PW JAN09 P38-40:PW JAN09 P38-40.qxd 18/12/2008 15:08 Page 38
Park Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
Waterside survivor
CANOBIE LAKE PARK
Just as there are a handful of oceanside parks Their contributions to the amusement industry were
remaining in America, so there are only a significant: Nino's Great Uncle August Berni had
handful of lakeside American amusement parks started his career with an organ company, supplying
left. Where real estate values on any body of organs for carousels. Claude Captell's father built
water drove out most of 1,500-plus American Boston's Revere Beach Lightning rollercoaster,
amusement parks during the 1920s, Canobie designed by the legendary Harry Traver. Claude
Lake Park still sits by the lake, clean, beautiful, himself designed the overhead electrical system for
and thriving. Gary Kyriazi paid a visit during bumper cars.
the summer In a serious roll of the dice, the three couples
bought Canobie Lake for $450,000 from the
M
y parents were dreaming about owning a Holland Family, who had purchased the park from
park during their days working the large
arcade at Palisades Park,” says Carl Berni,
Canobie Lake's general manager. Indeed, the
venerable Palisades Amusement Park on the cliffs of
New Jersey overlooking the Hudson River and
Manhattan skyline was a hotbed of talent, drive and
entrepreneurship, making the park a leader in the
industry. Of course, Palisades Park also succumbed
to soaring real estate values, closing in 1967. Today
its former site holds among the highest priced
condominiums in East New Jersey, with their
breathtaking views and easy access over the river to
Manhattan.
But Berni's parents, Anthony “Nino” Berni and
Laura, along with their friends Claude “Lou” Captell
and his wife Stella, Kazmir “Kas” Ulaky and his wife
Rita (Stella's sister), left Palisades Park during its Pictured at Canobie Lake in 1968 are, from left to right,
prime in 1958, taking their hard-earned knowledge Anthony "Nino" Berni Snr, Kasmir "Kas" Ulaky and Claude
and skill to what at that time was a lakeside park "Lou" Captell. The trio purchased the park in 1958 and their
General manager Carl Berni that may otherwise have become another statistic. families still own and operate it today
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JANUARY 2009
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