roller coaster over and over because the person found out it was my birthday, I was allowed to stay on for free rides. The first building you went into was the Polka Dot Playhouse if I remember correctly. Thanks for the memories. Have a blessed life.
Thank you for watching and commenting!! This is one of the reasons we share our explores in hopes that it will bring back good memories to someone who watches!
I use to explore this place around 2006-08 all the cottages and many buildings were still there, good times. Almost nothing original left, I also went there in 1993 and 1995 when I was very very young and gave pictures of how it looked in the 90s before the bridge burned. I want to go back now for the sake of nostalgia
I am from Bridgeport. I graduated high school in 1994. I remember driving over that old bridge late at night with my friends to hang out. Exploring etc. There were birds that made their beds under the sand late at night in big colonies. Forming this large silver dollar shape in the sand. I wish i remembered what species of bird they were. So beautiful.
I went there last around 2006 - 2008, i remember there being a LOT more there, even have pictures of it stashed away somewhere. Bunch of houses abandoned, and the owners left most things behind when they left, furniture electronics old family photos whatever. The theater wasn't so destroyed then either. Things change so fast.
Have been there several times, going back a few years when some of the homes were still occupied on a seasonal basis. Always peaceful and some interesting exploring. In those days the electricity was still on, and public water was still working, although not in the park area. It was kinda weird walking around in the evenings and having paved roads with streetlights in an otherwise abandoned situation. Much of the trash there is stuff that blows across the water or floats in on the tides. Keeping the beach clean was an ongoing task, even when peope were there on a regular basis. My brother had a house there and used it for many years after the bridge burned. Had some great neighbors as well. It was certainly different being isolated like that, but still hearing the sounds of the nearby city and highway. BTW, you quickly adjust to the fact that the sun comes up early when you face the water (about 5 am) and you just can't party late into the night. Of course, your neighbors are also in bed early so nobody to party with after 9 pm.
I can hear all the laughter and the music still in this area, such awesome place this would have been back in the day. Thanks for showing us around and who doesn't like a day at the beach.
looking forward to getting out there this summer, I've read on Google how they closed off the beach , instead of me going out there myself to check it out ... Ty for this , now my mind is open to possibilities 🤙🏼
@@JMExplorations unfortunately that's what happens when ppl listen to others, they get fed wrong info or almost discourage 🤣 ty for this video, I'll be making a trip out there soon, ☺️
That’s the Polka Dot Playhouse. My parents went to many shows there. My dad took me fishing dozens of times off the pier. Drop line fishing for flats. Always got a kick out of driving over the bridge to get there. Felt like we would fall through. Good times. My dad’s mother owned a costume shop in downtown Bridgeport. Been in there a few times. I can still smell that smell. 😁
@@yuvgotubekidding that right I forgot but thanx for jogging my memory, polka dot playhouse, I remember fishing at pleasure beach and as a kid I always thought that rickety wooden bridge wolf collapse
That IS a hike to get out there, for sure! I've hiked "Long Beach" in Stratford out to "Pleasure Beach" in Bridgeport many times searching for sea-glass. Wish I had known y'all were coming to Stratford, we could've met up out there. I live about a half-mile away.
@@GeorgieCt Yes, you can get there from land... however, it's quite a hike! As I mentioned above, you have to walk the ENTIRE length of Long Beach in Stratford (past the sharp "elbow" right turn) which will eventually connect to Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport. I've done it many times hunting for sea glass. It takes about two hours to walk it (give or take).
Remember as a kid not liking the old wood bridge but fishing there, in the late 60’s early 70’s but I don’t remember the amusement park in the 70’s but have faint memories of being there when I was real young ( born in the 50’s ) I remember my parents and grandparents talking about it all the time though
@@JMExplorations yeh I no know I have seen the Glen Miller orchestra, the entire band was made up of college kids old enough to be my children, the guy up front waving the baton was my fathers age. Also when I was in High School, I remember as a junior in 75 that the music appreciation teacher got Benny Goodman to play our high school, our teacher was excited as I recall it was many original players, I got to be a stage hand. I am a musician myself but im not going to get into my exploits, I also as an adult worked at Fairfield hills, if you put that into YT’s search icon it is quite a show, I also went to Sandy Hook school from 12/65 to 6/69 , 2nd thru 5th grade and my first classroom was right next to where the shooting started, we moved from BPT in 65 that is how I came to spend many of my early summers at seaside park pleasure beach a nd St Mary’s I still go that way once in a while for excitement, if you ever cover Faield Hills or Sandy Hook school feel free to ask me anything and I’ll try to be as helpful as I’m able to
Enjoyed your walk thru the abandoned Bridgeport Amusement Park. I never knew of it as my travels never took me there years ago. Here's a hint perhaps for future reference: a Historical Society in whatever location you're going to be filming might be some place to check out for more info on your subject. Enjoyed your presentation. How many other videos have you done? Just happened to find this on TH-cam.
