Midway State Park

State park in Chautauqua County, New York

Midway State Park, located in Maple Springs, New York, was established in 1898 by the Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway as a picnic ground. Today, it is recognized as the fifteenth oldest continually operating amusement park in the United States, and the fifth oldest remaining trolley park of the thirteen still operating in the United States.

At its origin, Midway Park offered a baseball field, dance pavilion and dining hall, and a sandy beach for bathing. Today, the park uses the original picnic shelters with several more modern additions. The concession building was built in 1915 and still houses the refreshment stands, as well as the Carousel Museum and roller rink. In 1951, the park was purchased by Martin "Red" Walsh, and was later operated by the next generation of the Walsh family, Michael and Janis Walsh, affectionately known as Mr. and Mrs. Midway to the staff and "park regulars." After the 2006 season the park was transferred into the New York State Parks system. Several notable people have visited the park since its opening, including Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., Lucille Ball, and Jack Paar, former host of NBC's The Tonight Show. In 1960, the Glenn Miller Orchestra conducted by Ray McKinley played at the park. Midway State Park has been voted the Best Travel Destination in Chautauqua County by the readers of the Dunkirk Observer. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, as a national historic district. Its encompasses 12 contributing buildings, one contributing site, and one contributing object. 1898 Midway Park is the name chosen for the picnic grounds of the Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway. They leased twelve wooded and five cleared above Whiteside and nearly opposite Chautauqua Lake from Chautauqua Institution. The park has 500 feet (152 m) of lake front and a sandy beach for bathing. A dance pavilion and dining room were soon built. July 31, 1915 A huge new pavilion is erected at the park. On the second floor are roller skating and dancing. The ground floor serves as a bath house and also boasts amenities such as cane racks, concessions, and a spacious restaurant. May 1934 Thomas Carr of Rochester, New York leases the park from the railroad company. Mr. Carr was the former manager of Celoron Park, another popular Chautauqua Lake amusement park. April 17, 1939 Mr. Carr, who takes up residence in Maple Springs, buys the park outright from the rail company. 1953 Martin Walsh incorporates Midway Park when his brother Frank joins him in the business. The Walsh brothers begin to expand and develop the facility, adding new rides and attractions. July 12, 1998 Midway Park celebrates its centennial with "The Birthday Party Of The Century". Free birthday cake is distributed, and a Big Band Ballroom Dance is held to mark the occasion. 2005 An agreement is reached between the owners (Michael & Janis Walsh) and New York State for purchase of the park. Actual ownership transfers after the 2006 operation season. May 25, 2007 A Grand Opening Ceremony is held. March 13, 2009 The park is designated a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. July 1, 2016 Opening of new mini golf course: Putt A Round Chautauqua at Midway State Park.

Currently, Midway Park has 18 child oriented rides, plus miniature golf, Go Karts, a climbing wall, and water games. Many of the kiddie rides were manufactured by the Allan Herschell Company of North Tonawanda, New York. Guests use the picnic shelters for their family reunions and company picnics. The family arcade, meanwhile, includes games such as skeeball, Pac Man and Galaga. Midway operates from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with a limited June schedule.