Midway Park Chautauqua Lake

NY acquires Chautauqua amusement park

Business First of Buffalo - 3:08 PM EST Thursday

by James Fink

Business First

In a deal that took more than one year to complete, New York state has officially acquired the historic Midway Park, one of the nation's oldest amusement parks.
The state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation formally closed on the Midway deal, paying $4 million for the amusement park whose roots go back to 1898. The deal was struck last fall but didn't close until Oct. 27 on the landmark Town of Ellery facility.
By acquiring the park, the state will ensure that it remains an amusement and entertainment center instead of being parceled off for development purposes. The Chautauqua County park, located about three miles from Bemus Point, had been on the market for more than two years.
"People from Pittsburgh and Cleveland were looking at it," said Steve Blake, a broker with CB Richard Ellis Buffalo who, along with Tony Kurdziel from his office, handled the deal. "It's a beautiful piece of real estate, right on the (Chautauqua) lake. The good news is that the state stepped in and will keep it a park."
Midway is the second-oldest amusement park in the state and the nation's 16th oldest. It predates Coney Island Park by several years.
The park has 26 rides and an open-air roller rink built in the early 20th century. Many of its rides were designed and built by Allan Herschell Co. of North Tonawanda, the same company that developed the carousel.
"With our plan to acquire Midway Park, we look forward to maintaining its unique character and its valuable role as a tourist destination in the region for the enjoyment of Chautauqua residents and the many visitors well into the future," Gov. George Pataki said in a prepared release.
The park had been owned by the Walsh family, who bought the 43-acre facility in 1951. The Walshes put it on the market more than two years ago, originally asking $4.2 million.
Besides its many rides and the roller rink pavilion, the main concession building remains in use and is considered an historic and architectural landmark. It was erected in 1915.
Midway Park is listed on the New York State Open Space Plan and is considered eligible for inclusion on both the state and national registers of historic places.
It now becomes one of 22 new state parks that New York has opened or acquired since 1995. The state currently has 172 parks.

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