Dartmouth, Massachusetts - Standing quiet for fifteen years, Lincoln Park has long been the subject of rumors and speculation. These are dwindling, though, as the current owners of the property have gotten a permit to clear what's left of the amusement park--some empty building and the park's wooden roller coaster, Comet.

Midway Realty, LLC, has owned the park since 2007, and intends to use the land to build dozens of single family homes, along with commercial space and apartment buildings.

"We're hoping to get started on the infrastructure within the next month," Joseph Delgado, a principal of Midway Realty told South Coast Today. "It will take about three months or so to get the roads in and then right after that, we'll start building the houses."

According to the Taunton Daily Gazette, the permit is good for six months, enabling its owners to clean up the property of overgrowth in addition to the amusement park remains.

There had once been hope for Comet and Lincoln Park, even after it closed. Just prior to its demise in 1987, it had been undergoing a facelift. Once its closure had been confirmed, there had been interest in reopening the park, but plans never came to fruition, according to The Herald News.

The park, which offered a ballroom, skate rink, and bowling, was often the victim of arson, both during its prime and after. Fires were set in buildings and in some rides. The park had a more tragic employee history, as well. Both an electrician and a night security guard had died at the park.

Lincoln Park's history isn't completely dark. It once held proms and hosted celebrities--including the Three Stooges and Buddy Holly. And it had Comet.

Comet was built in 1946 by the National Amusement Device Company. As one of relatively few roller coasters built during the 1940s, its statistics bear an average for that era. Comet stood 65 feet tall, and carried its passengers at a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour over about 3000 feet of track.

It may not be the first roller coaster to be demolished in the name of real estate, but Lincoln Park's Comet will still be missed.