Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American
amusement
and water park
located in Allentown, Pennsylvania
. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom.
It features some of the world's most prominent rollercoasters, including Steel Force, the ninth longest steel rollercoaster in the world and the longest on the U.S. East Coast.
The park is accessible from Interstate 78
, U.S. Route 222 (Hamilton Blvd.) and Cedar Crest Boulevard. The region is served by Lehigh Valley International Airport
, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Dorney Park. Bieber Tourways has a nearby bus terminal at the former Charcoal Drive-In (at junction of U.S. Route 222 and Hamilton Boulevard), with daily service to and from New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal
, Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal
and other regional locations.
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 partners. Plarr soon bought out his partners and ran Dorney Park 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 Entertainment Co.
's Grande Carousel which debuted at Dorney in 1932 from Shellpot Park in Wilmington, Delaware
, but was destroyed in a September 1983 fire. The Bucket O' Blood (once known as Pirates Cove) dark ride
burned in the same fire. Luckily, the incident occurred after the park was closed for the season. Another early ride was the Whip, in which riders spun on a small track in a pavilion. The Whip 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. Filters were damaged beyond economic repair at that point, and the pool was closed to swimmers but was repurposed. One side of the former pool had live seals and fish, while the other side was used for the Whale Boats, motorized boats seating two people each. Near the lower entrance to the park was the dark ride called Tunnel Of Love which later was rethemed as The Journey to the Center of the Earth. The ride was a Bill Tracy dark ride
. It was a boat ride through a dark tunnel with scary scenes behind glass, and a lift and drop at the end. It was razed following the 1992 season, after Cedar Fair, LP acquired the park. Journey To The Center Of The Earth was located near the park's first roller coaster, which opened in 1923. It was simply known as the Coaster or "the yellow rollercoaster" until 1989 when it was renamed Thunderhawk
. It still operates today.
Also near the pool was the Mill Chute, built in 1927 but closed in 1960 to become Journey to the Center of the Earth as described previously. The Iceberg was a cuddle-up ride which was cold inside and had strobe lights and loud music. It was painted black and retitled Meteorite at the end of the 1980s and removed after the 1993 season. The Gold Mine was a scary walk-through under the Solomon Dorney Mansion in the middle of the park near the Iceberg and PTC Carousel. The Gold Mine closed in the mid-1980s. The Flying Dutchman was a Pinfari compact steel coaster located where the Ferris Wheel is currently located. It was the largest of its kind. It was removed following the 1988 season due to mechanical problems.
For many years, a clown figure called "Alfundo" (the name was derived from a combination of the words ALlentown, FUN and Dorney Park) reigned supreme as the park's trademark, and was used as the decoration of the main entrance to the park (see photo).
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 a while longer, patrons were no longer allowed to bring food inside.
The parked opened its log flume
ride, Thunder Creek Mountain, in 1982, which still owns the record for longest drop on a log flume
ride. In the fall of the next year, a major fire destroyed a large section of the park, including the Carousel, Bucket O' Blood, Flying Bobs, Skeeball and several food stands. The park replaced the rides in 1984, its 100th anniversary, with the addition of Enterprise, Musik Express, Ranger, and Apollo 2000. New skeeball alleys, gift shops and food stands were added as well.
With the addition of the rides as well as the improvements to the park, the park's value was high enough to sell. It was sold mid-season to Harris Weinstein in 1985. He also bought the neighboring automobile racetrack which had been used once a year for NASCAR
racing. At that point the racetrack was razed. It was determined that there was a need for swimming to be brought back to Dorney Park. With the pool being razed 20 years before, the void was finally filled by a waterpark called Wildwater Kingdom in 1985. It had separate admission and included a wave pool, family water raft ride, several body slides, several tube slides, and a children's water play area. That year season passes began to be offered.
That year it was also determined that the park needed a looping roller coaster, so in 1986, Laser, a Schwarzkopf
designed coaster with two loops was built, giving the park three adult coasters. This roller coaster was originally meant to be a ride that would be for fairs and carnivals, but Dorney Park kept it assembled. The coaster was named in a commercial tie-in with a local radio station, WAEB-FM
, a then-Hot AC radio station known as Laser 104.1. Two years later, a kiddie coaster was added across from Laser called Little Laser
. This kiddie coaster originally operated as a junior coaster (children and adults were at that time able to ride) from the early 1960s to 1981 near the coaster now called Thunderhawk. It was in storage from 1982 to 1988, and in 1989 it was moved next to and painted the same colors as the Laser and was renamed. As a kiddie coaster, adults cannot ride the Little Laser unless accompanied by a child. Laser was taken down in 2008 and Little Laser was renamed to Steel First.
