14 Comments

Hidden away in the back woods of Burrillville, at a pond called Spring Lake, lies a treasure not buried in the sand of the pristine 600 foot beach, but in a building that houses fun and memories of generations of summer visitors.

Spring Lake Arcade is reportedly the “Oldest Penny Arcade in America” (1). Here patrons will rediscover games they played in their childhood. Actually, games their grandparents played in their childhood! Everyone is surprised to still be able to play games for pennies! Of course, they are not all penny games. Bring some nickels, dimes, and quarters as well.

The arcade is a blend of old and new. Approximately half the floor space of the arcade is dedicated to games of from every decade starting in 1920. Most of these games are on their original coinage.

Note 1: It is now the oldest Penny Arcade ‘Business’ in America. There are only a few arcades that have penny games still operating. These include Manitou Springs Arcade in Colorado, Half Moon Arcade in NH, among others. Since it’s first drop of a coin in 1930, Spring Lake Arcade has always had penny games. In 1998, the original building was razed and replaced by a modern, dry, and strongly built facility. To see the original building, click here:

Expand full comment
author

Excellent!

Expand full comment

Brings back pleasant memories!

But there is still one place where you can still find a Penny Arcade! Spring Lake!

Hidden away in the back woods of Burrillville, at a pond called Spring Lake, lies a treasure not buried in the sand of the pristine 600 foot beach, but in a building that houses fun and memories of generations of summer visitors.

Spring Lake Arcade is reportedly the “Oldest Penny Arcade in America” (1). Here patrons will rediscover games they played in their childhood. Actually, games their grandparents played in their childhood! Everyone is surprised to still be able to play games for pennies! Of course, they are not all penny games. Bring some nickels, dimes, and quarters as well.

The arcade is a blend of old and new. Approximately half the floor space of the arcade is dedicated to games of from every decade starting in 1920. Most of these games are on their original coinage.

Expand full comment
author

Oh Boy, Jim, thanks so much for reminding me of this. I had forgotten. I'm on my way!!!

Expand full comment
Jun 4Liked by Ed Iannuccilli

This piece made me laugh. Amazing the things one could do with a penny back then. Naughty was a lot more affordable then!

Expand full comment
author

And lots of pennies there were . . .

Expand full comment

I knew it was only a matter of time when you divulged your "darker" side. Reminds me of Jimmy Carter's famous phrase, "I only lusted in my heart." I also remember Paul Simon's song reminiscing that 'things look better in color than black and white. ' Adolescence is a wonderful roller coaster of emotions, angst, and invisibility by adults. I regret my family moved to Providence in 1981 and missed Crescent Park. Denver had amusement parks, but no "peep shows" to my recollection. However, Colorado did allow 16 years old to drink 3.2 beer thinking it had no harmful affects. Caveat emptor.

Expand full comment
author

Funny, Larry. I'm sorry you missed the Peep shows. it was one of the highlights of my education. But it ended there for a long time thereafter. HaHa

Expand full comment

Naughtiness is often generated by curiosity. In New York it was 42nd street when the complex was more innocent and friendlier. But society will flow with technology and changing values with many more generations yet to come.

Expand full comment
author

Quite true. It's about curiosity.

Expand full comment

But Ed it’s not over yet! Crescent Park is still a pleasant memory but Spring Lake Nickelodeon, the Oldest Penny Arcade in the USA is still bringing them in every summer!

Expand full comment

Crescent Park, oh you beautiful Cresent Park where I spent many days in my youth, you never let me down on the days and evenings that I enjoyed there in the 1950S. Growing up in Seekonk and attending school through my 9th grade and because Seekonk didn't have a high school half the town went to the Pawtucket high, Tolman and the others including me went to East Providence class of 54.

I met new classmates and as time went on, we ventured to the park of course I went there when I was younger.

Now being a young adult with my school friends, we rode the carousel with the music that was so vibrant and trying to grab the brass ring and after we would treat outselfs to calm cakes, Carmel corn any many other goodies.

We would walk through the park having fun on all the rides, and oh yes, the boys would venture into the penny arcade and never saw what the butler saw.

Ed, maybe if we became butlers, we would have seen it ALL!

Oh, you beautiful Cresent Park why, oh why did you leave us, WHY?

Expand full comment
author

Such a great destination. You MUST remember The Alhambra Ballroom

Expand full comment

Yes, but vaguely.

Expand full comment