Misplaced Pages

#846153

34-624: Old Orchard Beach is a resort town in York County , Maine , United States. The population was 8,960 at the 2020 census . It is part of the Portland − South Portland − Biddeford , Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area . Located on the inner side of Saco Bay on the Atlantic Ocean , the town is a popular seaside resort . The downtown contains many tourist-oriented businesses, including clam shacks and T-shirt shops. A wooden pier on

68-419: A 50-foot (15 m) tall tower and dump them onto a metal slide for a quick ride down. The current 2019 version of Palace Playland consists of a newly built Ferris wheel , a 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m) arcade, and 25 rides for both children and adults. The new Ferris wheel replaces the 70-foot (21 m) tall, decades old Sunwheel with one that is environmentally sound and technologically superior. and

102-486: A brand new roller coaster opening in 2018 known as the “sea viper” Every Thursday the beach has a firework show at the pier at night. This occurs in the summer from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Three versions of the Pier were constructed by people and modified by nature. The first, 1,770 feet (540 m) long, was built of steel in 1898. When the ribbon was cut on July 2, 1898, it was a “global cultural icon,” at 1,825 feet

136-510: A male householder with no wife present, and 52.7% were non-families. 41.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.61. The median age in the town was 47.8 years. 14.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 35.7% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

170-655: Is located in Old Orchard Beach. The amusement park dates back to 1902 and sits on four acres of beachfront property. Palace Playland is one of the last old-timey oceanside amusement parks in New England . Old Orchard Beach was home to the first carousel in the United States, and in the past there were two carousels with hand-carved horses and other animals. Noah's Ark , a kid-friendly, boat-shaped funhouse with hand-carved figures of Noah and his family,

204-864: The Saranac Lake Surge . From 2012-2014, the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide in the New England Collegiate Baseball League played at the ballpark. in 2014 Owners John and Pam Gallo sold the Raging Tide franchise, which became the Bristol Blues . Old Orchard Beach is located on the Southern Maine Coast . It is bounded by Saco Bay to the east, Scarborough to the northeast, and Saco on all other sides. According to

238-563: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 22.53 square miles (58.35 km), of which 7.43 square miles (19.24 km) is land and 15.10 square miles (39.11 km) is water. During summer months, Amtrak 's Downeaster train stops at Old Orchard Beach station with service to the Portland Transportation Center and Boston's North Station . Old Orchard Beach is

272-400: The cost of living in the region. Sometimes, resort towns can become boomtowns due to the quick development of retirement and vacation-based residences. However, most of the employment available in resort towns are typically low paying and it can be difficult for workers to afford to live the area in which they are employed. Many resort towns have spawned nearby bedroom communities where

306-461: The 1950s, Palace Playland was operated by future banker and philanthropist Bernard Osher , a Maine native. In the 1970s and 1980s, Palace Playland was noted for operating a 1910 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel , PTC #19; however, in 1996, the valuable antique was withdrawn from service and moved to Ohio . In the 1990s, Palace Playland claimed to be "New England's largest pinball and video arcade." A guidebook writer recommended

340-726: The AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies . The Guides relocated in 1989 after finishing last in attendance and in wins in the International League during their final season in Old Orchard Beach. The Ballpark opened in 1984 and was renovated in 2009. Approximately $ 240,000 worth of volunteer labor and goods went into the project. Old Orchard Beach Surge, a baseball team which played in the independent Empire Professional Baseball League . The Surge relocated to Saranac Lake, New York in 2019 and continued to play as

374-676: The Association, as declared to the State of Maine on January 24, 1881, was "to establish a place of summer resort for holding religious, educational and other meetings at Old Orchard, in Saco, Maine , in the County of York.". The community still thrives today. In 1829 the first Public House opened. In 1837 tourists were paying a small amount to stay at a local farm while they visited the area. In 1942, trains could be taken from Boston to Portland. Over

SECTION 10

#1732783779847

408-629: The Casino hosted such acts as Guy Lombardo , Louis Armstrong , Benny Goodman , Xavier Cugat and Frank Sinatra . After the war Old Orchard became somewhat downscale, becoming known as a destination for blue-collar partygoers. A fire in 1969 destroyed Noah's Ark, the two carousels , the Whale's Mouth, the Mine Ride, and the Jack and Jill slide. The Casino was demolished in 1970. The current incarnation of

