RetroBlast

Rocky Point State Park has been a beloved public attraction in Rhode Island since the mid-1800s. The property has been a location for many attractions including a clam shack, hotel, concerts, and most notably as The Rocky Point Amusement Park. The park operated from the late 1840s until its closing in 1994. During the 1950s to the 1990s, Rocky Point Amusement Park was a popular tourist destination in Rhode Island. The park featured rides including the Log Flume, Corkscrew Loop Roller Coaster, Skyliner, and The Freefall, which would fall 13 stories at 55 miles per hour! The Shore Dinner Hall, which closed in 2000, was famous for its clam cakes, lobster, manhattan style clam chowder, and steamers. In addition to amusement rides, Rocky Point hosted concerts! Performances included Janis Joplin, AC/DC, Jane’s Addiction, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and much more!

In the 1990s Rocky Point’s financial situation became unstable. This, unfortunately, led the park to close in 1994. However, in 1996, Rocky Point opened its doors one last time to say farewell to its loyal patrons. Although the amusement park is gone, Rocky Point still lives on in the memories and hearts of Rhode Island residents, through movies, books, and much more!

In 2003, Rocky Point was purchased, and demolition began shortly after. 8 years later, it became a state park. When visiting, you can find the upper and lower stations for the Skyliner gondola ride, ruins of an old water tank, and an arch by the entrance. The amusement park may be gone, but its skeletons still remain. Rocky Point State Park is a great place to go on your next family walk, bike ride, or even to watch the beautiful sunrise! Relive your old memories today at Rocky Point State Park!

Visit Rocky Point State Park at 1 Rocky Point Ave Warwick, RI.

Looking to take a step back in time? Visit the Hearthside House in Lincoln, a historic federal-style house built by Stephen Hopkins Smith in 1810. Come visit a unique 2 1/2 story house with a gable roof and impressive ogee curves directly above beautiful circular attic windows.

According to popular folklore, Smith, a Quaker, used his $40,000 lottery winnings (the equivalent of almost $800,000 today) to build a house to win over a young socialite from Providence. On a buggy ride along the Great Road, the young woman exclaimed, “Why, what a beautiful house, but who would ever want to live way out here in the wilderness?” Heartbroken, Smith brought the young lady back to Providence. He never married, lived in the house, or spoke of it again.

The name of the house originated in the early 20th century when it was home to the nationally-renowned hand-weaving business “The Hearthside Looms.” In 2001, a group of citizens formed “Friends of Hearthside”,” a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to serve as stewards of the house and help preserve the property. The Friends of Hearthside places high value on the enhancement and protection of the community’s quality of life.

Hearthside is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Great Road Historic District. To ensure preservation standards are properly followed in any restoration work, Friends of Hearthside works closely with the RI Historical Preservation Commission. Restoring and repairing this home is completed with great care for its historical integrity and preservation for future generations.

Now an award-winning museum, Hearthside House is open between March and December for guided tours and historically-themed events and exhibits. The majority of Hearthside’s collections are donations and loans, as the eleven different owners over the history of the house left behind no original furnishings. The house represents a rich and diverse history, telling the stories of the many different families who lived there over the past 200 years. Step into past decades and experience interpreters dressed in period attire sounds from the Edison phonograph, the smell of bread baking, and the warmth of this enchanting home.

Friends of Hearthside is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021! Come learn about the captivating stories about the families who called this beautiful place home.

Hearthside House
677 Great Road,
Lincoln, RI 02865
(401) 726-0597

The Towers
35 Ocean Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island

The Towers is a historic structure located in Narragansett, Rhode Island. It is the only remnant of the Narragansett Pier Casino built in the 1880s. This casino was the center of social life in Narragansett during the late 19th century. The Casino rivaled the Newport Casino’s popularity as a resort for the social elite until it burned down in 1900. The Narragansett Casino was a great example of Victorian Shingle style architecture, designed by McKim, Mead, and White. The Casino offered a variety of sports, including boating, tennis, billiards, bowling, cards, and shooting, restaurants, stores, reading rooms a theatre, a bandstand, a ballroom, and of course a beautiful beach.

The Casino burned down during the Great Fire of September 12, 1900. That horrible day, a fire broke out in the neighboring Rockingham Hotel. The flames spread quickly to the Casino, leaving only the granite walls of The Towers standing. More recently, Hurricane Sandy has uncovered the foundation and part of the old boardwalk belonging to the old casino that had been buried by sand.

