Dominique Bilodeau dreamed of starting a family business. He wanted a place where people of all ages could go to relax, play and eat without spending too much money.

At the age of 48, his dream came true. On June 30, 1963, Paradise Park had its grand opening. It was a recreation area in Lewiston that became a popular summertime attraction for area families.

Normand Bilodeau, Dominque’s son, recently recalled those years, and no doubt there are many L-A residents who remember happy times at Paradise Park.

Bilodeau said his father also wanted to teach the importance of hard work to his four children, and at the same time keep them busy while they were earning some money.

“The first year, we just had a snack bar, playground, miniature golf and a two-acre fishing and boating pond,” Bilodeau said. “The park became more of a popular destination when Maine’s first 25-meter Olympic swimming pool was added in 1965. Then, a few years later, we added baseball batting cages, a go-kart track, trampolines and a large arcade.”

There was plenty of work to be done by every member of the Bilodeau family. Founder Dominque Bilodeau, now deceased, supervised the operation, and his wife, Yolande Bilodeau, who is in her 90s, ran the snack bar.

Full-page ads in the early days said admission was 50 cents a car and miniature golf was 25 cents for 18 holes. Fishing was free, with a limit of two fish. There was a large playground offering free badminton, volleyball, horseshoes and tetherball, and families could enjoy a shaded picnic area with tables.

Other members of the Bilodeau family involved with Paradise Park were Dominique Jr., Richard, and Rachel Bilodeau-Bott. There was plenty of variety in the park duties for all of them. The pool called for lifeguard attention and someone had to take charge of boat rentals as well as starting the go-carts and mini-bikes. There was a golf driving range and there was also a petting zoo at one point in the park’s operation

Normand said Paradise Park became very busy in the early 1970s when they teamed up with the Lewiston Recreation Department and held an annual AAU Swim Meet. That event brought swimmers and spectators from all over New England.

“The park was a little out of the way on Mitchell Street, bounded by Webster and Lexington streets,” Bilodeau said. “In order to attract customers at night, we had two anti-aircraft searchlights. They lit up the skies of Lewiston and Auburn seven nights a week for more than ten years during the summer months.”

It was Richard Bilodeau who related his dad’s inspiration for Paradise Park. In response to a Sun Journal reader’s question nearly 20 years ago, Dick explained that his father once lived in New York City and it was the pond in Central Park that gave him the idea to build Paradise Park.

Although Normand’s daughter, Jen, is too young to remember firsthand experiences at Paradise Park, she has heard the family stories over and over, and some unusual reminders are still in the family’s possession.

She said her father still makes french fries at home with the cutter that was used at the park’s snack bar.

Among other things that remained with the family after the park closed were the trampolines, and she said they still have the fortune-telling scales from the penny arcade. Along with weight, it handed out fortunes to anyone who dropped a penny in its coin slot.

“Seasonal businesses are a challenge,” Bilodeau said, “and when you add the difficulties of expansion with town ordinances and neighboring properties, making a profit became more and more difficult. Sadly, it was time to move on and pursue other goals.”

The land was sold in the mid-1970s and is now occupied by Lewiston Industrial Park and the Ramada Conference Center.

Bilodeau said many long-lasting friendships were forged at Paradise Park.

“So much fun was created there and I often dream of the hard work and fun I had in those 16 years of working there,” he said. “I thank my father and my mother for giving me that opportunity.”

Dave Sargent is a freelance writer and a native of Auburn. He can be reached by sending email to [email protected].