Oaks Amusement Park kicks off 119th Season

INCLUDES PLAYFUL VIDEO | Discover why many outer East Portland folks will be heading west for family fun at this celebrated place to play …

There are thrills awaiting for all ages, now that Oaks Amusement Park open for the season.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

It was a long cold winter – January, especially. But spring is here, and Oaks Park is open again!

During the spring and summer, carnivals come and go. But only nonprofit, historic Oaks Amusement Park provides fun and thrills for the entire family all summer long. It opened its 119th season for Spring Break, on Saturday, March 23.

As in past years, The Oaks will be open only on weekends and holidays until June 14 – that’s when their full summer schedule starts.

Looking for major excitement on opening day at Oaks Amusement Park, these folks take a ride on Adrenaline Peak roller coaster.

Those looking for quiet relaxation enjoy a round of miniature golf.

“We’re proud that the Oaks Park Association, the nonprofit organization that operates the amusement park and roller rink, is one of the largest part-time employers of youth in the area,” remarked their Marketing & Events Director, Emily MacKay. “On opening day, we had 216 employees!”

Take a quick video tour of Oaks Amusement Park on opening day:

And about opening day: “It was great!” MacKay said enthusiastically. “Despite the chance of rain, it was a nice crowd, and attendance was up about 20% from the year before.”

One of the nation’s two oldest continually operating amusement parks, Oaks Park continues to be an “open-admission” park – that is, entry to the amusement park is free; guests pay only to participate in attractions or buy food and snacks from their concession stands and food cart pod.

Again this season, no tickets are needed to ride the historic Oaks Park Train.

“This means families can picnic at our free first-come, first-served picnic tables overlooking the Willamette River,” MacKay pointed out. “And, we’re pleased to again offer free rides on our two of our historic favorites – the 1911 Herschell-Spillman Menagerie Carousel, and the Oaks Park Train.”

MacKay is one of the Oaks Park Association’s few fulltime employees. “This is my 29th season with the park. During the winter my job is making sure the next season is a success. But once the season starts, I get to do all the things I love doing: Seeing my own and our team’s efforts pay off, by making families happy. That’s a huge reward – and it’s what we’re in it for!”

Classic carnival rides, like their ‘Cosmic Crash’ bumper cars, delight guests all season long at “The Oaks”.

While park entry and the historic amusement rides are free, there is a $3 to $5 per vehicle daily parking fee – a good source of revenue which only lately seemed to occur to the nonprofit organization.

For days and hours operations, and to securely purchase ride tickets online, see their official website: CLICK HERE.

Comments are closed.