Today, these famous Towers have survived numerous fires, nor’easters, and hurricanes, yet they still remain standing. They symbolize an almost magical reputation for indestructibility, Narragansett’s good luck symbol. The Towers currently host weddings, dances, dinners, plays, and fashion showers. It is an incredible venue for any social event! There are events happening all year long, check out what’s coming up: https://www.thetowersri.com/events/!

The Stadium Theatre and Conservatory has been a fan favorite since it was founded in 1926. Given its name because of the stadium-style seating, founder, Arthur Darman, wanted every patron to feel as if they had the best seat in the house. In the beginning, the Stadium Theatre had three shows a day, seven days a week, equipped with a twelve-piece orchestra. Stars from all over came to Woonsocket, Rhode Island be part of the Stadium Theatre culture. The rise of movie theatres led to the closure in 1990 until local citizens banded together to create the S.O.S (Save Our Stadium) fund which raised enough money to save the theatre.

With the community volunteering and donating, the Stadium Theatre was able to be restored over time, with many new programs and venues. From offering full plays such as Les Misérables, with the entire volunteer cast, to implementing programs for the youth to develop their passion for the theater and arts at a young age to offering rentals of their elegant rooms, the Stadium Theatre has it all. They were able to expand and add a 30,000 square foot building, deemed as the Stadium Conservatory. This is home to space for costume designing, set and prop building, rehearsals, and classes. The Stadium Theatre and Conservatory is loved by all residents of Rhode Island and hopes to bring many more years of joy through theater and the arts.

Visit their website at stadiumtheatre.com or give them a call at 401-762-4545 to see their services or to check out a list of upcoming shows. They have multiple productions every month, with something perfect for everyone. You won’t want to miss out!

Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre
28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895
401-762-45458

Around for more than 40 years, Ski Shop Plus is one of Rhode Islands’ best and most experienced ski shops. Opening in 1979, Ramona and her dad, Vilnis, wanted to be another choice for winter sports needs. Located in North Smithfield, Ski Shop Plus has been around for over four decades, they have seen it all and offer top quality service.

They offer a wide variety of ski and snowboard equipment and offer any needed assistance when choosing the perfect product. Goggles, mittens, any winter clothing are all available as well to prepare you for any ski trip! Ski Shop Plus has a full-service workshop for any tuning and repairs, custom boot fitting, and rental skis and boards. Any questions can be answered ranging from how to get the right edge, what wax to use, where to ski, where to stay, directions to your favorite locations, and so much more!

Don’t want to commit to a purchase but still want to hit the slopes? Ski Shop Plus offers rentals for skis and snowboards, complete with poles and boots. This is the perfect way to try something new with your family this new year!

You can now order online with their new online store and use curbside pickup for contact-free service! If you’re going be on the slopes in the new year, make sure to check out Ski Shop Plus for all your needs, “Where the PLUS is the service!”

859 Eddie Dowling Highway
North Smithfield, RI 02896
https://theskishopplus.com/

Monday – Friday 11AM – 7PM
Saturday – 10AM – 5PM
Sunday – 11AM – 5PM

The Elms is a well-known mansion located at 367 Bellevue Avenue in Newport which was completed in 1901. The mansion cost around 1.5 million dollars to build back in the day and was designed by Philadlphia architect, Horace Trumbauer. The mansion was built for Mr. and Mrs. Edward Berwind. They lived in a smaller cottage in Newport for years and spent summers there, but they soon decided they wanted a larger space for their society parties.

The mansion was built of white limestone and had 50 rooms standing over three stories. From the outside, the mansion appears to be just two stories high, but a third is hidden behind the parapets that line the roof.

When The Elms was finished being built, the Berwind family celebrated with a large party. Roses adorned every corner of the interior, 400 guests gathered and orchestras played in the grounds. Mr. Berwind was the President of the Newport Country Club and he gained a reputation for hosting some of the best parties of the Gilded Age!

When both Mr. and Mrs. Berwind died, the home was left to Mrs. Berwind’s sister Julia. She died in 1961 and left The Elms to her sister’s son, Charles Dunlap. He was unable to maintain this gorgeous property and he sold it to developers based out of New York who intended on replacing it with a shopping center. An auction was held and all the furnishings were sold. Most of the valuable art went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When the stock market took a tumble in 1962, the Preservation Society of Newport County was able to purchase it and keep it from being destroyed.

From 1962, the Society opened its doors to the public as a house-museum and it remains one of the most popular in Newport! The home is even decorated beautifully during the holiday season!