A Rhode Island Collection Retrospective

Remembering Rocky Point

Housed within the Providence Public Library's Rhode Island Collection are these and other images and decades of news stories related to Rocky Point -- which are from the Library's daily index of the Providence Journal and Evening Bulletin from 1900 to 2004. They provide an historic record of happenings and events through Rocky Point's storied past as a treasured Rhode Island destination for family recreation. Full articles may be accessed at the Library Reference Department. Providence Journal stories after December 1983 may also be accessed online using a PPL Library Card number.

Today, while the fledgling Rocky Point Foundation seeks Rhode Islanders' support as it advocates for public ownership of this scenic and cultural treasure -- so that future generations will have the same opportunity to enjoy it that many Rhode Islanders have had over the past century, it is interesting to note that this very opportunity existed more than 100 years ago! (See full article below, Dec. 21, 1908).

Check our Rhode Island Image Collection for more Rocky Point and other historic Rhode Island images. Simply search on "Rocky Point." View Slideshow

From our article archives:

There are more than 300 newspaper articles from 1905 to 2004, plus a dozen books and magazine articles with sections that relate to the park. Here is a partial list.

December 21, 1908: Rocky Point Price $250,000 - Owners Have Conference with Park Commission Chairman (From Film)

April 19, 1909: Rocky Point Purchase Bill - Chairmain of Metropolitan Board Favors Passage

May 7, 1909: Senate Action Kills Rocky Point Measure - Death Blow to Bond Issue Given by Unanimous Vote. No Submission to People

May 5, 1914: Rocky Point Midway Swept by Flames: Six Buildings Destroyed, Loss $15,000 (Photo); Fire started in Vaudeville and Museum Buildings, which were completely destroyed, as shown in the foreground. This property is owned by John B. Nash, the loss being $10,000 Beyond are the ruins of the peanut stand, Fish Pond," a vacant building and a shooting gallery. (Caption)

May 28, 1925: $75,000 Dinner Hall to Open

September 23, 1938: Hall Wrecked at Rocky Point - Amusement Park Scene of Devastations. Buttonwoods Hard Hit

September 23, 1938: Rocky Point: A Hurricane Held an Outing (Photo); RI's famous amusement resort was a shambles after the hurricane and flood. This picture, which shows the resort's huge dining hall reduced to tinder, reveals graphically the terrific power of the storm. (Caption)

November 23, 1947: Famous Home of Shore Dinners Being Returned to Former Glory - Rocky Point, Demolished in 1938 Hurricane, to Open Next Summer; Woonsocket Man Heads Corporation Rebuilding Park

May 30, 1948: Lights Gleam Again at Rocky Point Rising from 1938 Hurricane Ruins - More than 10,000 Visit Century-old Amusement Park, Mill from Ride to Ride and Hear Familiar Cries of Hucksters

January 30, 1949: N.E.’s Largest Shore Dinner Hall Opens at Rocky Point (From Film)

March 27, 1955: 4000 Seat Shore Pavilion Being Built

July 12, 1955: First Excursion Boat in More Than 30 Years Left Yesterday

June 9, 1963: The Whirl Is On Again: Worlds of Fun and Fantasy

July 1, 1970: This Year’s July 4 Bonfire Will be the Last; Fear of Air Pollution Cited

May 14, 1972: 125th Anniversary Season: Trying to Recapture ‘Family Fun’ Reputation

May 4, 1975: Railing Breaks at ‘The Flume’ Ride

August 3, 1980: A Tradition of Food and Fun

May 24, 1981: 6 Months After Fire, Park Opens for Season

July 14, 1981: Board Acts to Control Rocky Point Concerts

October 30, 1982: Rocky Point Park has Halloween Fun Oct. 31

June 24, 1984: New Coaster Throws Riders for a Loop

May 2, 1985: Park to Bring Back Rock Concerts

March 16, 1987: Rocky Point Seeks a Big Boost from New Ride “Free Fall”

July 6, 1988: Shore Dinner Hall Doors Swing Open at Rocky Point

April 9, 1989: Summer Memories to be Auctioned: Rocky Point Park Selling All 46 Hand-carved Animals from Its Historic Carrousel

August 26, 1990: Rocky Point Dinner Hall Cooks Like Clockwork

February 7, 1991: Sale of Rocky Point Land Delayed

May 22, 1991: Park to Stay Open, Agreement Reached

October 2, 1991: Rocky Point Rescued in $8.25 million Loan From Investor Group

March 31, 1993: Warwick Forges Pact with Rocky Point for Debt Repayment; 140-acre Amusement Park Already Owes City $275,866 in Back Taxes, $75,000 in Unpaid Water Bills

October 27, 1994: Activity at Rocky Point Grinds to a Halt Over Back Taxes

November 29, 1994: Rocky Point Seeks Chapter 11 Protection from Creditors

October 2, 1995: Final Ride for Rocky Point?

January 13, 1996: Rocky Point to Close for Good; Will Become a Housing Development

February 2, 1996: Rocky Point: Rescue the Memories (commentary, Curt Spalding)

March 5, 1996: Appraisal Planned for Rocky Point as First Step toward Ensuring Access to the Shore

March 9, 1996: Rocky Point Offered to the Public

April 7, 1996: Rocky Point Remembered; for Rocky Point, the Ride is Over – As Historic Park Prepares for Sale, Rhode Islanders Recall Its Past

April 7, 1996: After 149 Years, Finances Bring About Rocky Point’s Demise

April 18, 1996: Rocky Point Help Debated; Owners Wonder What City or State Government Will Do to Aid the Amusement Park’s Incarnation as a Family Fairground

July 23, 1996: Rocky Point Fair’s Trial Run Merits a Repeat, Owners Say

June 22, 1997: Plans Floated for Rocky Point as Foreclosure Auction Nears

August 10, 1997: Near and Far, Rocky Point Park Rides Find New Homes

March 27, 1998: Rocky Point Heads to Tax Sale

May 23, 1999: Rocky Point Is Up for Sale: Sellers Hope to Entice State to Buy, but Gov. Doesn’t Like $10 million Price

June 19, 2001: James Langevin Asks for U.S. Help to Buy Back Rocky Point

June 11, 2002: Developers Have Offer in Hand for Rocky Point: Rocky Point Land Co. Wants to Build Condominiums While Preserving Shoreline and Leaving Some Open Space for Public Use

July 18, 2003: City of Warwick Gets Help to Buy Part of Rocky Point with $1.8 million in Federal Money

July 30, 2003: Rocky Point Sold to Federal Agency; When No Private Developer Meets the Minimum Required Bid, the U.S. Small Business Administration Keeps Control of the 123-acre Property

August 19, 2003: 17 Submit Bids to SBA to Purchase Rocky Point

June 29, 2004: SBA Pays City Back Taxes Due on Rocky Point

September 3, 2004: Suspicious Fire Destroys Building at Rocky Point Amusement Park