Since 1951, the Hoffmans operated the area’s premier authentic amusement park in Latham, NY. Generations of kids and their families regularly visited the Playland creating memories of fun times that are difficult to replicate in today’s world. After over 60 years, Ruth and Dave Hoffman announced that they would be retiring at the completion of the 2014 season. Over 20,000 area residents joined a group committed to save the Playland. After a year of potential interested parties came and went, the future was looking bleak.
Just as the rides were set to go to auction, another long time Albany business came to the rescue. Huck Finn’s Warehouse that has been filling area homes with brand name home furnishings for 50 years, decided it was time to start filling their hearts.
Huck Finn’s Warehouse announced that they would move the entire park to its property in the Warehouse District of Downtown Albany, a short distance away from Hoffman’s. After months of planning, design, and 24-hour days of moving and rebuilding the rides, the park reopened for the 2015 season! The new location is at the intersection of I-787 and I-90, easily accessible from those highways and from Broadway. Huck Finn’s committed to ensure that memories will continue at the Capital Region’s most authentic amusement park!
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the park was acquired by Scene One Entertainment. Scene One is owned by park enthusiast, Troy native, and former child attendee Joseph Masher, who also owns Movieland in Downtown Schenectady. Joe is excited to take on the challenge of running the park, he thinks it is the coolest thing to now own the very first Carousel, Ferris Wheel, Roller Coaster, Scrambler, etc. that he rode as a young child, and is honored to carry on the legacy of the family that saved the park from disappearing back in 2015. Joe looks forward to greeting park guests when it reopens on May 4, 2024 (weather permitting)!