442-577: The area and relocated in Kittery, Maine after an Indian attack destroyed the Rogers' homestead. The namesake orchard survived for approximately 150 years as a beacon of land to sailors in the Atlantic Ocean. The historic Free Will Baptist revival camp at Ocean Park, Maine , just down the beach from central Old Orchard, was built in 1881 by Bates College President Oren B. Cheney . The mission of

476-593: The area around the mouth of the Saco and Goosefare rivers was British explorer Martin Pring in 1603. The Old Orchard Beach area began appearing in historical records around 1653. The area was first officially settled in 1657 by Thomas Rogers who had arrived in the Goosefare Brook area in 1636, and who dubbed it "The Garden By The Sea". The town takes its name from Rogers' abandoned apple orchard. Rogers' family left

510-453: The beach contains many other tourist businesses, including a variety of souvenir shops. The town’s seven mile (11 km) long beach extends into the towns of Scarborough and Saco , and is lined with many beach residential properties, condominiums , motels and bed and breakfasts . People of the Abenaki nation have inhabited the area since before contact. The first European visitor to

544-481: The country's overall economic growth and development. In addition, business generated by resort towns have been credited with supporting the local economy through times of national market failure and depression. In a study conducted by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of Istanbul Technical University , 401 local residents in the resort community of Antalya were interviewed and asked to give their opinion on

578-496: The economic impacts of tourism. Among the participants, 67% had lived in Antalya for over ten years, 66% had at least a high school degree, and 30% reported jobs that were related to tourism. The results are as follows: Perceived impact on select economic impact items (Antalya) More recently, resort towns have come under greater scrutiny by local communities. Instances where resort towns are poorly managed have adverse effects on

612-969: The host country or the local communities. Income to local communities generated by tourism are all of the expenditures accrued after taxes, profits, and wages are paid out; however, around 80% of traveler's expenditures go to airlines, hotels, and international companies, not to local businesses. These funds are referred to as leakages . Tourism has also been blamed for other negative economic impacts to local communities. Although resort towns usually boast more improved infrastructure than surrounding areas, these developments usually present high costs to local governments and tax payers. Reallocating government funds to subsidize infrastructure and tax breaks to firms shift available funding to local education and health services. In addition, resort towns typically do not have dynamic economies, resulting in an over dependence on one industry. Economic dependence on tourism poses particular challenges to resort towns and its local residents given

646-519: The local economy. One example is the uneven distribution of income and land ownership between local residents and businesses. During tourist season, increased demand for accommodation may raise the price of land, causing a simultaneous increase in rent for local residents whose income in invariably lower than foreign residents. This results in a preponderance of foreigners in the land market and an erosion of economic opportunities for local residents. The revenues amassed from tourism typically do not benefit

680-524: The longest steel pier in the world, created by Berlin Iron Bridge Co. at a cost of $ 38,000. At its end was the Pier Casino, a ballroom with room for 5,000 dancers. Shortly after its completion a storm reduced its length by 150 feet (46 m). It was rebuilt, but 10 years later, after another storm, the pier was shortened to 700 feet (210 m) and the Casino was moved. In the interwar period,

714-658: The majority of the resort workforce lives. Resorts towns sometimes struggle with problems regarding sustainable growth , due to the seasonal nature of the economy, the dependence on a single industry, and the difficulties in retaining a stable workforce. Local residents are generally receptive of the economic impacts of tourism. Resort towns tend to enjoy lower unemployment rates, improved infrastructure, more advanced telecommunication and transportation capabilities, and higher standards of living and greater income in relation to those who live outside this area. Increased economic activity in resort towns can also have positive effects on

SECTION 20

#1732783779847

748-499: The park to "aficionados of the garish." In the 2010s, Palace Playland describes itself as "New England's Only Beachfront Amusement Park." In 2010–11, the park tore down and replaced its Ferris wheel . The Playland has positioned itself as a provider of amusement-park-experience services to French-speaking residents of Quebec , including offering a webpage in French . In 2018, Palace Playland opened another new roller coaster known as

