1. Pennants with Park Logos
If you ever went to an amusement park in the ’70s, chances are you came home waving a colorful felt pennant. They had the park’s logo or a roller coaster stitched across them in bold letters, and kids would proudly hang them on their bedroom walls. These pennants weren’t just decorations, they were proof you had braved the rides and survived the fun. Parents liked them too because they were affordable, flat, and easy to pack in a bag.
By the time the ’80s rolled in, pennants were starting to feel a little old-fashioned. Posters and glossy photos took their place, leaving those felt flags tucked away in drawers. Today, vintage park pennants have become collector’s items, especially if they’re still bright and intact. It’s funny to think how something so simple once held the magic of a whole day’s adventure.
2. Character Drink Mugs
Back when amusement parks leaned heavily on mascots, plastic drink mugs shaped like those characters were everywhere. You’d carry them around all day, refilling them with soda or lemonade, then bring them home to use for weeks afterward. Some even had lids shaped like the character’s head, which made them a hit with kids.
Over time, those mugs tended to get cloudy from the dishwasher or cracked from too much use. But in the ’70s, they were the ultimate way to keep the park’s magic alive at your kitchen table. Seeing one in your cupboard was like a little reminder of summer fun. Today, collectors hunt them down at flea markets, though most are scratched up from years of childhood use.
3. Snow Globes with Roller Coasters
Souvenir snow globes weren’t just for gift shops in tourist towns, amusement parks had their own too. Inside the tiny glass dome you might find a mini roller coaster, a ferris wheel, or the park’s castle centerpiece. Shake it up, and you could relive the excitement of your trip even in the middle of winter.
They often leaked or broke after a few years, which made them less likely to survive in households. Still, kids loved keeping them on their shelves and watching the glitter or “snow” swirl around. They weren’t practical, but they didn’t need to be, they were all about magic. Finding a ’70s amusement park snow globe in one piece today feels like striking gold.
4. Pressed Penny Machines
While you can still find them at parks today, pressed pennies had their big heyday in the ’70s. You’d slip a shiny coin and a couple quarters into a machine, crank a handle, and watch it flatten into an oval keepsake stamped with the park logo. Kids loved the ritual of it, and parents liked it because it was one of the cheapest souvenirs you could get.
The little elongated coins would often end up in a shoebox or a special pocket in a wallet. Some parks even offered tiny books to store them, so kids could collect one each summer. They weren’t flashy, but they carried a lot of sentimental weight. It was the thrill of turning spare change into something permanent.
5. View-Master Reels
Before phone cameras, the closest thing to reliving your trip was popping a View-Master reel into the chunky red viewer. Parks sold exclusive reels that featured their roller coasters, parades, and costumed characters. Kids could click through them endlessly, showing friends what they had seen.
The pictures had that signature 3D pop, which made the whole experience feel magical. They didn’t capture every ride, but they were enough to spark memories of the day. Owning a park reel made you feel like you had a private slide show. These reels are now rare finds, often tucked away with other vintage toys.
6. Plastic Ride-On Toys
Some parks cashed in by selling miniature versions of their rides, usually in the form of plastic kiddie toys. A tiny log flume boat or roller coaster car was irresistible to younger kids. They weren’t big or fancy, but they let you bring a slice of the park home.
These toys often broke quickly or got lost at the bottom of toy chests. Still, for a few weeks after the trip, they were a prized possession. Kids would line them up and imagine their dolls or action figures riding through. Today, they’re quirky relics that often spark more nostalgia than practical use.
7. Souvenir Photo Folders
In the ’70s, photo booths weren’t the only way to capture your day, many parks had official photographers who handed you a cardboard folder with your picture inside. Sometimes the border would be decorated with roller coasters or cartoon mascots. Families treasured these photos, even if their hair was windswept from the rides.
The folders were cheap to make, which meant they didn’t always last long. But for many families, they became a cherished piece of the trip. They were especially fun to look back on years later, when styles had changed so much. Seeing a photo in one of those souvenir folders is like stepping back into the ’70s instantly.
8. Giant Inflatable Hammers
Kids in the ’70s loved coming home with oversized inflatable hammers or bats stamped with park logos. They were half toy, half souvenir, and they turned every living room into a mock carnival. Parents weren’t always thrilled about them, since they usually led to chaos and bumped heads.
Still, they were cheap, fun, and made kids feel like they’d brought the fair home. The hammers rarely lasted longer than a few days before deflating or popping. But the memory of carrying one around the park, almost bigger than the kid holding it, was part of the experience. They’re the kind of silly, impractical souvenir everyone remembers fondly.
9. Postcard Booklets
Amusement parks once sold little accordion-style booklets filled with postcards of their rides and attractions. Each card could be torn out and mailed, though most kids kept them intact as mini photo albums. They showed off roller coasters, log flumes, and even aerial shots of the whole park.
Because so few people actually mailed the postcards, many of these booklets ended up being saved in drawers. They gave kids a way to relive their trip, even before home cameras became more common. The bright colors and vintage designs still look great today. Collectors love them for the snapshot of ’70s park life they provide.
10. Souvenir License Plates
A popular pick for kids and teens was the mini license plate with your name on it, sold at racks in park gift shops. These little metal plates often had the park’s logo stamped on one side. If you found one with your name, it felt like it was made just for you.
Kids would stick them on their bikes or pin them to their bedroom doors. Not every name was available, which made the search part of the fun. They weren’t expensive, but they felt personal in a way other souvenirs didn’t. Today, they’re nostalgic reminders of a time before custom printing was everywhere.
11. Glow Necklaces
Long before glow sticks became a staple at concerts, amusement parks sold glowing necklaces made of simple plastic tubing. You’d wear them while waiting for nighttime parades or fireworks. For kids, it was like being part of the show, lighting up the dark with every step.
They didn’t last long, usually burning out by the next morning. But in the ’70s, they were pure magic, especially if you wore more than one. Parents loved them too because they made it easy to spot kids in the crowd. The fleeting glow made them a perfect symbol of summer fun that couldn’t quite be bottled up.
12. Commemorative Coins
Some amusement parks offered collectible coins, often stamped with the year and the park’s big attraction. These were a little fancier than pressed pennies, sometimes even coming in small cases. Kids would feel like they had something special, almost like real treasure.
They didn’t serve a purpose beyond collecting, but that was the point. Many kids kept them in drawers or showed them off to friends at school. For a few bucks, you could hold a shiny piece of the park forever. Looking back, they were an early version of the keepsakes people still chase today.
