Fraley Park

We lived only a few miles from the park and went many times. I also remember the theme song well!!

Mark wrote:

"Just for fun, come to Fraley's Amusement Park, i\n Waverly New York, it's Fraley's...just for fun!!"

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All these memories, and no one mentioned Friday night dances w/LIVE bands every week.

The auctions held every Friday are held in the OLD bumper car building which went under some renovations a few years ago. The main building (roller rink and dance hall) still stands but is not in any condition to be used. I don't think the main building has been used for 8-10 years

I lived in Waverly during the late 50s, early 60s, and me and my brother had to beg to be taken there too. My parents weren't too big on letting us young 'uns have fun. We went four or five times. It was the best! I loved the rides especially the kiddie coaster and the tilt-a-whirl, and the helicopters. We played miniature golf a couple of times too. They also had a small penny arcade that we weren't allowed to go in - I guess we didn't have enough pennies.
I remember Palisades Park too, but never got there. "Palisades has the rides, Palisades has the fun...Come on over!"
Frayley's was da bomb. If I ever hit the lottery I'm going to go back to Waverly and buy the land and set up the park again. Waverly needs something like that! I'd also reopen the old Capitol Theater.
Now that's my idea of "just for fun!".

Doesn't anyone remember the Friday night dances?

As a teen in the 60's, I (and many of my friends) lived for those great memorable Friday night dances at Fraley's Park. Great groups like "Ronnie Dio and the Prophets", "The Cat's Meow" and "Just Us" (to name a few) packed the roller rink every Friday night during the summer months. Admission was $1.00 at the door and you received an "invisible" liquid marking on your hand that you had to display under a black light so you could be re-admitted into the dance. Initially they just marked an "X" on your hand until they discovered a few of us kids had access to the very same "invisible" liquid - then they quickly changed over to a rubber stamp that wasn't as easily duplicated. Sad that we have nothing left of Fraley's Park to pass along to our kids and grand-kids. Thoughts of those Friday night dances now long gone, certainly generate wonderful memories.

The train cars you propelled by pumping with your hands are a memory indelibly etched in my mind. What a treat it was when our folks would take us there. Not even sure how old I was then, but recalling those days decades ago has given me many a smile over the years.

What wonderful reading this has been! My Uncle, Dick Fraley, and his brothers made sure we always had a good time at the park. I am terrified of being "stuck" at the top of a Ferris wheel even today, thanks to my brother who loved to rock the stopped car. The car was only stopped long enough to change passengers, but seemed like an eternity if I was in it with Otto! But, when on that same ride with my father, I just remember the wonderful view of the creek below and the treetops beside. What a charming little place we had just a few miles away. Thanks for the memories, everyone.

I can remember my grandfather taking me to Fraley's. As soon as I saw the Uncle Sam mailbox on the road leading to the amusement park, I would get very excited because I knew we were close. Once there, the flat car where you sat on the shiny red vinyl and pumped the wheel with your hands like a bicycle - loved that ride the best.

My next favorite ride was when they still had the tractors you could steer around inside a white fence - oh, the freedom to get to "drive" as a child!

Loved Fraley's!!!

Rick Fraley wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi, My Paternal grandfather whom I lived with in Pa, was Sumner's second son, Richard. Sumner, Gene and dad have passed away now, however Bus(90's) is still living. When I was a small boy in the early 70's I rode the bumper cars for free because I was Fraley. I have some of the early recordings of the Susquehana Serenaders, the Fraley family band's name.

Got involved with the Fraleys when my father married one of Gene's daughters (Marilyn). They separated in the mid 70's. Miss the rides - don't miss the Fraleys.

Just Googled my way to this forum. I have a wonderful old cardboard poster advertising a dance at the Burdett Grange Hall featuring a band called Fraley's -- "five people / eight instruments / featuring Spanish & Hawaiian guitars / admission 35c and 40c / Jimmmie does the calling"

I've never been able to figure out what year that was -- the date is simply Fri., March 29 -- but looks like it could have been anywhere from late 1930s to early '50s. Wish I could post a photo of it. I am guessing, though, that it is the same group from Waverly you all are describing.

Our grandparents lived in Athens, PA, and made a point of taking their grandkids to Fraley's each summer. There we ate sticky confections of blue or pink cotton candy and drank lemonade from cardboard cups (no Styrofoam then) purchased at food stands beneath the era's softer yellow lights. My brother and I were particularly enamored of the bumper cars, and it was at Fraley's that I met a boy who would ask me my first date.

MoonWind Dancer wrote:

I remember going to the auctions there after the park closed. Too bad, I know I met some fine people there.

Bob Hammond still does auctions, every friday night. And lots of people come too!!

Nice family park back in the day !!!

Michele Lambert wrote:

What wonderful reading this has been! My Uncle, Dick Fraley, and his brothers made sure we always had a good time at the park. I am terrified of being "stuck" at the top of a Ferris wheel even today, thanks to my brother who loved to rock the stopped car. The car was only stopped long enough to change passengers, but seemed like an eternity if I was in it with Otto! But, when on that same ride with my father, I just remember the wonderful view of the creek below and the treetops beside. What a charming little place we had just a few miles away. Thanks for the memories, everyone.

I went to Fraley' s a lot as a kid. My dad worked there part time running the rides. He was a Carney when he was a teenager. I loved the bumper cars & they also had a mini golf course that was fun.
I had a date there once too when I was in 3rd or 4th grade,rode the Ferris wheel. Then when I was a teenager in the 70's we went roller skating every weekend. Great memories!

Went there my whole childhood

My grandmother and grandfather always took me. I was born dec .31,1955 at the Robert Packer Hospital to Mr Arthur Maurer Jr. And Bonnie Jean Maurer (Robertson). My favorite thing to do was grab the little rubber ducks out of the water as they went by...turn them over to see your prize.

Dianne Maurer Sutton wrote:

My grandmother and grandfather always took me. I was born dec .31,1955 at the Robert Packer Hospital to Mr Arthur Maurer Jr. And Bonnie Jean Maurer (Robertson). My favorite thing to do was grab the little rubber ducks out of the water as they went by...turn them over to see your prize.

I also have recently discovered the only other person I have ever
Met in California that came even near to Waverly his name is David Cipperly from Sayre. He graduated from Leland high in 1969 I graduated from Leland In 1973 , in San Jose Ca! My current partner Fred Cramer graduated in 1969 withDave also and would like to get in touch with him.

Rick Fraley wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi, My Paternal grandfather whom I lived with in Pa, was Sumner's second son, Richard. Sumner, Gene and dad have passed away now, however Bus(90's) is still living. When I was a small boy in the early 70's I rode the bumper cars for free because I was Fraley. I have some of the early recordings of the Susquehana Serenaders, the Fraley family band's name.

Just read your response Rick ..growing up nearby in east Smithfield , we spent many class trips there with awesome memories of better days. I did talk with a gentleman living in a modular home right at the entrance. I guess he would be your uncle.. I was hoping to secure some memorabelia from him but he didn't have the time to explore with me. I would love to find an old brochure or tickets if you have the resources to fund that. Gnarly@netzero.net anyhow ..thanks for posting

I remember going there in the early 70's with my friend Mary and her parents. After we left the park they treated us to dinner at O'Briens Restaurant ! Loved the scenery from up on that hill!!!