Eldridge Park

When physician Edwin Eldridge first purchased the plot of land that would ultimately become his namesake park in 1857, his intention was for the people of Elmira to appreciate the natural beauty of the property while walking to stay healthy and active. He installed a fountain and lined the park with sculptures. The most famous statue was of the racehorse American Girl, and the restored bronze monument still stands in the park today.

Over the decade that followed, though, a restaurant, observatory and horse-racing track were installed, and the park evolved into a tourist destination. Following Eldridge’s death in 1876, the park continued to expand — at one point even housing a bear pit.

In 1924, the park’s carousel was installed, ushering in a new era for Eldridge Park. The Speedway Coaster was completed later that same year. The three-car wooden roller coaster operated for nearly five decades and cemented Eldridge Park as a destination for family fun before the ride closed in the 1980s. 

Since 2005, the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society has managed operations of the park, including the original carousel, which still runs on its original mechanism and is considered one of the fastest rides of its kind in the United States. 

Other rides include the Tilt-a-Whirl and Thunderbirds, the latter of which pays homage to the park’s Sail Planes that once took riders over the edge of the lake. Visitors can also enjoy other attractions like miniature golf, paddleboats and a 1.4-mile walking trail that abuts the 11-acre lake. A splash pad opened at the park in 2023 and provides plenty of summer fun for younger visitors. 96 Eldridge Park Dr., Elmira, New York 14901, 607/732-8440, eldridgepark.org