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 at that time 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, which boasted a first drop only 4 feet (1.2 m) taller than Hercules. Hercules proved a big hit for Dorney in the coaster's first four seasons, but unfortunately was soon 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. Hydra: The Revenge is now where Hercules once stood, which is why it's slogan is "It's the Ride That Brought Down Hercules."
In 1994, a new midway was built on the top of the hill near Hercules and White Water Landing. 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. Some concession stands and a carousel was also added at this new midway. The old lot and entrance also continued to be used. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom were separately gated until the end of that season. The park now charged guests a then-small charge for parking.
In 1995, admission to both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom was offered at a single price for the first time. The change was promoted under the slogan "Two Parks for The Price Of One." That year also saw the addition of Thunder Canyon, a river rapids ride consisting of eight-passenger rafts that plunge and rock along a 16400 feet (4,998.7 m) path through an authentic looking canyon, propelled by approximately 1 million USgals (3,785.4 m³) of water. The new ride was designed by Intamin.
In 1996, Dorney went "green" and transplanted 120 30-year-old trees to make shade. It also made the park look nicer. Construction began on a steel hypercoaster slightly over 200 feet (61 m) tall. It was designed by D.H. Morgan, a former employee of Arrow
. Morgan helped design Magnum XL 200 at Cedar Point
in 1988. This coaster would have a similar out and back layout but would have a smoother braking system and be a more pleasant ride than Magnum. It opened in an area that was previously considered the front of the park taking up that entire stretch of land. This coaster is known as Steel Force and opened in the spring of 1997. This brought the park up to four adult coasters and a kiddie coaster. At that point the former front entrance was restricted to employees and was now considered the back entrance. Over the years, the waterpark added some newer waterslides as well as a second lazy river.
In 1998, Dorney Park added a top spin ride called "Hang Time". At the end of this year the "Monster" was temporarily removed and eventually relocated with in the park. This was also the last year for the "Sky Ride", it was removed at the end of the season. During the offseason, the Lazer was repainted in a neon green and purple style, replacing the red and white theme it had since it's introduction to the park.
In 1999, a 200 feet (61 m) tower called Dominator, featuring two gravity-defying rides, was also added. One tower blasts riders straight up 15 stories before dropping them back to earth, while another tower slowly lifts riders to a staggering 170 feet (51.8 m), then thrusts them downward at faster-than-free-fall speeds.
The year 2000 saw the debut of Camp Snoopy, a themed children's play area. A junior coaster (managed like a kiddie coaster in that adults without children cannot ride) called Woodstock Express
was added that year, bringing the coaster count to eight, including four adult coasters, a junior coaster, and three kiddie coasters. The Wild Mouse was also added this year.
In 2001, a Bolliger & Mabillard
designed roller coaster called Talon
was added near the now-front entrance of park. The ride was a steel inverted looping coaster with ski lift type seats, and approximately the size of the Raptor coaster at Cedar Point. The addition of the new adult coaster brought the park's roller coaster count to nine. In 2002, the waterpark modified a few waterslides, but no other changes occurred.
In 2003, Wildwater Kingdom was overhauled. Several older body slides were removed and replaced with four modern colored bodyslides, two of which were open and two of which were enclosed tube slides. Three inflated tube slides were also added. One of the slides is mostly open and straight down, another is winding and completely enclosed, and the third slide also winds but is partially open. A new children's water play area was also added.
In July 2003, the park announced that Hercules would close Labor Day and in 2005 be replaced by Hydra: the Revenge
, a $13 million, steel floorless
Bolliger & Mabillard coaster. Hercules closed and would be replaced as a result of high maintenance costs, a rough ride, and low ridership. Soon after, it was demolished, reducing the coaster count to eight. Construction on Hydra began soon after razing Hercules and continued during the 2004 season. It opened on opening day for the 2005 season on May 7, 2005. The coaster is a half-mile in length and features a105 feet (32 m) drop. It is the first and only floorless roller coaster in Pennsylvania. The addition made the park home once again to nine adult and children's coasters.
