Clementon Amusement Park
Encyclopedia
Clementon Park and Splash World is a small amusement park
located in Clementon, New Jersey
in Camden County, New Jersey
, United States
right on Clementon Lake and close to the Pine Valley Golf Club
. Also known as Clementon Lake Park, it is one of the world's oldest operating amusement parks. It is owned by Premier Attractions Management.
Of its 24 rides, its most popular ride is the log flume, King Neptune's Revenge, although the new roller coaster, Hell Cat, is also very popular. Clementon Park & Splash World Waterpark is open Memorial Day
weekend through Labor Day
.
Normally people is afraid of snakes, this ride stands over Clementon, NJ and all of its glory. This is a thill ride of the century, or at least in 2011.
veteran who was a Corporal in Company D, Twenty-ninth New Jersey Volunteers. He held many local offices including Postmaster and Sheriff; he was also a member of the Atlantic City Railroad
's Board of Directors.
The amusement park was a popular destination in the early decades of the twentieth century with a trolley running from Camden, New Jersey
to the park entrance. In the early twentieth century, amusement parks were built at the end of trolley lines to encourage weekend ridership.
In the 1920s, the park included a nickelodeon movie theater
, a "dancing casino", a steam-driven carousel, the Jack Rabbit roller coaster and a "razzle-dazzle" ride.
On June 22, 1931 a fire almost destroyed the amusement park. According to The New York Times, "a vivid pyrotechnic display and the successive reports of exploding cartridges added to the spectacular aspect of a fire which swept through part of Clementon Park, a South Jersey pleasure resort." The fire had reached the cartridge supply of the shooting gallery setting off explosions. Firemen from six adjoining towns fought the fire which was contained to the shooting gallery and a "pretzel ride." The damages were estimated to be $2000.
Socialist Presidential Candidate Norman Thomas
campaigned at Clementon Park in 1932. In a July 4 speech in front of 3,500 people, Thomas said, "It is not against foreign domination we must fight, but against a system that denies us bread, security and any assurance of peace. The men of 1776, in convention assembled at Philadelphia, found no successors in the old party conventions at Chicago in 1932."
In 1936, Philadelphia boxer Al Ettore trained at Clementon Park for the heavyweight title fight against Joe Louis
to occur in Philadelphia on September 22, 1936. Thousands of fight fans visited the park to see Al Ettore train. On September 20, 1936 a 100 feet (30.5 m) section of grandstand collapsed under the weight of about 500 spectators. No one was seriously injured.
In 1977, the Gibbs family sold Clementon Lake Park to Abram Baker (1904–1994). Baker owned a nightclub in Miami, Florida
and the Fascination Parlour in Atlantic City, New Jersey
(see Fascination
). From 1955 to 1968, he owned Glen Echo Park, Maryland
In 1979, operation of the park was turned over to Larry Baker, Abe's son.
In 2007, the park was purchased by Adrenaline Family Entertainment for an undisclosed amount. In 2008, the New Era of Clementon Park began.
On Monday November 21, 2011, the park was purchased by Premier Attractions Management. The details of the sale are undisclosed.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located in Clementon, New Jersey
Clementon, New Jersey
Clementon is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,000.Around 1800, Jonathon Haines built a glass factory in what is now present day Clementon, situated on a large hill across the street from the modern day Clementon...
in Camden County, New Jersey
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right on Clementon Lake and close to the Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley Golf Club is a golf course in Pine Valley, Camden County, in southern New Jersey. It was ranked the number one course in Golf Magazines 100 Top Courses in the U.S. and the World in 2009.-History:...
. Also known as Clementon Lake Park, it is one of the world's oldest operating amusement parks. It is owned by Premier Attractions Management.
Of its 24 rides, its most popular ride is the log flume, King Neptune's Revenge, although the new roller coaster, Hell Cat, is also very popular. Clementon Park & Splash World Waterpark is open Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend through Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
.
Ring of Fire
New for 2010. Ring of Fire is a brilliant and towering 60 feet (18.3 m) loop thriller that takes twenty brave riders to the brink of breathlessness with every heart-pounding loop. Zipping up and over, backwards and forwards, even coming to a standstill upside down six stories up, this dazzling new attraction takes its daring participants on an exhilarating and unique ride-in-the-round. Some said some people lost a shoe on the ride.Thunder Drop
New for 2010. Thunder Drop replaces the Thunder Bolt. Thunder Drop is a 90 ft (27.4 m). Drop tower that raises 12 riders at a time slowly to the top before suddenly and without warning releasing them and letting them fall freely toward the platform.Hell Cat
Take a flight of fury on Hellcat, Clementon Park's wooden roller coaster! Half of the roller coaster is over Clementon Lake. With a stomach-swirling helix, spine-chilling G-forces and amazing twists and turns, this ride is fun for everyoneKing Neptune's Revenge
Built entirely over Clementon Lake, riders meander a watery course before reaching the final climb that propels them over the top and into an exhilarating drop and splash.Sea Dragon
Swing back and forth ever higher on this action-packed thrill ride. The more it swings, the higher the Sea Dragon flies! It's a blast for the whole family.Flying Pharoah
What could be better than soaring in circles across a clear blue sky? You’ll feel the freedom and exhilaration of flight as you’re suspended high above the park.Vintage Carousel
No visit to Clementon Park would be complete without a ride on our classic antique carousel. Adorned with ornately carved horses and chariots, children and adults alike will thrill to the magic of a gentle ride on this traditional favorite.Victorian Railway
Sit back and enjoy the view on a miniature replica of a classic steam engine. It’s a perfect way to take in the colorful sights and festive sounds of Clementon Park.Giant Wheel
For a whole new perspective on the park, the beautiful lake and the awesome Splash World expansion, be sure and ride the Giant Ferris Wheel as it rises majestically to a height of 90 feet (27.4 m).Samba Tower
Take a sky-high spin on the Samba Tower, a family-style ride featuring eight balloon baskets and a spectacular 360-degree view of our exciting and colorful midway.Kite Flyer
Set sail into the wind as you get horizontal on this fun-for-all, two-passenger experience that offers the sensation of free flight with a wave-like oscillating motion.Paddle Boats
Enjoy the view of the rides and slides from the calm waters of Clementon Lake. Rental fees apply.Castle Bounce
A Medieval structure that invites young Lords and Ladies to turn it loose as they storm the castle for a bouncing good time.Formula 3000
A colorful assortment of cars, fire engines and trucks with realistic lights and sirens—it’s the perfect formula for young imaginations.Flying Elephants
Put the kids in the pilot seat, as riders control the altitude of their flying elephant. Adults can ride with their children.Safari Train
All aboard our mini train for a unique discovery of the mystery and magic of Africa.Playport
Interesting nooks and inviting crannies await discovery as Kids explore this interactive, multi-level maze.Combo Umbrella Ride & Space Age
Climb aboard miniature automobiles, helicopters, and space shuttles that are just the ticket for young drivers & astronauts.Torpedo Rush
Torpedo Rush stands a skyscraping 60 feet tall and offers two identically designed and simultaneously launched free-fall drops of joy. Guests climb into a clear, fully enclosed launch capsule and begin the countdown to the most thrilling moment in water slide fun today. Riders will squirm with anticipation waiting for the bottom to rip out from under them beginning a sizzling-fast six-story journey through an enclosed, see-through flume to an explosive splashdown belowLaguna Kahuna
Cool off with over 400 lbs of splashing, sliding, drenching, beat-the-heat fun. This Polynesian-themed adventure includes 8 slides, 10 different play platforms and more than 125 sprays, jets, bubbles, streams, squirts, wheels and waterfalls. And high atop the 50 ft tall structure sits the big Kahuna himself, with a giant head full of water that dumps more than 422 gallons of water on the unsuspecting islanders below.Sky River Rapids
Extreme rafting was never like this! The automated Sky River Rapids gives groups of five the thrilling sensation of “grabbing air” as they navigate three sets of slides and three huge splash pools. And best of all, you don't have to carry your tube up the steps on this one!Vertical Limit Racer
Race head-to-head for the checkered flag as you experience six lanes of competitive, head-first mat racing that begins with a swift drop at the top, and ends with a breathtaking descent to the finish line.Lazy Crazy River
Let the gentle currents of the cool water wash away your cares as you enjoy a leisurely float down the Lazy River.Black Viper
Just think of it as a twisting, turning, fully enclosed double-headed waterslide monster that swallowed you whole!Normally people is afraid of snakes, this ride stands over Clementon, NJ and all of its glory. This is a thill ride of the century, or at least in 2011.