Hi Joane! Thank you for watching! Often times, we come upon places just as anyone would when they are out for a drive or just wanting to check a place out. We often do not research before we go because it is fun to walk around and try to figure things out for ourselves. Perhaps if we were professional channel, we might research more, but we are just a couple that enjoys filming our explores. We have close to 500 videos on our channel, so we hope you will decide to check a couple of them out. We really enjoy learning and since filming this video, have learned so much about the amusement park. Have a great day!
It was the carousel building but after the park closed they used this building in the 1970s as The Polka Dot Playhouse. I did the play EQUUS there in the 1970s .
This region has had massive commercial development in recent decades, absolutely massive. But so little in terms of development of parks that are big enough to be of environmental significance. And seaboard parks are so incredibly valuable, in environmental terms, and also in terms of being an amenity for their neighboring areas. If you look at one of the major seaboard parks we have in this region, probably the biggest one - Greenwich Point in Old Greenwich, CT (Exit 5), its significance to the environment just can not be quantified - it has been a massive contributor to the environmental ecosystem of Long Island Sound and the surrounding coastal land areas - birds, fish, various sea-type creatures like shellfish and crabs, vegetation, animals, people, everything. A massive, massive contributor to the regional environmental ecosystem. I don't know the exact land acreage of Pleasure Beach, I'm guessing it's a little bit smaller than Greenwich Point, but in the same general vicinity of land area (offhand I don't know the exact acreage amounts to compare) - and critically - it is a coastal/seaboard ecosystem. And it's not like people can't go there if it gets made into a park - they can go there and enjoy it. Something to do BEFORE it gets developed commercially, or as the case may be re-developed. It's got the beachfront, it's got the tidal action of Long Island Sound at its edges, it's got land that works for vegetation and wildlife - it could become one of America's most valuable parks. Not necessarily the biggest, but definitely one of the most valuable.
On the note of your Bruins hat, I certainly know the pain of blowing a 3-1 series lead to loose a game 7 in OT. My team did that to me in 2015. I guess I can say at least my team got a cup in 2018 even if it was a painful road to get there. On the note of the video, I would've looked in the area where the coaster was, I suspect footers may still be present (see my video of Fairyland Park in Kansas City, which I had been told was paved over but I was still able to find coaster footers). There's also a chance you may find loose track pieces left behind.
Thank you for such a great comment!!! We will definitely have to make a return trip to check that out! It is really a great place to wander around and explore! Good luck with your team this year and thank you so much for watching!!
Cool place, I loved the theatre but it really didn't look safe so I think you did the right thing by not going further in. Shame no trace of the carousel survives.
Is it Safe Walking with Flash Light from Beach in Stratford to Pleasure Beach???? Is it Safe to Walk Around in Pleasure Beach at Night with Flash Light or is it Dangerous with Crime????
We believe it’s safe. The only people going out there are old people (like us) 🤣 and explorers also like us!! We didn’t see any evidence of people partying out there. Would be cool at night!!!
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What may seem an eyesore to one person, just might be a beautiful masterpiece to another. There are places beloved by communities and protected in the hearts of those that hold their memories of its tattered hallways and decayed rooms dear. This is the way that we feel when we explore places that have been forgotten by time. Left to rot and decay and only holding the silent whispers of what once was. We know that there are people out there with malicious intent toward these places that we venture into. It saddens us when we see the filth and destruction they leave behind, but we want to make something very clear… We are explorers and lovers of history. We in no way, shape or form condone the criminal activities that take place in the historical decaying places that we document. Social media has brought many of these places to the limelight, but the intention is to show the beauty and mystery of abandonment. Not to invite trouble. Trouble will find its way on its own and to say that the peaceful documentation of these places leads to criminal activity, is mind blowing. We have met so many amazing fellow explorers in our travels and are so thankful and humbled by the positive responses we have received. We know that this type of exploration is not for everyone…many people don’t understand why we find such beauty in decay, we can only explain it as a beautiful journey into the past. We invite you to watch our explores and come along as we visit these amazing places. As for the criminal activity that occurs, those individuals are responsible for their own actions. It is a terrible part of our society, but reality, nonetheless. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for loving this location just as much as we do. We hope that through this video, the memories held within will remain.
