I’ve been scouting around the Westchester area recently, and every day, I pass the exit on I-95 for Rye Playland, an 82-year old waterfront amusement park. I’ve never been, so on my way home today, I decided to finally check it out – and see where Tom Hanks found the Zoltar machine at the end of Big.
Well, good thing he found it when he did – it’s been replaced by a Pepsi machine!
The Pepsi machine is literally located on the exact pole they stationed the prop Zoltar machine. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the same power outlet visible in the above still. Sort of too bad Rye hasn’t installed a working mechanical fortune teller here, or at least a plaque reading “Zoltar Says: Make Your Wish!” Anything beats a Pepsi machine.
I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get out to Playland – the art deco buildings and boardwalk are absolutely stunning, and as soon as the temperature gets a little warmer (i.e. not 14 below like it was today), I’m going come back out to do a full post.
On my way out, I passed the amusement park, which has been closed for the season.
There’s something so unnatural about seeing an amusement park shut down in the middle of the day, as if the rides are frozen in time, desperately waiting for a button push that will bring them springing back to electronic life.
-SCOUT
PS – If you pull the plug on the Pepsi machine, will it do something magical too?
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