New Hampshire

Two of America’s best amusement parks are in New England, according to TripAdvisor users

They both opened in the 1950s.

The Roar-O-Saurus roller coaster at Story Land. Story Land

By Kristi Palma

1 minute to read

When it comes to amusement park fun, two New Hampshire spots that opened in the 1950s are among the best in America, according to TripAdvisor users.

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The Needham-based travel website released a list of the 25 best amusement parks in the U.S. last week as part of its 2019 Travelers’ Choice Awards, and Santa’s Village in Jefferson, N.H. ranked No. 15, while Story Land in Glen, N.H. ranked No. 20. The No. 1 amusement park in America, according to TripAdvisor users, is Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Fla.

The Granite State fun zones — the only New England parks on the list — are located in the White Mountains and have been open for more than 60 years. Santa’s Village opened in 1953, and Story Land opened in 1954. TripAdvisor pulled the following user review of Santa’s Village, whose motto is “Pure Joy. Family Style”: “You won’t find a better safer place for kids and grandkids!”

The winning parks were determined based on traveler reviews and ratings posted to TripAdvisor by users over a 12-month period. You can view the entire list of 25 best amusement parks in the U.S. here.