A 1910 postcard photograph of Dorney Park's picnic grove and pavilionThe Allentown-Kutztown trolley at Dorney Park in 1922Main entrance to Dorney Park in 1950Dorney Park's swimming pool in 1950Dorney Park's Flying Dutchman roller coaster in 1972
Ownership
Dorney Park traces its history to 1860, when Solomon Dorney built a trout hatchery and summer resort on his estate outside of Allentown. In 1870, Dorney decided to convert the estate into a public attraction. Initially, the facility featured games, playground-style rides, refreshment stands, picnic groves, a hotel, and a restaurant. By the 1880s, Dorney had added a small zoo and garden.[1]
When the Allentown-Kutztown Traction Company completed its trolley line from Allentown to Kutztown in 1899, the company added a stop at Dorney's park. Two years later, the traction company purchased the park, operating it until 1923, when the park was sold to Robert Plarr and two other partners. Plarr soon bought out his partners and ran Dorney Park independently until his death in 1966. Ownership then passed to Plarr's son, Stephen, who died within a year. Robert Ott, Plarr's son-in-law, took over as owner in 1967. In 1985, Ott sold Dorney Park to Harris Weinstein. Weinstein owned it until 1992, when he sold the park to Cedar Fair.[1]
Early years
Many rides have come and gone at Dorney Park, such as the Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) Grande Carousel, which debuted at Dorney Park in 1932, and was destroyed in a fire in September of 1983. The Bucket O' Blood dark ride was also destroyed in the same fire. The Whip opened in 1918, and is still in operation today and is the park's oldest ride. Dorney Park also had a swimming pool from the early 1900s until 1963. The park's first roller coaster opened in 1923. It was originally known as "The Coaster" or "the yellow roller coaster" until 1989, when it was renamed Thunderhawk. It still operates today.[2]
Near the lower entrance to the park was the Tunnel of Love, which later was rethemed as The Journey to the Center of the Earth. The ride was a Bill Tracy mill chute. It was razed following the 1992 season, after Cedar Fair acquired the park.
PTC built a Cuddle-Up ride at the park in the mid-1940s. It would be enclosed and heavily air-conditioned in the late 1970s when it was rethemed as The Iceberg, featuring strobe lights and loud music. It was removed after the 1993 season. The Gold Mine was a dark walk-through located near The Iceberg until the former's closure in 1980. The Flying Dutchman was a Pinfari compact steel coaster located where the Ferris wheel is currently located. It was the largest of its kind, and was removed following the 1988 season due to mechanical problems.
In 1980, Dorney Park Road, a former two-lane state highway which cut through the park, was closed to traffic and converted to a midway.[3] Dorney Park Road became a local street and the access road to the park. Prior to the road's closing, Dorney Park's narrow-gauge railroad crossed the road, which caused traffic stoppages every time the train crossed.
The road closing led to the enclosure of the park by fence and the introduction of a single-price admission fee, which eliminated individual ride tickets. The park previously maintained groves for family picnics. While the groves remained outside the park's fences, patrons were no longer allowed to bring outside food into the park.
In 1982, the park opened its log flume ride, Thunder Creek Mountain, which holds the record for the longest drop on a log flume ride at 210 feet. In the fall of 1983, a major fire destroyed a large section of the park, including the Carousel, Bucket O' Blood dark ride, Flying Bobs, and several food stands. The park replaced the rides in 1984, its 100th anniversary, with the addition of Enterprise, Musik Express, Ranger, and Apollo. New skeeball alleys, gift shops, and food stands were added as well.
Dorney Park was sold to Harris Weinstein in 1985. Weinstein also bought a neighboring automobile racetrack, which was razed and replaced by a water park named Wildwater Kingdom. Its admission fee was separate from the amusement park, and its attractions included a wave pool, a family water raft ride, body slides, tube slides, and a children's water play area. Season passes were also introduced in the same year.
A looping roller coaster designed by Anton Schwarzkopf called Laser, featuring two loops, was added to the park's lineup in 1986. It was originally designed as a portable ride for fairs, but Dorney Park used it as a permanent attraction. The coaster was named after a local Hot AC radio station known as Laser 104.1 at the time. In 1988, a kiddie coaster was added across from Laser and named Little Laser. Following Laser's removal in 2008, Little Laser was renamed Steel First, after Steel Force.
