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Boston Globe

Edaville sells off amusement park rides after sale of park grounds to King Richard's Faire

All of the attractions listed — some of which had been in storage for years — were sold, according to auctioneer Dan Satow. The drop tower sold for about $20,000, as did a tracked ride called the 'Alpine Railworks, while the park's carousel went for $99,000 with a buyer's premium, Satow said. But Edaville's famous narrow-gauge railroad, which has circled the park's cranberry bogs for nearly 80 years with the only active steam locomotives in Massachusetts, is expected to continue chugging along under the new ownership. Advertisement Satow said that most of the operating rides were in good condition and had received regular maintenance. Park operators had apparently planned to reopen in the spring, he added. 'When they closed the stuff up, they [tried to] make it ready, make it easier for the spring,' he said. 'They were doing maintenance and that type of thing. Then apparently the sale transpired.' Edaville had struggled to find a stable operator for years. Ownership Advertisement In March, the park's most recent management group, King Richard's Faire announced last month that it would relocate to the Edaville property in the fall. The theme park's nearly 250 acres were acquired in February for $8.7 million by a real estate holding company associated with the fair, according to documents filed in the Plymouth Registry of Deeds. 'Decades of tradition will continue on for both entities, and loyal fans of each can rejoice in the excitement of updated experiences,' fair organizers wrote on social media. For 40 years, the popular fair had also been held in Carver, on the grounds of a cranberry farm off Route 58. But organizers were unable to come to an agreement with the landlords on an new lease and left the spot in March, according to Aimée Sedley, the Faire's general manager. The new location at Edaville is better suited for travel and accessibility, she said, and will allow the fair to showcase more shows, food, and artisans. 'We had hoped to have a couple years to build out our new realm on this location,' she said. 'But we're now at light speed, because we open on Aug. 30.' Advertisement With the rush to get the new grounds ready, it was only natural to part with the rides that 'don't really work with the 16th-century' theme, Sedley added. That's not to say that Edaville will be completely refashioned to fit the renaissance theme. After the fair ends in October, Edaville will still hold its annual Christmas festival, which Sedley said would be 'completely separate.' The festival will include more holiday shopping as well as a larger variety of food and beverage options, she added. 'It really becomes a giant entertainment event, but still with the same features that made families ... love to come for the past 80 years to visit Edaville,' she said. Eventually, the new owners hope to host events in the spring and summer as well. The park is also looking at hosting themed train rides, such as an adult-oriented 'Rails and Ales' excursion, she added. But don't expect a knight in shining armor on your train car anytime soon. Steam billows from the chimney of the Edaville #3 steam locomotive during the park's Christmas Festival of Lights in 2023. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Camilo Fonseca can be reached at