On September 22, 2007, Dorney Park announced it would be opening its sixth adult roller coaster, a shuttle twisted impulse U-shaped coaster built by Intamin. The coaster, located at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, from 2000 to 2006, was originally known as Superman: Ultimate Escape, but was renamed Steel Venom when the park was bought by Cedar Fair from Six Flags in 2006. Steel Venom was removed from Geauga Lake in 2006 and unofficially opened as Voodoo
at Dorney Park on May 17, 2008. Its grand opening was held six days later. 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 2011, Dorney Park introduces an 8 million dollar extensive overhaul to the former Camp Snoopy kid's park area. Additions include seven new rides, a new family care center offering services and amenities for parents and their young children, a new and larger outdoor amphitheater, and extensive new PEANUTS™ theme attributes being applied to differentiate the now 3.5 acres (14,164 m²) kid's park from the rest of Dorney Park. Theme attributes include a new bright color palette, large billboard like Planet Snoopy signage, arch entry ways, paver blocks on the midways instead of concrete, and a Snoopy Sculpture as a center piece and kids photo op.
In 2012, Dorney Park will add Stinger, formerly Invertigo from California's Great America, to its roller coaster collection.
One-Day Admission Regular everyday walk-up gate rate: $44.99
Early & Fall Seasons Regular Online Only: $29.99
Valid April 30, May 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27 & Sept. 11, 17, & 18
Regular Season Regular Online Only: $37.99
May 28 through Sept. 5
Junior/Senior (any operating date, any purchase venue): $24.99
Two-Day Admission
Regular $64.00
Junior/Senior $35.00
2011 Starlight Admission
For Regular, Jr. & Sr.
After 5 p.m. when the park closes at 10 p.m. or later: $24.99
After 3:30 p.m. when the park closes at 8:00 p.m. or earlier: $24.99
2011 Season Pass Options
DP & WWK Regular: $99.99
DP & WWK Junior/Senior: $61.99
Cedar Fair Platinum Regular: $165.00
Cedar Fair Platinum Junior/Senior: $92.00
Junior admission includes guests 3 years of age or older and under 48 inches (121.9 cm). Senior admission includes guests 62 years of age or older. The Platinum Pass allows admission to all Cedar Fair parks, while the regular season pass is for Dorney Park/Wildwater Kingdom only.
s located within an amusement park (as opposed to stand-alone or separately gated waterparks) in the country , with over a dozen water rides and pools. It opened in 1985. It has become a major summer attraction and is especially popular with residents from the local Lehigh Valley
, as well as Allentown's two closest major cities, New York City
and Philadelphia.
Wildwater Kingdom has 22 water slides, three aquatic playlands 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. The season pass lot was eliminated and now season pass holders must park in the regular lot at no additional cost. In 2007, a six-lane mat racing water slide called the Aqua Racer was added, sponsored by Capital BlueCross. Two enclosed tube slides (Torpedo Tubes) were dismantled at the end of 2006.
' film Hairspray. In the film, the character Franklin Von Tussle, played by Sonny Bono
, owns an amusement park.
Also, the 1968 film, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows
features scenes of Dorney Park including the old Alfundo entrance over the coaster (see photo above), the Pirate's Cove (Bucket O' Blood), Journey to the Center of the Earth, the Scrambler, the Coaster (Thunderhawk), and other Dorney Park scenes.
In Summer 2006, a music video for the Kidz Bop
song "Move Along
" by The All-American Rejects
was filmed at Dorney Park.
Including The Asylum, Death Trap, Back Woods, Gauntlet, Pirates Passage, Psycho Circus, Club Blood, Cornstalkers, and Terror Sqaure.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
amusement
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...
and water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
located in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom.
It features some of the world's most prominent rollercoasters, including Steel Force, the ninth longest steel rollercoaster in the world and the longest on the U.S. East Coast.
The park is accessible from Interstate 78
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 is an Interstate Highway in the Northeast United States, running 144 miles from Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown, Pennsylvania, and western and northern New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan in New York City.I-78 is a major road...
