As the name suggests, Pleasure Beach offered pleasure and fun to the locals of Bridgeport with its sandy beaches and salty waters. The beach which began as an amusement park in the 1880s was later abandoned and deserted.

Pleasure beach amusement park

The would-be Pleasure beach resort began as a small amusement park in 1892. The amusement park slowly but steadily grew over time into a complex resort called Steepchase Island. This was the birth and beginning of the most preferred and loved amusement park in the whole of Connecticut state. What made the beach favorites of many locals was its strategic location, it was isolated away from the mainland giving it its unique breeze and opulence. 

To access the island, one had to board a ferry or use a relatively old wooden swing bridge which was the only link between the island and the mainland at the time. Pleasure beach enjoyed an influx of tourists for the better part of the century having high-end hotels, lodges, motels, restaurants, some residential apartments, and other supporting business premises. It went down in history as having the best theater and largest television set in the state.

Death of pleasure Beach

Pleasure beach’s death came later on in 1996 when the only wooden bridge that connected the island burned down isolating the already isolated Island evermore. The popularity of the beach would later dwindle since the only way into the island was by a ferry that closed down years before. To get to the island, one was forced to walk over a long distance and board several boats. This discouraged tourists which in turn slowed business on the island down. In 1999, Pleasure Beach closed down having operated on debts of over 25000 us dollars (US Dollars of the heyday)

Life after abandonment.

After the abandonment, the beach lay dormant for decades, its buildings and structures begin as favorites spots for graffiti artists and vandals. From 2000 to around 2013, pleasure beach was fully deserted. In 2014, a major restoration of the once busy beach was launched by the city of Bridgeport. New water taxis were introduced and the ferry reintroduced by the city. Through locals and the community support was able to restore and relink the island to the mainland.

After years of desertion and rejection, Pleasure beach reopened and is currently trying to get back to its former glory. On top of the restored ferry services, two more water taxis are on route between the island and the mainland. Though not as it was back in the 1990s, business is slowly picking up. Some new restaurants and hotels have been established, others are up for renovation. Pleasure beach is open to the general public to visit at any given time. Some old buildings have deteriorated beyond restoration and as a tourist to the beach, it would be advisable to stay away from them at any cost for they may collapse anytime.