Ever stumble upon a piece of your childhood and feel like your breath had been stolen? The sight of this old relic caused both Gary and I to stop in our tracks. Believe it or not, we grew up in the same town. Being way older than I – not really, but I like to say that – and having moved in his early teens, our paths did not cross until later on.
Both of us stood in front of this broken down blast from the past and realized that our very first experiences on a ferris wheel had been on this very ride. I remember exactly where it was positioned to the left of the doorway, just outside the main building that housed the carousel. And the little boats where right behind it. The thought of what was breeding in that water would make a modern day mama cringe.
Damn, that thing looked so big back then. And new(ish) for I am sure it had been around for awhile by the time I road it.
Nunley’s was a sweet little amusement park on Long Island that seemed like a Six Flags to me when I was a kid. If you lived anywhere on the south shore in Nassau County, you knew Nunley’s. A promise to visit this magical place made everyone happy.
It was on its carousel that I first learned about trying to catch the brass ring. When you caught one your day was complete.
I suppose many are still out there trying to catch it again.
Me? I was just happy to visit with an old friend. And share that memory with my husband. Who says you can’t go home again?
(FYI, this old baby now resides in front of Jordan’s Lobster Farms, another great south shore landmark. You might also like to know that the carousel has been restored and you can take a ride on it at Museum Row in Garden City)
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
i could cry but i don't have time 
I lived down the street from Nunley’s and spent many a Sunday there with my gparents. Nothing like the little boats in the front, right near the ferris wheel. Check out the FB page Bring Back Nunleys…Did you go to Kuskie’s and Schorr’s, too????
Morris used to take me to Nunleys when I was a kid growing up in Queens ….I was a Nassau County Wannabe…We did have Kiddie City on Northern Blvd in Little Neck,and Adventurers Inn in Whitestone..After Nunleys, we went shopping at Schwatsky’s for camp stuff in the “husky” department
I love it! On the Vineyard we have one of the oldest carousels still operating in the country where you try for the brass ring each ride. There are actually 2, one for older kids/adults on the bigger outside horses, and one for the smaller inside horses where little ones ride. If you get the ring you get a free ride now or later.
Love that ferris wheel!
the one in vineyard haven?
went to an old time carnival for july 4th in Greenport…kept thinking of Nunleys
I haven’t thought of Nunley’s in 40 years!! I loved Nunley’s!
Love this.
I love all this nostalgia!
I came across the ferris wheel by accident while checking out the Barnum Island restaurants a while back. It brought back lots of memories! I want to know what happened to those hand powered trains that Nunley’s had too!
me and my father went to an islanders game a while back…when we saw that the rebuilt carrouselle was right next door we both had to take a ride as it was something we used to do often, my parents would take me to roosevelt field mall for clothing shopping before the school year and they usually would take me to nunleys for burgers and rides after. was something I never forgot… when we went on the carrouselle I could see the years fly from me and my father. Nunleys was a place full of memories and I was sad to see it close down.
What a lovely memory. Thanks for sharing.