, U.S. Route 222 (Hamilton Blvd.) and Cedar Crest Boulevard. The region is served by Lehigh Valley International Airport
Lehigh Valley International Airport
Lehigh Valley International Airport , formerly Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton International Airport, is a public airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania....
, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Dorney Park. Bieber Tourways has a nearby bus terminal at the former Charcoal Drive-In (at junction of U.S. Route 222 and Hamilton Boulevard), with daily service to and from New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
, Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal
Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal
The Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal is the primary intercity bus station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located at 1001 Filbert Street in Center City Philadelphia, immediately north of The Gallery at Market East shopping mall and the SEPTA Market East Station, a few hundred feet east of the...
and other regional locations.
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 and a hotel and restaurant. By the 1880s, Dorney had added a small zoo, gardens and a number of mechanical rides, marking the enterprise's beginning as an amusement park.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 partners. Plarr soon bought out his partners and ran Dorney Park 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 Entertainment Co.
Early years
Rides have come and gone at Dorney Park, such as the Philadelphia Toboggan CompanyPhiladelphia Toboggan Company
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B...
's Grande Carousel which debuted at Dorney in 1932 from Shellpot Park in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, but was destroyed in a September 1983 fire. The Bucket O' Blood (once known as Pirates Cove) dark ride
Dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
burned in the same fire. Luckily, the incident occurred after the park was closed for the season. Another early ride was the Whip, in which riders spun on a small track in a pavilion. The Whip 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. Filters were damaged beyond economic repair at that point, and the pool was closed to swimmers but was repurposed. One side of the former pool had live seals and fish, while the other side was used for the Whale Boats, motorized boats seating two people each. Near the lower entrance to the park was the dark ride called Tunnel Of Love which later was rethemed as The Journey to the Center of the Earth. The ride was a Bill Tracy dark ride
Dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
. It was a boat ride through a dark tunnel with scary scenes behind glass, and a lift and drop at the end. It was razed following the 1992 season, after Cedar Fair, LP acquired the park. Journey To The Center Of The Earth was located near the park's first roller coaster, which opened in 1923. It was simply known as the Coaster or "the yellow rollercoaster" until 1989 when it was renamed Thunderhawk
Thunderhawk (Dorney Park)
Thunderhawk is a wooden out and back roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom near Allentown, Pennsylvania....
. It still operates today.
Also near the pool was the Mill Chute, built in 1927 but closed in 1960 to become Journey to the Center of the Earth as described previously. The Iceberg was a cuddle-up ride which was cold inside and had strobe lights and loud music. It was painted black and retitled Meteorite at the end of the 1980s and removed after the 1993 season. The Gold Mine was a scary walk-through under the Solomon Dorney Mansion in the middle of the park near the Iceberg and PTC Carousel. The Gold Mine closed in the mid-1980s. The Flying Dutchman was a Pinfari compact steel coaster located where the Ferris Wheel is currently located. It was the largest of its kind. It was removed following the 1988 season due to mechanical problems.
For many years, a clown figure called "Alfundo" (the name was derived from a combination of the words ALlentown, FUN and Dorney Park) reigned supreme as the park's trademark, and was used as the decoration of the main entrance to the park (see photo).
1980s
In 1980, Dorney Park Road, a former two-lane state highway (US 222) which cut through the park, was closed to traffic and converted to a midway, and U.S. 222 was rerouted. Prior to that time, Dorney Park's narrow-gauge railroad crossed the road, which led to traffic stoppages every time the train was to cross Dorney Park Road. This railroad crossing also helped patrons cross Dorney Park Road.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 a while longer, patrons were no longer allowed to bring food inside.
The parked opened its log flume
Log flume
A log flume is a flume specifically constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. These watertight trough-like channels could be built to span a long distance across chasms and down steep mountain slopes...
ride, Thunder Creek Mountain, in 1982, which still owns the record for longest drop on a log flume
Log flume
A log flume is a flume specifically constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. These watertight trough-like channels could be built to span a long distance across chasms and down steep mountain slopes...
ride. In the fall of the next year, a major fire destroyed a large section of the park, including the Carousel, Bucket O' Blood, Flying Bobs, Skeeball and several food stands. The park replaced the rides in 1984, its 100th anniversary, with the addition of Enterprise, Musik Express, Ranger, and Apollo 2000. New skeeball alleys, gift shops and food stands were added as well.
