Palace Playland Is A Beachfront Attraction In Maine You'll Want To Visit Over And Over Again
By Michelle|Published June 25, 2021
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
Maine in the summer is unbeatable! There’s something about getting through a long winter that makes warm days here extra-special. We’re even luckier given that there are so many fun things to do this time of year. Lakes are great and many of us grew up going up to camp. But visiting the beach has been a favorite of ours this year. If long days that turn into nights on the Maine coast are what you love you’ll want to make sure to carve out some time for this local spot. If you’ve spent time in the summer near the southern part of the state there’s a good chance you know this place like the back of your hand. If you needed an extra push to visit again, consider this it!
Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach (or, more affectionally known as simply "OOB") has been sitting in the same location since 1902. That's almost 125 years of bringing fun to both Mainers and those from away.
Today, it's New England's only beachfront amusement park. We'd visit no matter where it was, but sitting right on the beach makes it easy to enjoy the waves during the day and the fun rides well into the night.
One of the most notable features of the park is the Electra Wheel. From a distance, it might look like a regular Ferris wheel, but take a ride and you'll see that it actually rotates giving riders the chance to see the beach, the park and the entire surrounding area.
Throughout the summer, rides open in the late afternoon, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the beach and the pier. Be sure to grab some Pier Fries while you're here! But, if you're looking for a way to enjoy OOB without sitting on the beach you'll want to head straight for the arcade at Palace Playland.
The arcade opens in either the morning or mid-day depending on the day of the week and there are tons of games to keep yourself busy. This is also a great option if you visit the beach and get some surprise rain.
The Palace Playland arcade and rides operate on various schedules between April and August. From June through August you can expect rides to open every day at 4 p.m. The arcade opens at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends beginning mid-June through August. Check out the actual calendar here. And you can learn more about the park on their website. Keep up to date on weather changes and fun events by following them on Facebook. You can reach the park on 207-934-2001.