What a difference in my youth in the early sixties. Just beautiful memories.
I wish we could have seen it in it's heyday!!!
Back in the 70s , me and my family would spend the day on this historic amusement park. They had a boat ride that me and my dad would ride over and over again. I miss this place very much and so sad it's gone forever
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Hopefully it brought back beautiful memories you had at this place!
@@JMExplorations 😀💯
Every single scrap of land on the Connecticut coast has a legend of Captain Kidd's treasure associated with it.
We've heard that as well!
What a treasure you shared here. I spent my 13th birthday riding the roller coaster over and over because the person found out it was my birthday, I was allowed to stay on for free rides. The first building you went into was the Polka Dot Playhouse if I remember correctly. Thanks for the memories. Have a blessed life.
Thank you for watching and commenting!! This is one of the reasons we share our explores in hopes that it will bring back good memories to someone who watches!
I use to explore this place around 2006-08 all the cottages and many buildings were still there, good times. Almost nothing original left, I also went there in 1993 and 1995 when I was very very young and gave pictures of how it looked in the 90s before the bridge burned. I want to go back now for the sake of nostalgia
You should definitely go back!!! It's a really nice walk down the beach!!!!
I am from Bridgeport. I graduated high school in 1994. I remember driving over that old bridge late at night with my friends to hang out. Exploring etc. There were birds that made their beds under the sand late at night in big colonies. Forming this large silver dollar shape in the sand. I wish i remembered what species of bird they were. So beautiful.
I went there last around 2006 - 2008, i remember there being a LOT more there, even have pictures of it stashed away somewhere. Bunch of houses abandoned, and the owners left most things behind when they left, furniture electronics old family photos whatever. The theater wasn't so destroyed then either. Things change so fast.
Have been there several times, going back a few years when some of the homes were still occupied on a seasonal basis. Always peaceful and some interesting exploring. In those days the electricity was still on, and public water was still working, although not in the park area. It was kinda weird walking around in the evenings and having paved roads with streetlights in an otherwise abandoned situation. Much of the trash there is stuff that blows across the water or floats in on the tides. Keeping the beach clean was an ongoing task, even when peope were there on a regular basis. My brother had a house there and used it for many years after the bridge burned. Had some great neighbors as well. It was certainly different being isolated like that, but still hearing the sounds of the nearby city and highway. BTW, you quickly adjust to the fact that the sun comes up early when you face the water (about 5 am) and you just can't party late into the night. Of course, your neighbors are also in bed early so nobody to party with after 9 pm.
Heartbreaking to this boy of the 1950's who loved my visits here.
Like Riverside to me, in MA. (Riverside) is still a park but not the same. I don't remember this park.
Sometimes it's hard to see the places that we grew up loving in this condition! Well we hope it brought back some good memories!
@@JMExplorations Oh yes! Absolutely. Loved seeing it and revisiting those great memories.
My family (Maternal Aunt & Uncle) owned one of the cottages on Pleasure Beach!
We wish that they were still there but what we seen was cool too!
I can hear all the laughter and the music still in this area, such awesome place this would have been back in the day. Thanks for showing us around and who doesn't like a day at the beach.
Thank you Chris!!! We wish we could have seen this in it's heyday!!!
looking forward to getting out there this summer, I've read on Google how they closed off the beach , instead of me going out there myself to check it out ... Ty for this , now my mind is open to possibilities 🤙🏼
It's very easy to get out there but it's a hike!!! lol
@@JMExplorations unfortunately that's what happens when ppl listen to others, they get fed wrong info or almost discourage 🤣 ty for this video, I'll be making a trip out there soon, ☺️
This is one of your best videos!!! Loved the ending the best!! You two are amazing!! ♥️♥️
Thank you Julie!!! We had such a blast hiking out there on a gorgeous day!!!
That’s the Polka Dot Playhouse. My parents went to many shows there. My dad took me fishing dozens of times off the pier. Drop line fishing for flats. Always got a kick out of driving over the bridge to get there. Felt like we would fall through. Good times. My dad’s mother owned a costume shop in downtown Bridgeport. Been in there a few times. I can still smell that smell. 😁
That's so cool!! SO glad that it brought back some happy memories!
@@yuvgotubekidding that right I forgot but thanx for jogging my memory, polka dot playhouse, I remember fishing at pleasure beach and as a kid I always thought that rickety wooden bridge wolf collapse
This was just sprawling! I’d have to have dipped off to the playground and tried everything out, 😅! Great finds and pieces all over!
