Idlewild Park observes 125th anniversary
The old train depot tells the story of Idlewild Park & Soak Zone, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania. Nestled among the other white-frame and red-roof buildings in the Olde Idlewild section of the Ligonier, Westmoreland County, park, the train depot is an authentic station that handled passengers who came to Idlewild from its earliest days, courtesy of the Ligonier Valley Railroad.
“Ripley’s said it was the smallest, full-service train station anywhere,’ noted Mary Lou Rosemeyer, publicity director for Idlewild Park & Soak Zone.
After the Ligonier Valley Railroad went out of business in 1951, officials found other uses for the train depot, including a first-aid station, guest relations booth and later storage.
“This year, we’re calling it Anniversary Headquarters,’ said Rosemeyer. “We put in photographs and memorabilia and a time line.’
Indeed, the tiny depot should not be missed by visitors to Idlewild this year as the display – including a video of park history – prods the memories of older visitors and shares the park’s rich past with younger ones.
For example, the time line reports: Idlewild’s first ride was the Merry-Go-Round, which was installed in 1896. The swimming pool was created in 1932. The Caterpillar (installed in 1947), which uses a cover, was a place for sweethearts to steal a kiss. Story Book Forest – a land of nursery rhymes told in life-sized sculptures and by actors and animals – opened in 1956. The H2Ohhh! Zone opened in 1985 with four water slides and was greatly expanded in 2000 to create the new Soak Zone. And Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood of Make Believe attraction opened in 1985, the first time the legendary television educator collaborated with an amusement park.
As Fred Rogers, a native of nearby Latrobe, noted on the video history that can be seen at Anniversary Headquarters, “Idlewild was the place I went to as a boy. It’s the first amusement park I ever knew.’
To preserve the past for future generations, Jerome Gibas, general manager, said the park buried a time capsule in front of the depot to mark the anniversary.
Rosemeyer reported the time capsule included contributions by local school children with drawings and essays of their memories of Idlewild.
And there are many memories, as visitors tend to come back to Idlewild year after year.
“Our group business is a cornerstone of our business with a lot of groups coming back over the years – some over 50 years,’ said Gibas. “But we get a lot of new people as well.’
Kathy Sichula in Group Sales said that between 1,200 and 1,500 groups visit Idlewild each year. They range from small church groups of 50 people to corporations that bring 5,000 to 7,000 people. In years past, one business brought 10,000 people to the park for its annual picnic.
Rosemeyer said the park attracts residents of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Gibas said park’s busiest month is August and Saturday is the busiest day. He recommends that local residents who want a less-crowded day at the park try Wednesday or Thursday.
Any day that visitors enter the park, they can find a variety of activities. The park boasts seven areas: Story Book Forest, which offers 40 attractions and such characters as Red Riding Hood, Old Woman in a Shoe, Three Billy Goats Gruff and Jack Be Nimble. Jumpin’ Jungle is a super playground that includes a 30-foot-high tree house, giant net climb, and a ball pit with 180,000 colored balls. Hootin’ Holler is a Wild West town with amusements, a general store and several eating places. Soak Zone includes the swimming pool and water rides. Olde Idlewild consists of 16 major rides, games and eating places. Raccoon Lagoon offers kiddie rides. And Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood of Make Believe is a trolley ride to the homes of characters such as King Friday and Queen Sarah, Lady Elaine Fairchild and Daniel Striped Tiger.
The park also includes a variety of shows. Idlewild offers so many that visitors could spend the day watching them, including Ricky’s Ruckus in Raccoon Lagoon, Wild West Gunfight, The Wild Bunch and Country Countdown 2002 in Hootin’ Holler, a puppet show in Story Book Forest, and School Daze and Celebration in the Hillside Theater.
Celebration is a special anniversary show that Rosemeyer said features popular songs through the past 125 years as well as traces world history and the history of the park.
In addition, the park is offering two special shows at no added price in honor of the anniversary. They include Scheer’s Lumberjack Show, shown in the Lake Bouquet area near the water park, and Akishin Russian Acrobat Show, shown in the anniversary tent behind Raccoon Lagoon. Rosemeyer showed off the tent, pointing out that it has a top but no sides in order to allow air to circulate.
And visitors who are hungry will find plenty of refreshments. While Idlewild still permits picnic baskets into the park, Dan Siler, director of revenue operations, noted that many visitors prefer to buy food.
“Our specialty item is the Cyclone Cone. It’s a homemade waffle cone with fresh, hand-packed ice cream, with fresh strawberries and whipped topping,’ Siler said. “Our top seller is Potato Patch French Fries. … We go through 44 tons of potatoes each season.’
Siler said souvenir items with the anniversary logo are also selling well this season. Popular souvenirs include T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and glassware. There’s also a stadium blanket available with the anniversary logo.
Also for the anniversary, prints of a pen-and-ink drawing of Idlewild Park by artist Linda Barnicott are available at gift shops.
And those who are interested can take a walking tour of historic sites within Idlewild Park, created by Jim Futrell of the National Amusement Park Historic Association. The tour includes stops at the train depot, the bridge, boat house, Rollo Coaster, Bear House, Carousel and The Auditorium, one of two large pavilions at the top of the hill.
Artist Ed Ostroski created the signs that mark the walking tour and is one of two artists employed by the park to paint all signs.
“Our main concerns are safety signs, direction and identification,’ said Ostroski.
Rosemeyer praised the artists’ work, noting, “It’s an incredible thing. We want it to look like it’s been here 125 years but everything is clean.’
Gibas noted the anniversary is attracting “people who have an interest in history. People who like nostalgia are enjoying it. And so are local families who have not been here for a while.’
Idlewild Park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $19.95 for visitors age 3 to 54 and $14.50 for visitors age 55 and older. Children 2 and under are free. Discounts are available. For more information, phone the park at 724-837-1500 or visit the Web site at www.idlewild.com.