When the amusement park closed in 1995, it sat abandoned for years until the city and state purchased the land in stages between 2008 and 2013.

By the middle of the 20th century, it was a very popular amusement park offering dozens of rides, including roller coasters, a log flume, Skyliner, Freefall, ferris wheel, and carousel.

Many of the rides and attractions were sold, but much of the park sat abandoned for years, a popular site for vandals and urban explorers.

[6] Then-mayor of Warwick, Scott Avedisian, remarked that it was the first time in 80 years that an acre of shoreline was opened in the city for public use.

[6] On election day in 2010, Rhode Island introduced a ballot measure to purchase the remaining 83 acres in and around the site, combining it with the 41 already owned in order to establish it as a state park.

[8] The purchase was approved by the Small Business Administration in September 2012 and the last portion of land transferred to the state in March 2013.