The park further grew with debut of Hercules, a wooden terrain coaster in 1989. It was built on the top of the hill lining what was then the back of the park, near what was Wildwater Kingdom's parking lot. This coaster was the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world until Cedar Point's Mean Streak debuted in 1991. Hercules proved a big hit for Dorney Park in its first four seasons, but became known for its rough, often jarringly shaky ride, due in large part to significant modifications made to Hercules after the park was purchased by Cedar Fair in 1992. Hercules was removed in 2003 due to high maintenance costs and low ridership. A steel coaster, Hydra the Revenge, is located where Hercules once stood, and pays tribute to the former coaster in its slogan, "It's the ride that brought down Hercules."
1990s
The first drops of the Steel Force and Thunderhawk roller coasters at Dorney Park
Cedar Fair purchased the park in 1992 for $48M.[4] In 1993, a new midway began construction, intending to connect Wildwater Kingdom directly to Dorney Park. Also in 1993, the park built a flume ride called White Water Landing that plunged riders in 20-passenger boats down an 80-foot (24m) drop.
In 1994, the midway was completed on the top of the hill near Hercules the Revenge and White Water Landing. Several concession stands and a carousel were added to this new midway. The parking lot for Wildwater Kingdom was doubled in size and converted to serve both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. A new entrance was also built to Dorney Park. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom were still separately gated until the end of the season.
In 1995, admission to both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom was offered at a single price for the first time. That year also saw the addition of Thunder Canyon, a river rapids ride consisting of eight-passenger rafts that plunge and rock along a 16,400-foot (5,000m) path through a canyon, propelled by approximately 1million US gallons (3,800m3) of water.
In 1996, construction began on a steel hypercoaster known as Steel Force. It was designed by D.H. Morgan, a former employee of Arrow Dynamics. Morgan previously was involved with designing Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point in 1988. Steel Force follows a similar out-and-back layout, but features a smoother braking system. It opened in 1997 as "the tallest and longest roller coaster on the east coast." Several new attractions were added to Wildwater Kingdom, including several waterslides and a second lazy river.
In 1998, Dorney Park added a top spin ride called Hang Time. At the end of the season, the Monster ride was relocated within the park. This was also the last year for the Sky Ride, which was removed at the end of the season. During the off-season, Laser was repainted.
In 1999, a 200-foot (61m) combined turbo drop and space shot tower called Dominator was added. One tower blasts riders straight up 15 stories before dropping them back down, while another tower slowly lifts riders to 170 feet (52m) before dropping them.
2000s
Dominator at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in September 2007
2000 saw the debut of Camp Snoopy, a themed children's play area. A junior coaster called Woodstock Express was added that year, bringing the park's coaster count to eight. A Wild Mouse coaster was also added this year. Additionally, a new upcharge attraction, Skyscraper, a Booster thrill ride by Gravity Works, Inc., was installed.
In 2001, a coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) called Talon was added near the front entrance of park. The ride is a steel inverted looping coaster. In 2002, the park added Meteor, a flat ride built by Zamperla.
In 2003, Wildwater Kingdom was overhauled. Several older body slides were removed and replaced with four modern colored body slides, two of which were open and two of which were enclosed tube slides. Three inflated tube slides were also added. A new children's water play area was also added. In July, the park announced that Hercules would close after the end of the season, and be replaced in 2005 by Hydra the Revenge, a $13 million steel floorless B&M coaster.
In 2004, construction on Hydra the Revenge began soon after the razing of Hercules. Around the same time, Skyscraper was relocated to Valleyfair, and operated there for two years before again being relocated to Cedar Point.
Hydra the Revenge opened on May 7, 2005. The coaster is half a mile in length and features a 105-foot (32m) drop. It is the first and only floorless roller coaster in Pennsylvania.
On September 22, 2007, Dorney Park announced it would be opening a twisted impulse coaster from Intamin. The coaster, previously located at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, debuted in 2000 as Superman: Ultimate Escape, and was renamed Steel Venom when the park was purchased by Cedar Fair in 2004. Steel Venom was removed from Geauga Lake in 2006 and opened as Voodoo at Dorney Park on May 17, 2008. The ride was renamed Possessed after the 2008 season to resolve a conflict with Six Flags, which held the rights to the name Voodoo.
In 2008, Dorney Park announced that Laser would be removed after end of the season. Laser gave its final ride at Dorney Park on November 1, 2008. It now operates in Germany as Teststrecke, where it travels to various German fairs. In 2009, Dorney Park added the Good Time Theatre. This theatre was announced in February 2009 and broke ground in April 2009.[5]
2010s
Planet Snoopy at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in July 2012White Water Landing at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in July 2012
In 2010, the park removed its bumper car ride to make room for the Demon Dropfreefall ride from Cedar Point. Additionally, the park announced that Planet Snoopy would open for the 2011 season.[6][7]
In 2011, Dorney Park completed an $8M overhaul to the former Camp Snoopy children's area. The new area was named Planet Snoopy, and included seven new rides and an amphitheater.