I know right? I tried out a couple of things that did not seem safe at all but I'm sure I pushed the weight limit of those things!!! LOL
Great memories had a lot of cookouts there!!!
That IS a hike to get out there, for sure! I've hiked "Long Beach" in Stratford out to "Pleasure Beach" in Bridgeport many times searching for sea-glass. Wish I had known y'all were coming to Stratford, we could've met up out there. I live about a half-mile away.
Oh man....That would have been cool!!! The hike wasn't too bad to get out there.
You can get there from land? Was going to take my little boat out there this summer to check it out. I’m in Stratford also
@@GeorgieCt Yes, you can get there from land... however, it's quite a hike! As I mentioned above, you have to walk the ENTIRE length of Long Beach in Stratford (past the sharp "elbow" right turn) which will eventually connect to Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport. I've done it many times hunting for sea glass. It takes about two hours to walk it (give or take).
Great explore
Thank you ☺️
I used to go there with my parents when I was a little kid !!!😊
Hopefully it brought back good memories!
I got to explore that area before they tore down most of the buildings. I see there isn't much left. Glad you got to go out there nice vid.
Thank you!!! We wish there would have been more but it was still cool to walk around there!!!! :)
I would love to go there to take pictures
You should go!!! It is a very nice walk down the beach to the site!!!
My mom she use to go to pleasure Beach and she said there use to be a roller skating and an Olympic size swimming pool there
It really must have been something back in the day!! Thank you so much for watching!
This place is awesome! I can not wait until I’m making enough money to go explore this side of the country.
Well we are looking forward to you coming out our way!!! just let us know and we will hook you up with whatever kind of explore that you want to do!!!
Remember as a kid not liking the old wood bridge but fishing there, in the late 60’s early 70’s but I don’t remember the amusement park in the 70’s but have faint memories of being there when I was real young ( born in the 50’s ) I remember my parents and grandparents talking about it all the time though
It must have been a great place in it's day!
@@JMExplorations yeh I no know I have seen the Glen Miller orchestra, the entire band was made up of college kids old enough to be my children, the guy up front waving the baton was my fathers age. Also when I was in High School, I remember as a junior in 75 that the music appreciation teacher got Benny Goodman to play our high school, our teacher was excited as I recall it was many original players, I got to be a stage hand. I am a musician myself but im not going to get into my exploits, I also as an adult worked at Fairfield hills, if you put that into YT’s search icon it is quite a show, I also went to Sandy Hook school from 12/65 to 6/69 , 2nd thru 5th grade and my first classroom was right next to where the shooting started, we moved from BPT in 65 that is how I came to spend many of my early summers at seaside park pleasure beach a nd St Mary’s I still go that way once in a while for excitement, if you ever cover Faield Hills or Sandy Hook school feel free to ask me anything and I’ll try to be as helpful as I’m able to
Great exploration. What an interesting location to check out!
Thank you! It was a fun explore!! What is better than being at the beach? Lol. Have a great weekend!!
@@JMExplorations You have a great weekend too!
That old 25 cent coke machine was awesome. Pretty cool place
An amazing piece of nostalgia! Thank you for watching, Jay!
Enjoyed your walk thru the abandoned Bridgeport Amusement Park. I never knew of it as my travels never took me there years ago. Here's a hint perhaps for future reference: a Historical Society in whatever location you're going to be filming might be some place to check out for more info on your subject. Enjoyed your presentation. How many other videos have you done? Just happened to find this on TH-cam.
Hi Joane! Thank you for watching! Often times, we come upon places just as anyone would when they are out for a drive or just wanting to check a place out. We often do not research before we go because it is fun to walk around and try to figure things out for ourselves. Perhaps if we were professional channel, we might research more, but we are just a couple that enjoys filming our explores. We have close to 500 videos on our channel, so we hope you will decide to check a couple of them out. We really enjoy learning and since filming this video, have learned so much about the amusement park. Have a great day!
Being from nearby in New York, we did
once go there through Bridgeport to
this location.
I thought WICC, AM 600 broadcasts from that area? 😅
They probably do hence the radio tower still on the property! lol
@@JMExplorations Thanks 😊
It was the carousel building but after the park closed they used this building in the 1970s as The Polka Dot Playhouse. I did the play EQUUS there in the 1970s .
That is awesome!!! It must have been an amazing place back in the day!
There was a whole neighborhood of abandoned hurricane damaged homes out there until about 10-15 years ago !
Yeah we found that out!!! Too bad they are all gone now!
