226 W Jericho Tpk
Remember Freedomland U.S.A.? The Debut Was 65 Years Ago!
Freedomland U.S.A., the American history theme park once located in the Bronx (1960-1964) and currently celebrated in books, articles, broadcast programs, social media and contemporary artwork, commemorates the 65th anniversary of its debut during 2025.
The park’s history has been documented on social media and in two books by historian/author Mike Virgintino -- Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History (Theme Park Press, 2018) and Freedomland U.S.A.: More Definitive History (Theme Park Press, 2024). Both books can be found on various online retail sites, including Amazon. Freedomland was located on marshland in the northeast portion of the borough. The park was created and built by C.V. Wood, Disneyland’s first employee. Other former Disney employees, Hollywood and Broadway creative personnel, and talent from New York City television contributed to the creation of Freedomland. More than 150 celebrity entertainers and musicians appeared at the park, including Paul Anka, Dion DiMucci, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Abbe Lane, Brenda Lee, Chuck McCann, The Supremes, The Temptations and those who appear in the accompanying photo. Unfortunately, unknown to Wood, the creators, the employees and Freedomland’s fans, the landowner, local politicians, city planners and construction unions considered the park a temporary occupant of the property until land variances permitted significant development of the marshland for housing and shopping. The site for the last 50-plus years has been the location of Co-op City.