In 2012, Dorney Park added Stinger, a Vekomainvertedshuttle coaster formerly located at California's Great America as Invertigo. The park also added the new Fast Lane virtual queue system, and the Dinosaurs Alive! walkthrough attraction that guests paid an additional fee to access. Dinosaurs Alive! featured life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that moved and produced sound effects.
In 2013, Dorney Park introduced a new Fast Pay wristband, allowing guests to add money to an RFID prepaid wristband, allowing them to pay for food and merchandise without carrying cash.[8] On August 28, 2013, Dorney Park announced a new 65-foot-tall (20m) tall waterslide complex known as Snake Pit would be opened for the 2014 season. Snake Pit features six water slides.[9][10] Also new for 2014 was an in-park television channel called FUNtv. FUNtv is shown on television screens in the queue lines of many of the park's major attractions.[11][12]
On November 17, 2014, Dorney Park announced a new attraction for 2015, Cedar Creek Flyers, manufactured by Larson International, Inc.[13] In 2015, Hang Time was removed, and in 2016, Screamin' Swing was removed.
In 2017, Dorney Park reopened their Dodg'ems ride, as well as adding Kaleidoscope, a HUSS troika. This season would be the final operating season for Stinger.
In 2018, Dorney Park removed Stinger. Additionally, they retracked 150 feet on Thunderhawk. Both the amusement park and waterpark received various new concessions areas.[14] In August, the park announced that Dinosaurs Alive! would close after the 2018 season.
The 2019 season held two large events: Grand Carnivale, a large international-themed festival which ran at the beginning of the season, and Monster Jam: Thunder Alley, a truck-themed event which ran in the fall. Halloween Haunt also ran in the fall.[15][16]
2020s
On March 11, 2020, the park announced that it would open normally for the season, expecting the COVID-19 pandemic to be resolved by the summer. The park later announced on March 20, 2020, that it would not open as scheduled for the 2020 season, but would open later in the season.
On June 26, 2020, the park announced that it would be reopening with new safety protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dorney Park reopened to season pass holders on July 8, 2020, and to all guests on July 11, 2020. It was also announced that Wildwater Kingdom would not open with the park. New safety procedures included pre-arrival health screenings, temperature checks, social distancing, limited ride capacity, and mandatory masks.[17]
The opening of Seaside Splashworks was pushed back until 2021. Additionally, Halloween Haunt did not occur in 2020.
On March 12, 2021, the park announced another delayed opening for the 2021 season. Dorney Park opened on May 22, and Wildwater Kingdom opened a week later. Seaside Splashworks officially opened Memorial Day weekend. It was also announced that daily operations would begin on June 16. The park was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the duration of the summer due to staffing issues. Grand Carnivale returned in July.[18] In July 2021, the park announced that Halloween Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest would return in fall 2021.[19][20]
In 2022, The Whip underwent renovations. Daily operation returned for the first time since the 2019 season.
The 2023 season brought general park upgrades and changes to the park's live entertainment and food & beverage options. Dorney Park saw the addition of a stage on the main midway, and several upgrades to Wildwater Kingdom. [21][22] Dorney Park announced via social media on July 21, 2023 that a new B&M steel dive coaster called Iron Menace would open in 2024.[23] The ride will feature four inversions, with a drop of 152 feet (46m) and a track length of 2,169 feet (661m).[24][25]
A 1921 Dentzel carousel featuring a 66 piece menagerie of animals and two chariots. It opened at Cedar Point in 1972 and was relocated to Dorney Park in 1995. A Wurlitzer style #153 Military Band Organ provides the carousel's music.
A Flying Scooters ride with eight carriages that each have a paddle, enabling guests to change the movement of their carriage. Formerly called Cedar Creek Flyers from 2015 to 2023.
Wildwater Kingdom opened in 1985 and is located on the park grounds. It has many water attractions. Admission to Wildwater Kingdom is included with admission to Dorney Park.
Wildwater Kingdom has 22 water slides, three aquatic play areas for children, a water funhouse, two tubing rivers, two wave pools, and other water rides. In the 2006 season, Wildwater Kingdom introduced an additional wave pool, called Wildwater Cove, to accommodate the immense popularity of the park's existing wave pool.