Man, we use to sneak over to here by the sandbar at low tide and hang out for hours back in High School!
Now it's just a nice walk up the beach!
@@JMExplorations wow, to think we had to pull spec ops just to cop a feel, now you can just walk over! 😂 Did they fix the bridge?
@@chrisxshock nope. Still no bridge. We just parked at a beach prking area and it was a short walk up the beach! Pretty cool place for sure!
@@JMExplorations Thanks! If I'm ever in that area for extended time I may have to check it out!
The theater was the original Polka Dot Playhouse. The ballroom was The Ritz Ballroom.
Thank you for that info! They must have been amazing places to see in their heyday!
There were a bunch of cottages there until about 15-20 years ago when they were all torn down.
yeah we saw a photo from above as we were researching the place. There were a lot of cabins!
.... could be and should be made into a nature preserve - would be one on the most important parks on the Eastern Seaboard.
That is a wonderful idea!!! They should definitely do that!
This region has had massive commercial development in recent decades, absolutely massive. But so little in terms of development of parks that are big enough to be of environmental significance. And seaboard parks are so incredibly valuable, in environmental terms, and also in terms of being an amenity for their neighboring areas. If you look at one of the major seaboard parks we have in this region, probably the biggest one - Greenwich Point in Old Greenwich, CT (Exit 5), its significance to the environment just can not be quantified - it has been a massive contributor to the environmental ecosystem of Long Island Sound and the surrounding coastal land areas - birds, fish, various sea-type creatures like shellfish and crabs, vegetation, animals, people, everything. A massive, massive contributor to the regional environmental ecosystem. I don't know the exact land acreage of Pleasure Beach, I'm guessing it's a little bit smaller than Greenwich Point, but in the same general vicinity of land area (offhand I don't know the exact acreage amounts to compare) - and critically - it is a coastal/seaboard ecosystem. And it's not like people can't go there if it gets made into a park - they can go there and enjoy it. Something to do BEFORE it gets developed commercially, or as the case may be re-developed. It's got the beachfront, it's got the tidal action of Long Island Sound at its edges, it's got land that works for vegetation and wildlife - it could become one of America's most valuable parks. Not necessarily the biggest, but definitely one of the most valuable.
Once you crossed over the the bridge there was a hot dog stand before the pier.
Love that visual. Thank you!
Can you go out there with trespassing issues?
Absolutely!!! You are allowed to walk around out there!
I like the narration.
Thank you Maricris!!!
On the note of your Bruins hat, I certainly know the pain of blowing a 3-1 series lead to loose a game 7 in OT. My team did that to me in 2015. I guess I can say at least my team got a cup in 2018 even if it was a painful road to get there.
On the note of the video, I would've looked in the area where the coaster was, I suspect footers may still be present (see my video of Fairyland Park in Kansas City, which I had been told was paved over but I was still able to find coaster footers). There's also a chance you may find loose track pieces left behind.
Thank you for such a great comment!!! We will definitely have to make a return trip to check that out! It is really a great place to wander around and explore! Good luck with your team this year and thank you so much for watching!!
There was an amusement part on pleasure Island Port Arthur Texas
Cool place, I loved the theatre but it really didn't look safe so I think you did the right thing by not going further in. Shame no trace of the carousel survives.
That theater was ready to cave in and we were not going to let it cave in on us!!! lol
🔥
#popstarmayor
#bridgeportct
😊
that used to be called the polkadotplayhouse in the 70s i was a stage carpenter apretance back in the day
We would have loved to have seen it back in the day❤️❤️
Some people claim Captain Kidd buried his treasure on Charles Island in Milford, it has never been found.
We had heard that story as well!!! Would be epic to find it if it's true!
Is it Safe Walking with Flash Light from Beach in Stratford to Pleasure Beach????
Is it Safe to Walk Around in Pleasure Beach at Night with Flash Light or is it Dangerous with Crime????
We believe it’s safe. The only people going out there are old people (like us) 🤣 and explorers also like us!! We didn’t see any evidence of people partying out there. Would be cool at night!!!
Round building... hippodrome
The band was in the center
Very cool!
Amusement parks have turned to poo over the last 50 years and the ones left nowadays suck and require a third mortgage on your home to attend!!
Yeah it's crazy the cost of the parks today!
Carasel not caravan
WTF is a caravan?
I used to go there back in the 70s when i live in Bridgeport but i left Bridgeport in 1980 now i live in Pennsylvania its all many years ago
It must have been a wonderful place to see in it's heyday!!!