The Ramble — Central Park
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West Drive near 79th St Transverse, New York, NY, New York, 10024, United States
A 36-acre woodland in the heart of Central Park, between the 66th and 79th Street transverses, that served for decades as New York's best-known outdoor cruising ground. George Chauncey documented the north lawn as "the Fruited Plain" by the 1920s; Arthur Tress photographed the scene here in 1969. The winding paths and dense cover drew men from the Village and beyond, though police entrapment and bashings were common. Today it is calmer and popular with birders, but the queer history is extensively documented by the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project. Public sexual activity remains illegal in New York — stay discreet and aware.
Getting there
Enter Central Park and use the 79th Street transverse or West Drive as the landmark. The Ramble is the 36-acre woodland between the 66th and 79th Street transverses.
When it's active
It is no longer the constant scene that mid-century guides described. Birders use these paths all day. Evenings are quieter and more ambiguous.
What to know
Public sexual activity is illegal in New York. The queer history — including the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project record — is real. The current park is a famous public garden with police and tourists.
Location
Coordinates: 40.77639, -73.97111