Fast Lane is a secondary queue system available at amusement parks owned by Cedar Fair. For an additional cost separate from park admission, visitors can purchase Fast Lane passes in the form of a wrist band, which grants them access to a shorter queue available on many popular attractions.
In popular culture
In the 2022 Halloween episode of the ABCcomedyAbbott Elementary, the janitor Mr. Johnson references a photograph taken at Dorney Park.
In 2009, Dorney Park was featured in the TruTV show All Worked Up.[29]
Cedar Point is a 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. It opened in 1870 and is considered the second-oldest operating amusement park in the US behind Lake Compounce. Cedar Point, which is owned and operated by Cedar Fair, is the flagship of the company's amusement park chain. Known as "America's Roller Coast", the park features 16 roller coasters, which ranks third among amusement parks in North America behind Canada's Wonderland (18) and Six Flags Magic Mountain (20).
Kings Island is a 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio, United States. Owned and operated by Cedar Fair, the park was built by Taft Broadcasting and opened in 1972. It was part of a larger effort to move and expand Coney Island, a popular resort destination along the banks of the Ohio River that was prone to frequent flooding. After more than $300 million in capital investments over the years, the park has grown to feature over a hundred attractions including fourteen roller coasters and a 33-acre (13 ha) water park.
Knott's Berry Farm is a 57-acre (2,500,000 sq ft) theme park located in Buena Park, California, owned and operated by Cedar Fair. In March 2015, it was ranked as the twelfth-most-visited theme park in North America, while averaging approximately 4 million visitors per year. The park features over 40 rides, including roller coasters, family rides, dark rides, and water rides.
Canada's Wonderland, formerly known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland, is a 134-hectare (330-acre) amusement park located in Vaughan, Ontario, a municipality within the Greater Toronto Area. Opened in 1981 by the Taft Broadcasting Company and the Great-West Life Assurance Company, it was the first major theme park in Canada and remains the country's largest. Cedar Fair purchased the park from Paramount Parks in 2006, and they have owned and operated the park since then. In 2019, it was the most-visited seasonal amusement park in North America with an estimated 3.9 million guests. The park still retains this record, with an estimated 3.8 million guests in 2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geauga Lake was an amusement park in Bainbridge Township and Aurora, Ohio. It was established in 1887, in what had been a local recreation area adjacent to a lake of the same name. The first amusement ride was added in 1889, and the park's first roller coaster – the Big Dipper – was built in 1925. The park was sold to Funtime, Inc., in 1969 and was expanded over the years with additional rides and amenities. Funtime was acquired by Premier Parks in 1995, and for the 2000 season, they re-branded Geauga Lake as Six Flags Ohio, adding four new roller coasters. The following year, Six Flags bought the adjacent SeaWorld Ohio and combined the two parks under the name Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.
Kings Dominion is an amusement park in the eastern United States, located in Doswell, Virginia, twenty miles (30 km) north of Richmond and 75 miles (120 km) south of Washington, D.C. Owned and operated by Cedar Fair, the 280-acre (1.1 km2) park opened to the public on May 3, 1975, and features more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including 13 roller coasters and a 20-acre (8.1 ha) water park. Its name is derived from the name of its sister park, Kings Island near Cincinnati, and the nickname for the state of Virginia, "Old Dominion."
Valleyfair is a 125-acre (51 ha) amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota, United States. Owned by Cedar Fair, the park opened in 1976 and now features over 75 rides and attractions including eight roller coasters. Valleyfair also has a water park called Soak City which is included with the price of admission. Cedar Point and Valleyfair were the first two parks in the Cedar Fair chain and a combination of the park names – "cedar" and "fair" – were used to name the company.
Carowinds is a 407-acre (165 ha) amusement park primarily located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Owned and operated by Cedar Fair, the park first opened to the public on March 31, 1973. Carowinds straddles the state line between North and South Carolina, adjacent to Interstate 77, with a portion of the park located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. It was constructed at a cost of $70 million following a four-year planning period led by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall. Carowinds also features Carolina Harbor, a 27-acre (11 ha) water park that is included with park admission. Annual events include the Halloween-themed S-Carowinds and the Christmas-themed WinterFest.
California's Great America, or simply Great America and abbreviated CGA, is a 112-acre (45 ha) amusement park located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Owned and operated by Cedar Fair, it originally opened in 1976 as one of two parks built by the Marriott Corporation. California's Great America features over 40 rides and attractions, with Gold Striker among its most notable, which has ranked as a top wooden roller coaster in the world in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today. Other notable rides include RailBlazer, a single-rail coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction, and Flight Deck, an inverted coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard. The park made appearances in the 1994 films Beverly Hills Cop III and Getting Even with Dad.