With the addition of the rides as well as the improvements to the park, the park's value was high enough to sell. It was sold mid-season to Harris Weinstein in 1985. He also bought the neighboring automobile racetrack which had been used once a year for NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racing. At that point the racetrack was razed. It was determined that there was a need for swimming to be brought back to Dorney Park. With the pool being razed 20 years before, the void was finally filled by a waterpark called Wildwater Kingdom in 1985. It had separate admission and included a wave pool, family water raft ride, several body slides, several tube slides, and a children's water play area. That year season passes began to be offered.
That year it was also determined that the park needed a looping roller coaster, so in 1986, Laser, a Schwarzkopf
Schwarzkopf
Schwarzkopf refers to:- Place name :Germany:* Schwarzkopf , a mountain of Bavaria, Germany* Schwarzkopf , Berg im Nordschwarzwald* Schwarzkopf , a mountain of Bavaria, GermanyCzech Republic...
designed coaster with two loops was built, giving the park three adult coasters. This roller coaster was originally meant to be a ride that would be for fairs and carnivals, but Dorney Park kept it assembled. The coaster was named in a commercial tie-in with a local radio station, WAEB-FM
WAEB-FM
WAEB-FM, commonly known as "B104", is a CHR/Pop radio station located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States and owned by Clear Channel Communications. WAEB-FM broadcasts at 104.1 MHz FM.-History:...
, a then-Hot AC radio station known as Laser 104.1. Two years later, a kiddie coaster was added across from Laser called Little Laser
Little Laser
Steel First was a steel junior roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania.The coaster was originally located in East Dundee, IL at Santa's Village as Snowball Express from the 1960s until 1985, and then was in storage until it was bought by...
. This kiddie coaster originally operated as a junior coaster (children and adults were at that time able to ride) from the early 1960s to 1981 near the coaster now called Thunderhawk. It was in storage from 1982 to 1988, and in 1989 it was moved next to and painted the same colors as the Laser and was renamed. As a kiddie coaster, adults cannot ride the Little Laser unless accompanied by a child. Laser was taken down in 2008 and Little Laser was renamed to Steel First.
The park further grew with debut of Hercules
Hercules (roller coaster)
Hercules was the name of a former wooden roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania.At the time of construction, it was the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world, but due to its poor design the ride only had a short life, operating from 1989 to 2003...
, 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 at that time Wildwater Kingdom's parking lot. This coaster was the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world until Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
's Mean Streak
Mean Streak
Mean Streak is a wooden roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. Opened in 1991 and constructed using 1.7 million board feet of treated Southern Yellow Pine, it was one of the tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coasters in the world...
debuted in 1991, which boasted a first drop only 4 feet (1.2 m) taller than Hercules. Hercules proved a big hit for Dorney in the coaster's first four seasons, but unfortunately was soon 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. Hydra: The Revenge is now where Hercules once stood, which is why it's slogan is "It's the Ride That Brought Down Hercules."
1990s
In 1991, Dorney Park added a few more flat rides and improved landscaping, preparing to once again sell it. Cedar Fair purchased the park in 1992. In 1993, the park added a flume ride that plunges riders in 20-passenger boats down an 80 feet (24.4 m) drop, creating a giant wave that not only soaks riders, but onlookers as well. It was known as the Pepsi Chute and today as White Water Landing. It was built next to Hercules and the Wildwater Kingdom parking lot.In 1994, a new midway was built on the top of the hill near Hercules and White Water Landing. 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. Some concession stands and a carousel was also added at this new midway. The old lot and entrance also continued to be used. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom were separately gated until the end of that season. The park now charged guests a then-small charge for parking.
In 1995, admission to both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom was offered at a single price for the first time. The change was promoted under the slogan "Two Parks for The Price Of One." That year also saw the addition of Thunder Canyon, a river rapids ride consisting of eight-passenger rafts that plunge and rock along a 16400 feet (4,998.7 m) path through an authentic looking canyon, propelled by approximately 1 million USgals (3,785.4 m³) of water. The new ride was designed by Intamin.
