Waldameer Park
Encyclopedia
Waldameer Park and Water World is an amusement
/ water park in Erie
, