Sandy Lake Amusement Park closes gates after almost five decades of memories

Sandy+Lake+Amusement+Park%2C+the+park+permanently+shut+down+on+Oct.+17%2C+has+been+special+place+for+families+to+visit+for+almost+five+decades.+Most+recently%2C+the+park+was+known+to+many+in+community+for+hosting+company+picnics+and+field+trips.

Bren Flechtner

Sandy Lake Amusement Park, the park permanently shut down on Oct. 17, has been special place for families to visit for almost five decades. Most recently, the park was known to many in community for hosting company picnics and field trips.

Sydney Rowe, Staff Writer

After 48 years of hot summer day picnics, squealing kids on amusement rides and paddle boat rides, Sandy Lake Amusement Park in Carrollton has shut its doors for good. The owners announced the park’s official close on on Oct. 17.

 

The Rush and Self families – the park’s owners – decided after being the birthplace of many memories, that it was time to close the park. The property was sold to Southwest Wholesale Nursery, a landscaping company that intends to preserve the land.

 

“Southwest has been our neighbor for years and have purchased pieces of land that the park has owned over the years,” Rush said. “We have been good friends with the owners for a long time and while it took some convincing, they agreed to purchase the remaining land.”

 

The land has been an attraction since the 1930s, initially drawing crowds to its large swimming pools. In the 1970s, the park officially opened, and offering hearty barbecue, a train ride around the park and mini golf.

 

More recently, the park was known to many in the community for hosting company picnics and school field trips. Coppell High School junior Rushil Nakkana attended the music festival FunFest, competing in band competitions at the park during middle school.

 

“Initially, I was surprised such a nice family-friendly park was closing down,” Nakkana said. “I remember competing three songs each year and really enjoying each time we went there.”

 

After posting the park had officially closed on their Facebook page, Sandy Lake Amusement park received more than 1,000 comments from former visitors. The comments from former visitors included expressing their sadness or recalling some of their favorite memories that came from the park.

 

“[On the post], I saw the word ‘sad’ quite a bit,” owner David Rush said. “A lot of people were upset that they didn’t have the opportunity to come by one last time.”

 

Rush has seen generation after generation come annually to experience the park’s many attractions.

 

“There was a family with three girls that I watched grow up, they came by about two to three times a summer,” Rush said. “Just about two years ago I got to see them bring their kids to the park.”

Just about anyone you ask has a memory of the park. Mr. Rush said his park was known for its “green grass and shade trees” along with many other trademarks. Millions of memories created by the many visitors were rooted in the 48 successful years the park’s gates were open.

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