In 1996, Dorney went "green" and transplanted 120 30-year-old trees to make shade. It also made the park look nicer. Construction began on a steel hypercoaster slightly over 200 feet (61 m) tall. It was designed by D.H. Morgan, a former employee of Arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
. Morgan helped design Magnum XL 200 at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
in 1988. This coaster would have a similar out and back layout but would have a smoother braking system and be a more pleasant ride than Magnum. It opened in an area that was previously considered the front of the park taking up that entire stretch of land. This coaster is known as Steel Force and opened in the spring of 1997. This brought the park up to four adult coasters and a kiddie coaster. At that point the former front entrance was restricted to employees and was now considered the back entrance. Over the years, the waterpark added some newer waterslides as well as a second lazy river.
In 1998, Dorney Park added a top spin ride called "Hang Time". At the end of this year the "Monster" was temporarily removed and eventually relocated with in the park. This was also the last year for the "Sky Ride", it was removed at the end of the season. During the offseason, the Lazer was repainted in a neon green and purple style, replacing the red and white theme it had since it's introduction to the park.
In 1999, a 200 feet (61 m) tower called Dominator, featuring two gravity-defying rides, was also added. One tower blasts riders straight up 15 stories before dropping them back to earth, while another tower slowly lifts riders to a staggering 170 feet (51.8 m), then thrusts them downward at faster-than-free-fall speeds.
2000s
Woodstock Express
Woodstock Express is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Built in 1999 by Vekoma, it is a junior roller coaster. The ride is the staple attraction apart of a new area constructed in 1999, which is Camp Snoopy. Woodstock Express is a cloned roller coaster, as the same...
was added that year, bringing the coaster count to eight, including four adult coasters, a junior coaster, and three kiddie coasters. The Wild Mouse was also added this year.
In 2001, a Bolliger & Mabillard
Bolliger & Mabillard
Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
designed roller coaster called Talon
Talon (roller coaster)
Talon is a steel inverted roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was known to be one of the longest inverted roller coaster in the Northeast....
was added near the now-front entrance of park. The ride was a steel inverted looping coaster with ski lift type seats, and approximately the size of the Raptor coaster at Cedar Point. The addition of the new adult coaster brought the park's roller coaster count to nine. In 2002, the waterpark modified a few waterslides, but no other changes occurred.
In 2003, Wildwater Kingdom was overhauled. Several older body slides were removed and replaced with four modern colored bodyslides, two of which were open and two of which were enclosed tube slides. Three inflated tube slides were also added. One of the slides is mostly open and straight down, another is winding and completely enclosed, and the third slide also winds but is partially open. A new children's water play area was also added.
In July 2003, the park announced that Hercules would close Labor Day and in 2005 be replaced by Hydra: the Revenge
Hydra the Revenge
Hydra the Revenge is a steel floorless roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania . It was built where the wooden roller coaster Hercules stood, which was closed for demolition at the end of the park's 2003 season...
, a $13 million, steel floorless
Floorless roller coaster
A floorless roller coaster is a roller coaster with trains that ride above the track and allow the passenger's legs to dangle. It is a fairly new concept in roller coaster design brought forth by manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard. The first ever floorless coaster debuted in 1999 at Six Flags Great...
Bolliger & Mabillard coaster. Hercules closed and would be replaced as a result of high maintenance costs, a rough ride, and low ridership. Soon after, it was demolished, reducing the coaster count to eight. Construction on Hydra began soon after razing Hercules and continued during the 2004 season. It opened on opening day for the 2005 season on May 7, 2005. The coaster is a half-mile in length and features a105 feet (32 m) drop. It is the first and only floorless roller coaster in Pennsylvania. The addition made the park home once again to nine adult and children's coasters.
On September 22, 2007, Dorney Park announced it would be opening its sixth adult roller coaster, a shuttle twisted impulse U-shaped coaster built by Intamin. The coaster, located at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, from 2000 to 2006, was originally known as Superman: Ultimate Escape, but was renamed Steel Venom when the park was bought by Cedar Fair from Six Flags in 2006. Steel Venom was removed from Geauga Lake in 2006 and unofficially opened as Voodoo
Voodoo (roller coaster)
Possessed is a launched steel Inverted roller coaster designed by Intamin and located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania.- Layout & Ride Experience :...
at Dorney Park on May 17, 2008. Its grand opening was held six days later. The ride was renamed Possessed after the 2008 season to resolve a conflict with Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
, which held the rights to the name Voodoo.
