Carver's Edaville Family Theme Park is off the market

Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger
·2 min read

CARVER – The popular attraction Edaville Family Theme  Park is off the market.

Owners of the Carver amusement park in a Facebook post Wednesday said Edaville is "no longer for sale." A pair of new operators – Shervin B. Hawley, of Sudbury and Brian Fanslau, of Maine – "are committed to the long-term success of Edaville as a traditional family park centered on its historic steam locomotives and family-oriented activities," the post read.

It's unclear if the theme park was sold to the new operators of if they've been hired to run it by longtime owner Jon Delli Priscoli, who first said in April that he plans to sell the 75-year-old  park and the scenic railroad.

The exit sign at Edaville urges visitors to return to the park.
The exit sign at Edaville urges visitors to return to the park.

"Thank you for being so patient as we plan for the November opening," the Wednesday post said. "You'll be rewarded with the experience you have come to know and love over the last 75 years. We will answer other questions as we progress with our plans for 2022 and beyond."

Earlier this month it was announced that Edaville would reopen from Nov. 10 through New Year's Day with Christmas lights, rides, food and more. Neither Thomas Land nor Dino Land will open in the meantime.

Tickets for the Christmas experience will be released around Labor Day.

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Delli Priscoli in April said he wants Edaville to continue to be a destination for people of all ages. He has been the sole owner of the amusement park since 2001.

“It’s time for new energy,” he said at the time. “Our preference would be to see that the park continue on. It needs new energy, new vision.”

Ellis D. Atwood founded Edaville in 1947, when he built a 5-mile rail bed around his cranberry plantation, creating one of the world’s first tourist railroads.

Thomas the Tank Engine pulls a trainload of passengers around Edaville in 2019.
Thomas the Tank Engine pulls a trainload of passengers around Edaville in 2019.

Over the past 21 years, Delli Priscoli has invested more than $25 million in upgrades and expanded it into a full-scale park with the addition of rides, indoor attractions, play areas and interactive shows, as well as the creation of Dino Land and most recently Thomas Land featuring Thomas the Tank Engine.

Delli Priscoli said in April he was exploring an expansion referred to as Edaville 2.0, a year-round facility with indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment.

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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com. 

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Carver's Edaville theme park is off the market