Central Park Skating and Amusement
A Guide to Victorian Gardens, Wollman Rink and the Carousel in NYC
Whether skating on Wollman Rink in the Winter, riding the amusements in the Summer at Victorian Gardens or twirling around the carousel, there is always fun to be had.
Aside from the scenic, landscaped wonders that are present in New York’s Central Park’s vast green lawns and lush green brush, the park is also home to a small amusement park in the summer time, on land which doubles as a skating rink in the winter, which perfect for families visiting the park with young children.
Victorian Gardens Amusement Park
Between the months of May and September, the grounds of Wollman Rink are transformed into an amusement park, catering to children under 12, but is open to all ages. The park has been running each summer since 2003 and the 2008 season will commence on May 24th.
What to Do There
Like any small amusement park, Victorian Gardens is made up of small, temporary rides and games. Some of these rides include the Jumpin’ Star, Mini Mouse and a Fun Slide along with about a dozen others. A complete list of rides is available at the Victorian Gardens’ website.
While all guests must pay to enter the park, there are a few different options of tickets to choose from. For general park admission, it is $6.50 on a weekday and $7.50 on a weekend. For an unlimited ride pass, it is $18.50 (including park admission) on a weekday and $21.50 for a weekend. For guests visiting with children less than three feet tall, the children’s admission is free with a paying adult.
Wollman Rink
During the winter months and after the amusement rides have been removed, the land that Victorian Gardens sits on is transformed into a giant ice skating rink. Often in the days between the opening of the amusement park and after the ice has melted, or before it has formed, the rink is often used for inline skating. With over 4,000 people skating on it per day, Wollman Rink remains a popular destination for visitors to the park in the winter time.
The Wollman Rink, which is often depicted on TV and in film, is open seven days a week throughout the months of November through March and is open late until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday nights. A full day’s worth of skating will set a skater back $9.50 on a weekday and $12.00 on a weekend/holiday. Skate rentals are available for visitors without their own skates for $5.00.
Carousel
Just outside of the grounds of Victorian Gardens, sits the famous Central Park Carousel. The carousel, which has since been rebuilt, has been in operation since 1871 and was originally powered by a mule and a horse. It has as many as 250,000 riders each year.
Famous to book lovers as the carousel featured in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the Central Park Carousel is open from April to November, weather permitting, and costs just $1.25 per ride.
Although technically not park of Victorian Gardens, the Central Park Carousel, made famous by J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye sits adjacent to the Gardens and at only $1.25 per ride, surely should not be missed.
How to Get There
The Wollman Rink and Carousel are located at the south end of Central Park at approximately 63rd Street (although the street ends at Fifth Avenue, this gives an idea of how far north the grounds are). The rink and Carousel are located just northeast of the Pond. The nearest subway station is the 5th Ave. stop for the N, R and W lines or the 57th Street stop for the F line.