2010s
In 2010, the park removed its bumper cars ride to add the Demon Drop from Cedar Point. Rita's Water Ice was also introduced as a new concession. Meanwhile, the park announced that "Planet Snoopy" would open for the 2011 season.In 2011, Dorney Park introduces an 8 million dollar extensive overhaul to the former Camp Snoopy kid's park area. Additions include seven new rides, a new family care center offering services and amenities for parents and their young children, a new and larger outdoor amphitheater, and extensive new PEANUTS™ theme attributes being applied to differentiate the now 3.5 acres (14,164 m²) kid's park from the rest of Dorney Park. Theme attributes include a new bright color palette, large billboard like Planet Snoopy signage, arch entry ways, paver blocks on the midways instead of concrete, and a Snoopy Sculpture as a center piece and kids photo op.
In 2012, Dorney Park will add Stinger, formerly Invertigo from California's Great America, to its roller coaster collection.
Current
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Design | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderhawk Thunderhawk (Dorney Park) Thunderhawk is a wooden out and back roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom near Allentown, Pennsylvania.... |
Philadelphia Toboggan Company Philadelphia Toboggan Company The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B... |
Wooden | Sit Down | 1923 |
| Steel Force | Chance Morgan | Steel | Sit Down (Hypercoaster) | 1997 |
| Wild Mouse Wild Mouse roller coaster A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces... |
Maurer Söhne Maurer Söhne Maurer Söhne is a steel construction company and roller coaster manufacturer. Founded in Munich, Germany in 1876, the company has built many styles of steel buildings, ranging from bridges, industrial buildings, and even art structures. While known for building various wild mouse coasters, Maurer... |
Steel | Sit Down | 2000 |
| Woodstock's Express Woodstock's Express Woodstock's Express is a steel junior roller coaster that is located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. It is located in Camp Snoopy, which will be re-named Planet Snoopy in 2011.-General Information:... |
Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... |
Steel | Family | 2000 |
| Talon Talon (roller coaster) Talon is a steel inverted roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was known to be one of the longest inverted roller coaster in the Northeast.... |
Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... |
Steel | Inverted | 2001 |
| Hydra: the Revenge Hydra the Revenge Hydra the Revenge is a steel floorless roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania . It was built where the wooden roller coaster Hercules stood, which was closed for demolition at the end of the park's 2003 season... |
Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... |
Steel | Floorless | 2005 |
| Possessed | Intamin AG Intamin AG Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an... |
Steel | Inverted/Shuttle/Twisted Impulse | 2008 |
| Stinger | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
Steel | Inverted/Shuttle | 2012 |
Past
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Design | In operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic Railway | Frederick Ingersoll Frederick Ingersoll Frederick Ingersoll was an inventor, designer, and builder who created the world's first chain of amusement parks and whose manufacturing company built 277 roller coasters, fueling the popularity of trolley parks in the first third of the Twentieth Century... |
Wooden | Sit Down | 1903–1920 |
| Wild Mouse | Schiff Schiff Schiff is a German surname meaning "ship" and may refer to:* Adam Schiff, American politician* András Schiff, Hungarian pianist* Arthur Schiff, Infomercial copywriter who coined the term "But wait, there's more!"... |
Steel | Sit Down | 1964–1965 |
| Flying Dutchman | Pinfari Pinfari Pinfari is an Italian brand of portable roller coasters found at travelling fairs. The Pinfari company was founded by Daniel Pinfari in Mantua. The brand has been especially known for compact models with small footprints, such as the popular ZL42. Pinfari was liquidated on 15 July 2004, due to the... |
Steel | Sit Down | 1972–1988 |
| Hercules Hercules (roller coaster) Hercules was the name of a former wooden roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania.At the time of construction, it was the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world, but due to its poor design the ride only had a short life, operating from 1989 to 2003... |
Dinn Corporation Dinn Corporation Dinn Corporation was a former roller coaster designing and manufacturing company established in West Chester, Ohio in 1983 by Charles Dinn. They are noted for building twelve wooden roller coasters in the United States, including:* Georgia Cyclone* Hercules... |
Wooden | Sit Down | 1989–2003 |
| Laser Teststrecke Teststrecke, meaning Test Track in German is a portable steel roller coaster owned by the German showman partnership Meyer & Rosenzweig. It was imported from Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in 2008, and now generally tours in Germany, with occasional visits to the Netherlands... |
Anton Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs.... |
Steel | Sit Down | 1986–2008 |
| Steel First | Allan Herschell Company | Steel | Kiddie | 1990-2010 |
| Dragon Coaster Dragon Coaster (Dorney Park) Dragon Coaster was a steel "junior" roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania . It was built in 1986 and operated from 1992 through the 2010 season... |
Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... |
Steel | Powered | 1992-2010 |
2011 Admission
Single Day AdmissionOne-Day Admission Regular everyday walk-up gate rate: $44.99
Early & Fall Seasons Regular Online Only: $29.99
Valid April 30, May 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27 & Sept. 11, 17, & 18
Regular Season Regular Online Only: $37.99
May 28 through Sept. 5
Junior/Senior (any operating date, any purchase venue): $24.99
Two-Day Admission
Regular $64.00
Junior/Senior $35.00
2011 Starlight Admission
For Regular, Jr. & Sr.
