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This book focuses on those great memories and experiences you can only get in an amusement park. Our attention will be on Pennsylvania parks and rides that have pleased riders for generations, along with covering some newer rides in those parks. Also included are some interesting state landmarks within a close vicinity of the covered amusement parks to give you a good blueprint for a getaway. Included are interviews with some very important people in the amusement park industry and many photos. Featured parks include Dorney Park, Hersheypark, Kennywood, Waldameer, Lakemont Park, Conneaut Lake Park and DelGrosso's.
Idlewild and SoakZone has charmed people across Western Pennsylvania and beyond since the late 1800s. The park was developed by Pittsburgh's Mellon family as a picnic grove to boost traffic on the Ligonier Valley Rail Road. When C.C. Macdonald took the helm in 1931, rides, entertainment and other attractions came to Idlewild over the next half century, along with the adjacent Story Book Forest. After joining the Kennywood family of amusement parks, Idlewild added a Wild West town, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe and a water slide complex. Author Jennifer Sopko tells the heartwarming history of a Pennsylvania amusement park that continues to delight generations of families.
At one time, Western Pennsylvania was home to dozens of small amusement parks, many of them trolley parks. These parks, originally designed to bolster streetcar business, were a way for workers to seek respite from the crowded, dirty cities. While some of these parks never developed into much more than a dance hall and a merry-go-round, others became full-scale amusement parks with rides, entertainment, and other amusements. After years of battling floods, changing economies, the decline of streetcars, and competition from other amusement parks, many of these amusement parks ended up closing their gates for good, the thrills they once provided now relegated to memories. With many of these parks all but lost to time, it is time to take a look back and remember some of the most prominent lost amusement parks of Western Pennsylvania.
In 1877, a humble boat landing was constucted on Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania's largest natural lake. Colonel Frank Mantor, a visionary, discovered and purchased the property and convinced investors from the Pittsburgh, Shenango, and Lake Erie Railroad to extend the railroad line to a newly built resort on the site. In 1892, Exposition Park--a permanent fair exhibiting machinery and livestock--was founded. Amusement rides were added alongside hotels, cottages, restaurants, and other businesses. The resort grew into an amusement park and was renamed Conneaut Lake Park in 1920. Conneaut Lake Park illustrates the evolution of this lakeside resort with images of long-gone attractions such as the Hotel Elmwood, Temple of Music, Jungle Cruise, Fairyland Forest, and Wild Mouse. Recent favorites such as the Blue Streak, Tumble Bug, Ultimate Trip, and Devil's Den are also included.
A comprehensive guide to 13 parks in the state, complete with information on rides and attractions. Packed with vintage postcard images and photos.
Dorney Park was founded by Solomon Dorney in 1884. The park was owned by Dorney until the early 1900s, when Jacob Plarr assumed ownership. The Plarr family operated the park until 1985, with the exception of a brief period during which it was owned and operated by the local trolley company, the Allentown-Kutztown Traction Company. Originally a simple fish hatchery, Dorney Park expanded to include a hotel, casino, bowling alley, Ferris wheel, carousel, roller coaster, roller-skating rink, railroad rides, and many traditional mechanized rides and modern amusements. The park is known today as Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. Dorney Park illustrates the development of one of America's greatest historic amusement parks. Among the vintage photographs and postcards one will find images of the Mill Chute, or the Tunnel of Love, as it was also known; the old wooden roller coaster under construction; the Zephyr train, a headliner in the park for many years; Castle Garden; the original Dentzel carousel; the racetrack; and the merry-go-rounds that were once a major attraction at the park.
Willow Grove Park illustrates the fascinating history of one of America's most famous amusement parks. Willow Grove Park was built in 1896 as a way of encouraging people to ride the trolley on weekends. This ingenious concept proved a remarkable success, and the park set the standard for providing first-class entertainment and amusement. Here John Philip Sousa, Victor Herbert, and Arthur Pryorgave daily musical concerts, while various rides thrilled those seeking more rigorous fun. Through a wide range of images, Willow Grove Park captures the rich history of this well-known icon.
Waldameer Park overlooks Lake Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. This area has been a popular retreat for people since opening in 1896. As one of the last surviving trolley parks in America, Waldameer Park has a story of growth and survival. Originally, the park s main attraction was its beach on the lake; it was a popular destination in Erie for people to go and escape the heat of summer. Over the years, Waldameer Park changed significantly. In the early 20th century, rides like Dip the Dips, Ravine Flyer, and Mill Run grew to be the main attractions at the park. Over the past three decades, Waldameer Park has grown into a modern amusement park, while maintaining its beloved nostalgic atmosphere. Today, visitors cool off in the Water World water park and enjoy thrill rides like the Comet, Steel Dragon, X-scream, and Ravine Flyer II."
Nestled behind the Endless Mountains in Luzerne County, the rolling hills of the Back Mountain are a scenic blend of Pennsylvanias natural beauty and history. Adjacent to the anthracite coal regions of Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties, the Back Mountain includes Kingston Township, Trucksville, Shavertown, Dallas, Huntsville, Lehman, and Harveys Lake. Historically the area offered many forms of recreation and entertainment, which brought tourists from all over the Northeast. Harveys Lake is the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania, and it became a major resort destination in the early 20th century. Pennsylvanias Back Mountain is a compilation of rare photographs documenting this historic community and revealing a bygone era of amusement parks, hotels, railroads, and steamboats.