782-428: The pier was built in 1980 after being destroyed by a blizzard in 1978. The current structure stretches 500 feet (150 m) into the Atlantic Ocean . The wooden walk way is lined with souvenir shops, carnival-style foods, and a night club at the end of the pier. Old Orchard Beach was home to several minor league and collegiate level baseball teams. The Maine Guides played at The Ballpark from 1984 to 1988 and were

816-406: The province of Quebec , come for summer vacations, and it is common to hear conversations in French . As of the census of 2010, there were 8,624 people, 4,454 households, and 2,106 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,160.7 inhabitants per square mile (448.1/km). There were 6,886 housing units at an average density of 926.8 per square mile (357.8/km). The racial makeup of

850-457: The resorts or tourist attractions are seasonal in nature (such as a ski resort ), resort towns typically experience an on-season where the town is bustling with tourists and workers, and an off-season where the town is populated only by a small amount of local year-round residents. In addition, resort towns are often popular with wealthy retirees and people wishing to purchase vacation homes , which typically drives up property values and

884-442: The seasonal nature of the job market in some areas. Local residents of resort towns face job insecurity, difficulties in obtaining training, medical-benefits, and housing. Palace Playland In the 1900s, Palace Playland's startup decade, the then-small amusement park centered on a roller skating rink and adjacent merry-go-round . Simple summer refreshments were served, such as lemonade and salt water taffy . In

918-467: The term resort town is used simply for a locale popular among tourists. One task force in British Columbia used the definition of an incorporated or unincorporated contiguous area where the ratio of transient rooms, measured in bed units, is greater than 60% of the permanent population. Generally, tourism is the main export in a resort town economy, with most residents of the area working in

952-449: The tourism or resort industry. Shops and luxury boutiques selling locally themed souvenirs , motels , and unique restaurants often proliferate the downtown areas of a resort town. In the case of the United States, resort towns were created around the late 1800s and early 1900s with the development of early town-making. Many resort towns feature ambitious architecture, romanticizing their location, and dependence on cheap labor. If

986-530: The town was 47.9% male and 52.1% female. Old Orchard Beach is in House District 13 and represented in Augusta by Lori Gramlich. Resort town A resort town , resort city or resort destination is an urban area where tourism or vacationing is the primary component of the local culture and economy . A typical resort town has one or more actual resorts in the surrounding area. Sometimes

1020-419: The town was 98.2% White , 0.0% African American , 0.8% Native American , 0.9% Asian , 0.1% from other races , and 0.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population. There were 4,454 households, of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had

1054-550: The twin city of the French seaside resort of Mimizan , as a reminder of Oiseau Canari , the pioneer aircraft crossing of the Atlantic by Assollant, Lefèvre and Lotti in 1929 to Oyambre (Cantabria, Spain). Old Orchard Beach, during the high tourist season, sees an influx of Lithuanian , Latvian , Turkish , Serbian , Bulgarian and Russian foreign exchange students looking for summer work. Many French Canadians, especially from

Old Orchard Beach, Maine - Misplaced Pages Continue

1088-531: The years Old Orchard developed into a major resort. At one point, planes were able to take off from the beach, as well as, some automobiles racing on the sand. Most of the large hotels were destroyed in the fire of 1907. The oldest hotel still standing on the beachfront in Old Orchard at this time is The Ocean House Hotel & Motel, circa 1895, located at 71 West Grand Avenue. It retains its original parlors and character. In 1923, when discrimination in lodging

1122-409: Was designed to provide an exciting but not frightening experience for a 5-year-old. The entire structure would rock back and forth while guests meandered through dark passages. Colored lights would flash, loud klaxons would sound, and compressed air would shoot from the floor. On the Jack and Jill slide, two people would be placed on a large hemp mat in a wooden bucket, which would take them to the top of

1156-453: Was rampant and Black musicians were denied rooms in other local hotels, the Cummings' Guest House opened at 110 Portland Avenue to offer lodging to Black visitors. It was operated by Rose and Edward Cummings Jr. and prominent guests included Duke Ellington , Cab Calloway , Count Basie , and Lionel Hampton . The guest house operated until 1993. The seaside amusement park Palace Playland

#846153