After 62 years, one of area’s best-known amusement parks is set shut down the rides for good at the end of the summer as the owners look to enjoy the rewards from decades of hard work.
After running Hoffman’s Playland for 40 years, David Hoffman and his wife, Ruth, are ready to retire and develop their land, spend time visiting their children out west and hit the golf course.
The decision to retire was not an easy one, but a decision that had to be made as the Hoffmans look to the future and what is best for them at this point in their life.
“It’s something we started thinking about several years ago, and we realized that if you don’t plan ahead, it is not a business you can easily exit from. It’s a unique set of circumstances,” said Dave Hoffman. “But my wife and I have been running the park for 40 years and started to feel that the time was right for us to step down. We announced, sort of reluctantly, that we were going to retire last June.”
The plan is to sell the equipment and develop the property with a mixed commercial and residential development, similar to the $50 million project that is underway on the adjacent lot. Originally, the Hoffmans wanted to sell the park, but developments around the park have left little room for that. The decision to close has not come easily.
“It’s going to be sad, and I’m going to miss it. All the years of relationships with employees that have become more or less like family. Many of our employees have met their future husband or wife here. I met my wife here,” said Hoffman. “It’s been a magical place where lifelong relationships have been forged not only with our customers, but our employees. I think that’s what made this place so special the relationships and memories,” added Hoffman.
The park has been a staple in the Town of Colonie since 1952 and Supervisor Paula Mahan said it would be missed.
“We certainly would love to see Hoffman’s Playland be here forever, unfortunately we know that’s not realistic. The Hoffmans are great people, great people to work with. They want to retire and do something different with their land,” said Mahan.
“We’re very fortunate to have had the Hoffman’s Playland for all these years. There are many wonderful memories created there by people all across the Capital District. We will definitely miss the playland and we wish the Hoffmans much success in the future…They deserve their retirement,” said Mahan.