Idlewild and Soak Zone

Infobox Amusement park
name = Idlewild and Soak Zone


location = Ligonier
location2 = Pennsylvania
location3 = United States flagicon|USA
phone_number =[phone]
opening_date = 1878
season = for 2008May 22nd through
October 26th
rides = 40
coasters = 2
water_rides = 20
owner = Parques Reunidos
homepage = [http://www.idlewild.com// www.idlewild.com]

Idlewild and Soak Zone is a family amusement park situated near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, along US Route 30. Founded in 1878, Idlewild is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, and the third oldest in the United States.

History

On May 1, 1878, William Darlington gave Judge Thomas Mellon, owner of the Ligonier Valley Railroad, "the right and privilege to occupy his land for picnic purposes or pleasure grounds." The initial development of the site included camp sites on both sides of the railroad, an artificial lake for fishing and boating, picnic tables, and a large hall. With a station on site, the park attracted visitors from Pittsburgh, as well as the surrounding area, for a weekend in the country.cite web |title=Idlewild History in Brief |url=http://www.idlewild.com/history/index.php]

In 1931, Judge Mellon's son Richard B. Mellon, brother of Andrew Mellon, and C.C. MacDonald gained interest in the park and worked to develop the site. They oversaw the addition of pavilions, lunchrooms, bandstands, and many attractions that still stand today, including a three-row Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel. The MacDonald family purchased the park from the Mellon's in 1951. The Ligonier Valley Railroad closed in 1952, and while the railroad had been an important factor in the early success of the park, it's removal had little lasting effect. Under the MacDonald's, the park continued to expand, including the addition of Story Book Forest in 1956.

Kennywood era

In 1983 Kennywood Park Corporation in Pittsburgh purchased the park. During the first winter, major changes began to occur. Jumpin' Jungle, a children's area, was added. Story Book Forest was no longer run as a separate operation and was incorporated with the rest of Idlewild Park. Historic Village, once located on the Ligonier side of Story Book Forest, was relocated to the center of the Park for the 1984 season, and was renamed Hootin' Holler.

With the popularity of waterparks growing, the H20hhh Zone was added in 1985, and the Little Squirts water play area a year later. In 1989 the park expanded across the Loyalhanna Creek, with the addition of Mister Rogers Neighborhood of Make-Believe trolley ride, designed and voiced by child entertainer Fred Rogers,a local native. The area was expanded the following year to include Raccoon Lagoon, an area for children.

The 1990s brought the addition of the Wild Mouse to the Olde Idlewild area. The 21st century brought additions to the waterpark, doubling its size and leading to a new name, Idlewild and Soak Zone.

Paraques Reunidos

On December 11, 2007, Kennywood Entertainment announced it would sell its parks to the Madrid-based amusement company, Parques Reunidos. The family ownership of Kennywood ensured that all of the company's parks would maintain their family-first attitude. [cite news |first=Mary Lou |last=Rosemeyer |title=New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced |url=http://www.kennywood.com/docs/12.11.07KECNewChapterRelease.pdf |date=2008-12-11 |publisher=Kennywood Entertainment Company]

Awards

The park is regarded as one of the best children's and family parks in the world. It has earned awards from Amusement Today for fifth-best children's area in 2006 and 2007 and second-best children's park for the fifth-consecutive year in 2008. [cite web |title=2008 Golden Ticket Awards |url=http://amusementtoday.com/8002gtaParkAndRide.html |publisher="Amusement Today" |accessdate=2008-10-08]

Attractions

Olde Idlewild

*Balloon Race
*Caterpillar (1947; one of only three similar rides remaining in North America, one of two feature a working canopy, and the only one that still features an operating undercarraige fan)
*Ferris Wheel
*Flying Aces (2007)
*Merry-Go-Round (Originally located on the Atlantic City pier, the carousel was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1931, and was one of the last merry-go-rounds built by the company)
*Paratrooper
*Rollo Coaster (Built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1938 with trees from the park)
*Scrambler
*Skooters (1931)
*Spider
*Super Round-Up
*Tilt-A-Whirl
*Whip (1939)
*Wild Mouse (before coming to Idlewild in 1993, the Wild Mouse was located at Alton Towers)

Hootin' Holler

*Confusion Hill
*Dizzy Lizzy's
*Howler (2004)
*Loyalhanna Limited Railroad (An original C.P. Huntington Model)
*Paul Bunyan's Loggin' Toboggan (2005)

oak Zone

*Captain Kidd's Adventure Galley (2006)
*Hydro Racers
*Hydro Soakers
*Little Squirts
*Pipeline Plunge
*Rafter's Run
*Serpentine Slides
*Shotgun Slides
*Speed Slides
*Swimming Pool
*Tipping Bucket
*Tipping Cones

Jumpin' Jungle

*Bubbling Springs
*Alligator Swamp
*Tarzan Swing
*Jungle Phone
*Net Climb
*Flying Turtles
*Jungle Organ
*Tube Slide
*Tunnel Crawl
*Suspension Bridge
*Bigfoot's Mudslide (2008)

Other attractions

*Story Book Forest (1956)
*Mister Rogers Neighborhood of Make-Believe (based on the popular television show of local native Fred Rogers, this themed area features a ride on a life-sized Trolley through the "Neighborhood of Make-Believe")

Notes

External links

* [http://www.idlewild.com/ Idlewild website]