- Dutch Wonderland
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Dutch Wonderland 
Location Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. Website http://www.dutchwonderland.com/ Owner Palace Entertainment Opened 1963 Area 48 Rides 34 total
- 2 roller coasters
- 6 water rides
Slogan "A Kingdom for Kids" Dutch Wonderland is a 48-acre (19 ha) amusement park just east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, appealing primarily to families with small children. The park's theme is a "Kingdom for Kids." The entrance to the park has a real stone castle façade, which was built by Earl Clark, a potato farmer, before he opened the park in 1963.
The Clark family sold Dutch Wonderland in 2001 to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. They also operate Wonderland Mini-Golf, and Old Mill Stream Campground at the same location and the Gift Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village, in nearby Intercourse.
On November 12, 2010, Hershey Entertainment announced that they sold Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment. "Fernando Eiroa, Palace Entertainment President and CEO, commented, “We are very proud of the integration of a leading park like Dutch Wonderland within our group. We are fully aware of the unique position that Dutch Wonderland holds within its community and we will be doing everything to enhance the Dutch Wonderland brand, while keeping the special family appeal of the park."
Today, the park has 34 rides, plus a tropical-themed interactive water play area called Duke's Lagoon. The park also has an extended season, open for "Happy Hauntings" and "Dutch Winter Wonderland" events for Halloween and Christmas.
The park is part of a larger area in Lancaster zoned for entertainment, dining, lodging, and conferences.
Contents
Attractions
Dutch Wonderland features 34 rides, a water park called Duke's Lagoon (named for a purple dragon costumed character), along with shows and games for children. In addition to Duke the dragon, the park also features costumed characters Princess Brooke, and the Knight.
Current roller coasters
Dutch Wonderland has two operating rollercoasters.
Ride Opened Description Kingdom Coaster 1992 A wooden rollercoaster, the first coaster ever built by Custom Coasters International. Uses a single Philadelphia Toboggan Company train with buzz bars. The park's monorail runs through the structure of the ride. The ride was once painted white, and is currently painted blue. It was named the Sky Princess until the 2007 season. Joust 1998 A steel "Big Dipper" style rollercoaster, manufactured by Chance Rides. It sits where the Flying Trapeze once stood, in front of the Kingdom Coaster. Chance's prototype Big Dipper Coaster. Other rides
Kingdom Coaster and Log Flume
- Astroliner - an older space simulator that was added to the park in 1978, built by Wisdom Manufacturing
- Bumper Cars - a classic Lusse bumper car ride
- Capital BlueCross Monorail - visible from outside the park
- Dragon's Lair - a one-of-a-kind boat ride, visible from outside the park
- Dukes Dozers- a kiddie ride where children ride in bulldozers, moved from Hersheypark where it was called Earthmovers
- Dutch Wonder House - a rare "haunted swing" ride, where the entire house revolves around the riders, an extremely disorienting effect
- Double Splash Flume - a double drop log flume (the lower drop at the beginning of the ride, the higher drop at the end) with characters and a mist tunnel
- Wiggle Racers - A ride appealing to small children where self-propelled scooters race around a track that includes a maze and a cave. This ride replaced the miniature train display which had replaced the indoor miniature circus display.
- Lady Gay Riverboat - a short cruise around a man-made island
- Sky Ride - the last station-to-station sky ride in the state[citation needed]
- VR Voyager - a newer-style motion simulator
- Wonder Whip - a kiddie whip ride moved from Hersheypark, formerly called Wells Cargo
- Turtle Whirl - classic tilt-a-whirl ride with a turtle theme purchased from Clementon Lake Park.
- The Twister - a family ride moved from Hersheypark (1978–2008)
Removed rides
- Old 99 - a train ride that went around a track by itself (1974–2002)
- Swan train ride - Only existed for a few years.
- Original Iron Horse Train - replaced in 1970s for CP Huntington #123. CP Huntington #206 was added in 1984.
- Giant Slide - Replaced with two portable slides.
Shows
- Thomas and Friends Live at Dutch Wonderland - a new show based on Thomas the Tank Engine
- Bubba Bear and the Badlands Band - a Sally-produced theater show
- The Adventures of the Frog Prince - a high-dive show
- A Dragon's Tale - a high-dive show
- Storytime Corner- Princess of Dutch Wonderland and the Dutch Wonderland Knight read stories to children
- Dukes Dance Party- Duke The Dragon and his friends dance to songs such as the Chicken Dance, Limbo, Hula and more.
- The Wonderers - Strolling horn band that plays and entertains guests while making excellent music.
- Beyond the Castle Walls - based on the children's book of the same name, Beyond the Castle Walls tells the story of Princess Brooke's global adventures.
Popular culture
- On the TLC show Jon & Kate Plus 8, the family visited Dutch Wonderland in the episode titled "Gosselins Go Dutch."
See also
External links
- Official site
- [1]
- Park sale to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
- Dutch Wonderland Information and Photos
- Dutch Wonderland Flickr Group
Coordinates: 40°01′40″N 76°13′06″W / 40.027697°N 76.218443°W
Categories:- Amusement parks in Pennsylvania
- Culture of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Buildings and structures in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- Visitor attractions in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
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