Check out PA’s Theme Parks and Remember Roller Coasters in the AMUSEMENT PARKS Edition

Pennsylvania is home to a lot of amusement parks, many dating back to the 1800’s. We’ve seen more parks come and go than most states could dream of. There are 27 parks on this list (yeah, 27), with at least 12 still in operation today. Some of these are rather obvious, while other will make you say “That’s from PA?”

This list is limited to what I consider established ‘amusement’ or ‘theme’ parks. A park must be relatively large, enjoy a considerable amount of visitors, and – in most cases – include roller coasters. What doesn’t make the list? Seasonal or temporary parks (like Christmas Villages, Haunts, or fairs), traditional open-space parks, and private parks. Stand-alone water parks are also not included on this list, though some parks feature their own water parks on site.

Hersheypark

Perhaps the most famous park in PA, Hersheypark was founded in 1906 as a leisure area for employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. Today the park covers 121 acres with over 3 million visitors a year. That’s like 20,000 people a day during operating season. It may not be the largest or the oldest, but it is the centerpiece of the Sweetest Place on Earth.

Rocky Glen and Luna Parks

These three defunct parks are all related to engineer Frederick Ingersoll. Rocky Glen near Moosic was founded in 1886 and converted to a theme park in 1905. Luna Park Pittsburgh operated from 1905 – 1909. Luna Park Scranton operated from 1906 – 1916. Ingersoll must have had bad luck because even Rocky Glen closed by 1987.

Dutch Wonderland

Once part of the Hershey conglomerate, Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster was opened in 1963 by a potato farmer. This 48 acre park was designed and has been operated as a theme park for children since its inception. Before you get visions of windmills and wooden shoes, the “Dutch” refers to the Pennsylvania Dutch – of German ancestry – not people from Amsterdam.

Angela Park & Nay Aug Park

It seems Northeast PA is just not a great place to put a park. Angela Park was founded near Hazelton and was open from 1957 to 1989. Owned and operated by the Barletta’s, the family had much better luck with their numerous other businesses. Nay Aug Park is the largest park in Scranton and still exists as a green space. It existed as an amusement park from the 1950’s until the 90’s.

Idlewild

Idlewild was established by Thomas Mellon (of the Pittsburgh Mellons) near Ligonier in 1878. It is the oldest amusement park in PA and the third oldest in the country. Operated as a children’s park, Idlewild has grown to over 40 rides and now also includes the Soak Zone water park.

Williams Grove

If you like scary abandoned parks, I’ve got the place for you. Williams Grove Amusement Park was founded in 1850 and operated until 2005. It would be the oldest amusement park in the country if it had stayed open. Located near Mechanicsburg, Williams Grove pretty much sits exactly as it did before it closed – except everything is run-down and creepy now.

Bushkill Park

Speaking of creepy, check this out: that’s the funhouse at Bushkill Park. The park was opened in 1902, the funhouse in 1935, and are still in operation today. That scary clown cottage is one of the oldest funhouses in the country. Located in Easton, Bushkill features rides and a skating rink. I would go to that funhouse for Halloween.

Cascade Park & Eldora Park

Let’s hop over to the western part of PA. Cascade Park was opened in New Castle back in 1897. It was a rockin’ amusement park with lots of rides in the 1920’s. Cascade still exists today as a public traditional park. Eldora Park was established near Pittsburgh in 1901 and made it 30 years with all kinds of rides. It was associated with Frederick Ingersoll, whom we established earlier as having bad luck.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

Located in Allentown, Dorney Park covers 200 acres and is the closest thing you will get to a Six Flags in Pennsylvania. Dorney was opened in 1884 and is a direct roller coaster competitor to Cedar Point. There is also a large water park on the site called Wildwater Kingdom.

Willow Grove & Woodside

Willow Grove Amusement Park operated from 1896 until 1975 and was the “out of town” version of Woodside Park. The location is now the home of Willow Grove Park Mall since 1982. Woodside Amusement Park was located inside Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park – the largest municipal park on the East Coast. Woodside was open from 1897 to 1955 when its coasters were transferred to Atlantic City, NJ.

Waldameer

Located at Presque Isle in Erie, Waldameer Park (and Water World) has been running since 1896. It is the fourth oldest amusement park in the state and tenth in the country. “Waldameer” is literally “woods by the sea” in German. Erie’s park is about the size of Dutch Wonderland and admission is free.

West View & White Swan

Head down the western side of PA just north of Pittsburgh to West View Park, founded in 1905. This park was open until 1977 and, like Willow Grove, was replaced by a retail shopping center in 1981. White Swan Park operated in Allegheny County from 1955 to 1989. One of the more recent parks on this list, it was dismantled for access to the Pittsburgh International Airport in the 1990’s.

Kennywood

Let’s stay in the Pittsburgh area and mention Kennywood. Built in 1898, Kennywood is one of only two amusement parks designated a National Historic Landmark. The park’s 80 acres is also the site of the French and Indian War Battle of Monongahela in 1755. The Kennywood site was also a popular recreation area even before the Civil War and boasts nearly 50 rides today.

Central, Oakford and Paxtang Parks

The last of PA’s extinct parks on this list, Central Park was a 40 acre park with 25 rides in Allentown. It was open from 1893 until 1951. Oakford Park was located in Greensburg and operated from 1896 to 1940. You would think our state’s capital would have an amusement park, and Harrisburg used to. Paxtang Park was a 40 acre park open from 1823 to 1929.

Sesame Place

The newest park on our list, Sesame Place was opened as a children’s park at a location in Langhorne in 1980. Their 14 acres offers 25 rides, 1/3 of which are in the water park. Obviously themed after Sesame Street, it is one of 14 such parks operated by SeaWorld.

Conneaut Lake & Lakemont Park

Located on a massive 200 acres like Dorney, Conneaut Lake Park was opened in 1892. Conneaut features 27 rides, the historic Blue Streak Coaster and sits next to PA’s largest glacial lake. Lakemont Park is in Boyertown and is the eighth oldest amusement park in the U.S. It is home to the world’s oldest operating roller coaster, Leap-the-Dips. Lakemont spreads over 51 acres and offers 30 rides.

DelGrosso’s

Keeping with the PA tradition of food related parks, DelGrosso’s Amusement Park was originally opened in 1909 and has since been bought by an Italian food company. Located outside of Altoona, DelGrosso’s features 33 rides and a water park. Appropriately, the park hosts a “Spaghetti Wednesday” Italian food event during the summer months.

Knoebel’s

I saved my favorite park for last. Knoebel’s Amusement Resort is located in the middle of the woods in Elysburg and has over 63 rides, a water park and a huge campground. As in 160 acres of campground huge. They have TWO functioning steam trains you can ride, an award-winning Haunted Mansion, and an enormous historic hand-carved carousel. Like golf? Mini-golf is… (yep, there’s more) →

available right in the park and they have an 18-hole par 71 just down the road. Founded by Knoebel Lumber in 1926, this park is awesome because: it’s shaded, admission is free, parking is free, entertainment is free… free! Riders can get wrist bands or purchase old-school tickets that are valid FOREVER. Oooh… the… foooood. That’s if for the parks list, you really should visit.