Nay Aug Park
Encyclopedia
Nay Aug Park is the largest park in Scranton
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. An amusement park on the site closed in the 1990s, but a small amusement area still operates near the swimming pool complex. The park also houses a small zoo, the Nay Aug Gorge, the Everhart Museum, and two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
and is a popular (though dangerous and illegal) swimming spot. In 2007 the David Wenzel Tree House
opened with views overlooking the gorge and surrounding area. The tree house is designed to be fully handicapped accessible, and is the first of its kind in the area. A footbridge with views of Roaring Brook also opened in 2007.
in 1989. The zoo at Nay Aug remained closed until summer 2003, when it reopened as a wildlife rehabilitation center. The current zoo complex is comparatively small and does not house the same number of animals as the original zoo. In an article in Time's Magazine, this zoo in 2008 was the 4th worst animal treated (abuse) zoo in America. In 2009 the Zoo once again closed, due to public outcry over conditions, with the Site being given to Lackawanna College to use as a natural research center.
s.
was founded in 1908 by Dr. Isaiah Fawkes Everhart. In honor of the museum's founder, a bronze statue of Dr. Everhart and Lake Everhart were dedicated on May 20, 1911. Dr. Everhart died five days later. The Everhart is the largest public museum in Northeastern Pennsylvania
. It is a non-profit institution dedicated to the collection, care and display of a diverse array of artifacts, including natural history, science and fine arts. The museum also contains a library with books pertaining to areas of interest covered by the collection.
within the park grounds. It was run by Karl and Ralph Strohl, who received the park from their father. The amusements included toy tanks in a circle, caterpillar, bumper cars, helicopters, cars on a track, merry-go-round, boats in a small pond, and a small whip. One of the park's highlights was the small wooden roller coaster
, the Comet Coaster (also known as Comet, Jr.). There was a miniature Lackawanna
train which went around the roller coaster. The arcade pavilion building was previously a dance hall during the 1930s and 1940s where big bands came to play. From the 1950s until the park's closing, the building housed the bumper cars amusement ride, which was ringed by various arcade machines and amusements like pinball, skee-ball, skill crane and other machines. The pavilion was open on 2-3 sides in the summer months. Directly in front of the pavilion was the Carousel. The park was closed in the 1990s, and its site is now green space. A small amusement area is now located near the swimming pools.
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. An amusement park on the site closed in the 1990s, but a small amusement area still operates near the swimming pool complex. The park also houses a small zoo, the Nay Aug Gorge, the Everhart Museum, and two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The gorge
The Nay Aug Gorge was created at the end of the most recent ice ageIce age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
and is a popular (though dangerous and illegal) swimming spot. In 2007 the David Wenzel Tree House
Tree house
Tree houses, treehouses, or tree forts, are platforms or buildings constructed around, next to or among the trunk or branches of one or more mature trees while above ground level...
opened with views overlooking the gorge and surrounding area. The tree house is designed to be fully handicapped accessible, and is the first of its kind in the area. A footbridge with views of Roaring Brook also opened in 2007.
The zoo
The zoo at Nay Aug once hosted the famous Tilly the elephant and Joshua the donkey. The zoo closed in 1988, and the newest elephant Toni was shipped to the National ZooSmithsonian National Zoological Park
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, and as part of the Smithsonian Institution, does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to provide leadership in animal care, science, education,...
in 1989. The zoo at Nay Aug remained closed until summer 2003, when it reopened as a wildlife rehabilitation center. The current zoo complex is comparatively small and does not house the same number of animals as the original zoo. In an article in Time's Magazine, this zoo in 2008 was the 4th worst animal treated (abuse) zoo in America. In 2009 the Zoo once again closed, due to public outcry over conditions, with the Site being given to Lackawanna College to use as a natural research center.
Swimming pools
Two Olympic-size swimming pools can be found at the park. Recently renovated, the pool now offers a two diving boards and two water slideWater slide
A water slide is a type of slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and therefore size...
s.
The Everhart Museum
The Everhart MuseumEverhart Museum
The Everhart Museum is a non-profit art and natural history museum located in Nay Aug Park in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1908 by Dr. Isaiah Fawkes Everhart, a local medical doctor and skilled taxidermist. Many of the specimens in the museum's extensive ornithological collection came...
was founded in 1908 by Dr. Isaiah Fawkes Everhart. In honor of the museum's founder, a bronze statue of Dr. Everhart and Lake Everhart were dedicated on May 20, 1911. Dr. Everhart died five days later. The Everhart is the largest public museum in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania is a geographic region of Pennsylvania that includes the Pocono Mountains, the Endless Mountains and the industrial cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Hazleton and Carbondale....
. It is a non-profit institution dedicated to the collection, care and display of a diverse array of artifacts, including natural history, science and fine arts. The museum also contains a library with books pertaining to areas of interest covered by the collection.
Amusement park
Nay Aug Amusement Park was a small amusement parkAmusement 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...
within the park grounds. It was run by Karl and Ralph Strohl, who received the park from their father. The amusements included toy tanks in a circle, caterpillar, bumper cars, helicopters, cars on a track, merry-go-round, boats in a small pond, and a small whip. One of the park's highlights was the small wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
, the Comet Coaster (also known as Comet, Jr.). There was a miniature Lackawanna
Erie Lackawanna Railway
The Erie Lackawanna Railway , known as the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad until 1968, was formed from the 1960 merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad...
train which went around the roller coaster. The arcade pavilion building was previously a dance hall during the 1930s and 1940s where big bands came to play. From the 1950s until the park's closing, the building housed the bumper cars amusement ride, which was ringed by various arcade machines and amusements like pinball, skee-ball, skill crane and other machines. The pavilion was open on 2-3 sides in the summer months. Directly in front of the pavilion was the Carousel. The park was closed in the 1990s, and its site is now green space. A small amusement area is now located near the swimming pools.