Rocky Point State Park is a former amusement park, now a peaceful oceanside state park with unusual remnants of its history.
As an amusement park. Rocky Point Park, offered a wide range of attractions over decades of activity. Visitors could enjoy rides, games, even a baseball game for the Boston team, a saltwater pool, and tasty seafood in the Shore Dinner Hall. Eventually, though, the amusement park closed, and the area was closed for almost 20 years, until it reopened as a Rocky Point State Park in 2014.
Today, Rocky Point State Park is a beautiful coastal nature park of 120 acres, and it contains some fun remnants of its past as an amusement park. The old cable cars can still be seen, as well as the dock that once brought visitors.
The Rhode Island State Parks Department says:
At the state's newest coastal state park, visitors can enjoy the property they once made so many memories at, while the younger generations of park-goers can make new ones.
The park's picturesque natural landscape makes a great setting for picnics, jogging, nature walks, and swimming. Visitors can explore the main paths, taking in breathtaking views of the coastline and enjoying the tranquility of the area. I found this park on a list of the best beaches for sea glass in Rhode Island, but I was pretty disappointed when I got there. There was a bit of glass, but it was the kind that means you should wear water shoes while wading, not cool sea glass. (also, it’s a state park so probably shouldn’t be taking things home anyway…) Still, I wasn’t disappointed in the visit, the beach and meadows were lovely, and the worn old cable car is a really unusual sight.
Rocky Point State Park shows an interesting transformation of an old, popular amusement park into a serene natural retreat. By appreciating the park's present state, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the coastal landscape and the hints of the park’s past.
You can visit it yourself here:
Rocky Point State Park
1 Rocky Point Ave.
Warwick, RI
A lot of the nearby area is residential, so be considerate with parking.
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