Worlds of Fun is an entertainment complex with more than 235 acres located in Kansas City, Missouri. It is the largest amusement park and water park in the Midwest. Founded by American businessmen Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman, the park opened in 1973 under the ownership of Hunt's company, Mid-America Enterprises. Oceans of Fun is a water park that opened in 1982 and is next to the amusement park. Admission to Oceans of Fun is included with the price of admission to Worlds of Fun. Both parks were sold to Cedar Fair in 1995 for $40 million.
Michigan's Adventure is a 250-acre (1.0 km2) amusement park in Muskegon County, Michigan, about halfway between Muskegon and Whitehall. It is the largest amusement park in the state and has been owned and operated by Cedar Fair since 2001. As of 2024, Michigan's Adventure has over 60 rides, slides and attractions, more than any other park in the state.
Steel Force is a steel roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. At 5,600 feet (1,700 m) in length, Steel Force is the eighth-longest steel coaster in the world as of 2024.
Hydra the Revenge, or simply Hydra, is a steel Floorless Coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the coaster opened to the public on May 7, 2005. Hydra was built on the site of the former wooden coaster Hercules, which was closed and demolished at the end of the park's 2003 season. The ride's name comes from the Greek story where Hercules battled the Lernaean Hydra.
Talon is an inverted roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and designed by Werner Stengel at a cost of $13 million, Talon opened to the public in 2001 and was marketed as the tallest and longest inverted coaster in the Northeast. It stands 135-foot (41 m) tall, reaches a maximum speed of 58 mph (93 km/h), and features four inversions.
Thunderhawk is a wooden roller coaster with an out-and-back layout located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Originally opening as The Coaster in 1924, Thunderhawk is the oldest operating roller coaster in the Cedar Fair chain, and one of the oldest in the world still in operation. It was manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) and designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck.
Hercules was a wooden roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by the Dinn Corporation and designed by Curtis D. Summers, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 6, 1989. It set a world record for the longest drop on a wooden coaster at 151 feet (46 m), surpassing the previous record of 147 feet (45 m) set by American Eagle at Six Flags Great America in 1981. Hercules was the third wooden coaster to be constructed at the park.
SeaWorld Ohio was a theme park and marine zoological park located in Aurora, Ohio. It was owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, formerly known as Busch Entertainment Corporation. The Ohio location was the second SeaWorld park to be built in the chain, following SeaWorld San Diego, which opened six years earlier. The park was developed by George Millay, founder of the SeaWorld brand. After being purchased by Six Flags, the park was merged with Six Flags Ohio, an amusement park nearby, and converted to Wildwater Kingdom, which occupied the property until its closure in September 2016.
Possessed is an inverted impulse launched roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, the roller coaster originally debuted at Six Flags Ohio amusement park as Superman: Ultimate Escape on May 5, 2000. After Cedar Fair purchased the park and restored its Geauga Lake name in early 2004, the coaster was immediately renamed Steel Venom. The ride closed in 2006 and was moved to Dorney Park. It reopened in 2008 briefly under the name Voodoo, and was renamed Possessed for the 2009 season. The model is identical to five other impulse coaster installations at other amusement parks. A larger version called Wicked Twister was located at Cedar Point until its closure in September 2021.
Invertigo is the name of an inverted shuttle roller coaster model developed and manufactured by Dutch company Vekoma. Four roller coasters based on this model were built, with the first installation opening in 1997 as HangOver at Liseberg amusement park located in Sweden. Three of the four are still in operation. Invertigo is designed as an inverted variation of their traditional Boomerang model, which first appeared in 1984. Invertigo's seat configuration is also a departure from its predecessor, in that riders sit back-to-back, resulting in all rows facing one another with the exception of the first and last.
Wildwater Kingdom was a water park located in Aurora and Bainbridge Township, Ohio, United States. Owned by Cedar Fair, the park opened in 2005 as part of the larger Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom resort. The site was previously the location of SeaWorld Ohio (1970–2000) and later served as the marine life section of the larger Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (2001–2003). Worlds of Adventure was purchased by Cedar Fair in 2004 and the marine life area was converted into a water park for the 2005 season.
References
1 2 "History". Dorney Park official website. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
1 2 Ratings assigned per Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom's own system, where "1" is the least intense and "5" is the most. See their "Guest Assistance Guide"(PDF). Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 October 2012. for more specific details.
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