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Waldameer Park
One of the oldest amusement parks in the United States, and one of the last surviving "trolley parks," Waldameer Park has provided generations with fun-filled afternoons.

Originally beginning as a picnic area known as Hoffman's Grove on the banks of Lake Erie in Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Erie Electric Motor Company leased the park in 1896 and renamed it "Waldameer," translated literally as "Woods by the Sea" in German. A trolley park's main purpose was to entice people to ride the new-fangled trolley car on the weekends, and Waldameer accomplished that in spades. Initially, the park's main attraction was its beach on the lake, a popular destination for people to go and escape the heat of summer, but over the years, Waldameer Park changed and grew 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.

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Waldameer Park
One of the oldest amusement parks in the United States, and one of the last surviving "trolley parks," Waldameer Park has provided generations with fun-filled afternoons.

Originally beginning as a picnic area known as Hoffman's Grove on the banks of Lake Erie in Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Erie Electric Motor Company leased the park in 1896 and renamed it "Waldameer," translated literally as "Woods by the Sea" in German. A trolley park's main purpose was to entice people to ride the new-fangled trolley car on the weekends, and Waldameer accomplished that in spades. Initially, the park's main attraction was its beach on the lake, a popular destination for people to go and escape the heat of summer, but over the years, Waldameer Park changed and grew 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.

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Waldameer Park

Waldameer Park

by Arcadia Publishing
Waldameer Park
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Waldameer Park

Waldameer Park

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

One of the oldest amusement parks in the United States, and one of the last surviving "trolley parks," Waldameer Park has provided generations with fun-filled afternoons.

Originally beginning as a picnic area known as Hoffman's Grove on the banks of Lake Erie in Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Erie Electric Motor Company leased the park in 1896 and renamed it "Waldameer," translated literally as "Woods by the Sea" in German. A trolley park's main purpose was to entice people to ride the new-fangled trolley car on the weekends, and Waldameer accomplished that in spades. Initially, the park's main attraction was its beach on the lake, a popular destination for people to go and escape the heat of summer, but over the years, Waldameer Park changed and grew 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780738598376
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date: 04/29/2013
Series: Images of America Series
Pages: 128
Sales rank: 1,017,812
Product dimensions: 6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Jim Futrell, historian for the National Amusement Park Historical Association, has studied the amusement park industry for over 30 years. He has conducted extensive research and worked closely with Waldameer Park to tell the story of this remarkable amusement park from its earliest years as a quiet retreat to the action-packed amusement and water park of today.

Table of Contents

Foreword 6

Acknowledgments 7

Introduction 8

1 Woods by the Sea: 1896-1919 11

2 Highs and Lows: 1920s-1930s 29

3 The Joy Spot of Erie: 1940s-1970s 51

4 A Small Park Grows Up: 1980s-1990s 85

5 Flying to New Heights: 2000s-2010s 105

About the National Amusement Park Historical Association 127

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