Shipwreck Bay
There’s a mutiny afoot! Shipwreck Bay is home to a pirate ship that is fun for the smaller pirates and swashbucklers. Escape the wreckage by sliding down one of the 6 slides and making a big splash into our 3 ft wading pool.Jack Rabbit
On August 5, 1998 three cars of the Jack Rabbit derailed and hit an office building. Six people were injured in the accident. In 2002 the Jack Rabbit was abandoned. A replacement roller coaster, The Tsunami, was renamed J2 in honor of the original Jack Rabbit. It kept this name until 2008, when it was renamed "Hell Cat". The Jack Rabbit was torn down on December 3, 2007.Thunder Bolt
The high-energy combination of music and light takes it to the limit as blinding speed and centrifugal force swing the cars in an ever-increasing arc. Removed in June 2010 due to mechanical problems and to make way for Thunder Drop.Clementon Belle
A boat modeled after a Mississippi steamboat that toured Clementon Lake. As of 2009, the Clementon Belle is no longer in operation.Chaos
This ride was removed after the 2007 season due to the addition of Laguna Kahuna. The ride sat in the park's rear parking lot until May 2009 when it was sold and picked up from its buyer.Inverter
The Inverter was dismantled (racked on its trailer) on April 1, 2010 and removed on April 2, 2010 to make way for a new 2010 season attraction.History
The park was founded in 1907 by New Jersey Assemblyman Theodore B. Gibbs (October 17, 1838 - October 27, 1909) and his sons, Edgar B. and Willard. Theodore Gibbs was a Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veteran who was a Corporal in Company D, Twenty-ninth New Jersey Volunteers. He held many local offices including Postmaster and Sheriff; he was also a member of the Atlantic City Railroad
Atlantic City Railroad
The Atlantic City Railroad was a Philadelphia and Reading Railway subsidiary that became part of Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in 1933.- History :...
's Board of Directors.
The amusement park was a popular destination in the early decades of the twentieth century with a trolley running from Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
to the park entrance. In the early twentieth century, amusement parks were built at the end of trolley lines to encourage weekend ridership.
In the 1920s, the park included a nickelodeon movie theater
Nickelodeon movie theater
The Nickelodeon was a multi-purpose theater that was popular from about 1900 to 1914. Usually situated in converted storefronts, the Nickelodeon featured motion pictures, illustrated songs, slide shows and lectures...
, a "dancing casino", a steam-driven carousel, the Jack Rabbit roller coaster and a "razzle-dazzle" ride.
On June 22, 1931 a fire almost destroyed the amusement park. According to The New York Times, "a vivid pyrotechnic display and the successive reports of exploding cartridges added to the spectacular aspect of a fire which swept through part of Clementon Park, a South Jersey pleasure resort." The fire had reached the cartridge supply of the shooting gallery setting off explosions. Firemen from six adjoining towns fought the fire which was contained to the shooting gallery and a "pretzel ride." The damages were estimated to be $2000.
Socialist Presidential Candidate Norman Thomas
Norman Thomas
Norman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.-Early years:...
campaigned at Clementon Park in 1932. In a July 4 speech in front of 3,500 people, Thomas said, "It is not against foreign domination we must fight, but against a system that denies us bread, security and any assurance of peace. The men of 1776, in convention assembled at Philadelphia, found no successors in the old party conventions at Chicago in 1932."
In 1936, Philadelphia boxer Al Ettore trained at Clementon Park for the heavyweight title fight against Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
to occur in Philadelphia on September 22, 1936. Thousands of fight fans visited the park to see Al Ettore train. On September 20, 1936 a 100 feet (30.5 m) section of grandstand collapsed under the weight of about 500 spectators. No one was seriously injured.
In 1977, the Gibbs family sold Clementon Lake Park to Abram Baker (1904–1994). Baker owned a nightclub in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and the Fascination Parlour in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
(see Fascination
Fascination (game)
Fascination is a game commonly found in North American amusement parks, boardwalks and arcades. The game would be considered in the same family as skee ball, in that prizes are often won for playing the game...
). From 1955 to 1968, he owned Glen Echo Park, Maryland
In 1979, operation of the park was turned over to Larry Baker, Abe's son.
In 2007, the park was purchased by Adrenaline Family Entertainment for an undisclosed amount. In 2008, the New Era of Clementon Park began.
On Monday November 21, 2011, the park was purchased by Premier Attractions Management. The details of the sale are undisclosed.