After 5 p.m. when the park closes at 10 p.m. or later: $24.99
After 3:30 p.m. when the park closes at 8:00 p.m. or earlier: $24.99
2011 Season Pass Options
DP & WWK Regular: $99.99
DP & WWK Junior/Senior: $61.99
Cedar Fair Platinum Regular: $165.00
Cedar Fair Platinum Junior/Senior: $92.00
Junior admission includes guests 3 years of age or older and under 48 inches (121.9 cm). Senior admission includes guests 62 years of age or older. The Platinum Pass allows admission to all Cedar Fair parks, while the regular season pass is for Dorney Park/Wildwater Kingdom only.
Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park's Wildwater Kingdom, located on the park grounds, is one of the largest water parkWater park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
s located within an amusement park (as opposed to stand-alone or separately gated waterparks) in the country , with over a dozen water rides and pools. It opened in 1985. It has become a major summer attraction and is especially popular with residents from the local Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
, as well as Allentown's two closest major cities, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Philadelphia.
Wildwater Kingdom has 22 water slides, three aquatic playlands 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. The season pass lot was eliminated and now season pass holders must park in the regular lot at no additional cost. In 2007, a six-lane mat racing water slide called the Aqua Racer was added, sponsored by Capital BlueCross. Two enclosed tube slides (Torpedo Tubes) were dismantled at the end of 2006.
Dorney Park in popular culture
Dorney Park is featured as the park backdrop in the 1988 John WatersJohn Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
' film Hairspray. In the film, the character Franklin Von Tussle, played by Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades.-Early life:...
, owns an amusement park.
Also, the 1968 film, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows
Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows
Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows is a movie comedy starring Rosalind Russell and Stella Stevens. The film is a sequel to The Trouble with Angels and was written by Blanche Hanalis from a story by Jane Trahey, and directed by James Neilson....
features scenes of Dorney Park including the old Alfundo entrance over the coaster (see photo above), the Pirate's Cove (Bucket O' Blood), Journey to the Center of the Earth, the Scrambler, the Coaster (Thunderhawk), and other Dorney Park scenes.
In Summer 2006, a music video for the Kidz Bop
Kidz Bop
Kidz Bop is a brand of compilation albums featuring child session musicians performing contemporary music. The series was developed by Razor & Tie co-founders Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam in 2001...
song "Move Along
Move Along (song)
"Move Along" is the title track and second single taken from The All-American Rejects' second studio album of the same name. "Move Along" is the band's most enduring single. The track stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 50 for 39 weeks because of the amount of time it took to surface...
" by The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects are an American rock band formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999. The band consists of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist, Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist, Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor....
was filmed at Dorney Park.
Dorney Park Haunt
Every fall, Dorney Park has a haunted program in the park. The program had 13 haunted attractions in 2010.Including The Asylum, Death Trap, Back Woods, Gauntlet, Pirates Passage, Psycho Circus, Club Blood, Cornstalkers, and Terror Sqaure.
Further reading
- Futrell, Jim. Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002.