A Look Back At Some Of Our Favorite Neighborhood Staples
Photo Credit: Best Boston
Route 1 Route Fun
Hilltop Steak House
Photo Credit: bostonmagazine.com
The chain restaurant Hilltop Steakhouse was founded in 1961 with locations in Eastern Mass, Connecticut and New Hampshire. The OG Hilltop was of course the historical Saugus location, adorn with the iconic 68 foot neon cactus sign. Large fiberglass cows were another notable feature at Hilltop. The restaurant served around 2.4 million costumers annually. Sadly, Hilltop closed its doors in 2013.
Wondering where those landmark items went?
MarketStreet Lynnfield, a 300,000 square foot open air mall on the North Shore acquired one mother cow and her two calves. They are on display, roaming in a patch of grass in front of Pinkberry.
Photo credit: Boston Globe
As for the Cactus...
The new developers that bought the Hilltop plot, AvalonBay, plan on redeveloping the space.
"Approved mixed-use redevelopment of the 14-acre former Hilltop Steakhouse site located on Route 1 in Saugus. Three new four-story residential buildings will be constructed at the site’s rear containing 280 luxury apartments. Retail will be co-developed with Crosspoint Associates and will include service-oriented businesses such as a dry cleaner, a hair salon, a coffee shop and a pharmacy as well as both full-service and casual restaurants."
And the best part?!
"The landmark neon Hilltop Steakhouse cactus sign, which remains on site, will be incorporated into the development."
Luckily for us, this will not be the day the cactus died.
Photo Credit: bldup.com
Route 1 Orange Dinosaur
Photo Credit: wbur.org
This guy has to be the one of the most famous Mass residents to date. The orange dinosaur once called "Route 1 Miniature Gold and Batting Cages" home, up until the facility closed in 2016. But fear not, the developer who purchased the space says that the Dino will be staying put. He will continue to watch over the new buildings going up in the $150 million Essex Landing development.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the Orange Dino has a beer created after it? You can find it at Mystic Brewery in Chelsea.
"Orange Dinosaur is extinct no more! This Jurassic 8.5% Double IPA has been resurrected. Brewed with Mosaic and Amarillo, then dry-hopped with a hefty dose of Simcoe lupulin powder, this beer - just like the dinos - won't last long. Orange Dinosaur exudes aromas of mango and passion fruit, and then orange citrus bursts on the palate with just the right amount of pine."
If you're a Saugus native and want to show off all the best landmarks in one place, you need our Route 1 Route Fun Tee!
Paragon Park
Photo Credit: Paragon Park Book
Paragon Park was an expansive amusement park located on Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA. Some of the notable rides included bumper cars, a haunted house, a ferris wheel and a large wooden roller coaster (which is now operating at Six Flags America). You could stroll down the boardwalk to find delicious salt water taffy, fried clams and hot dogs. Unfortunately, the park closed in 1985 and made way for some high rise condominiums.
Photo Credit: Paragon Park Book
Photo Credit: Paragon Park BookYou can reminisce on what was by visiting their Museum and bask in the nostalgia of Paragon Park. With their vast exhibits of memorabilia and artifacts, the museum will take you on a journey from the original construction in 1905 all the way to its closing in 1985. The highlight of the space is the restoration studio where artist, James Hardison, has restored 34 of the 66 horses from the beloved Grand Carousel. Luckily for you, the carousel is still in service as the last remaining attraction of Paragon park. To this day, it attracts more than 100,000 visitors every summer.
Restoration Studio
Park Museum
Photo Credit: Paragon Park Book
If you want the memory of Paragon Park to live on, we made a tee just for you! Check out our Take Me Back To Paragon Pahk T-Shirt!
You can represent your Home Town with any of the tees in our Neighborhoodz collection. Take a look at some of our other great shirts below!
Lynn Lynn City Of Sin
Photo Credit: Card Cow
Reveah Beach
Photo Credit: WGBH
Southie
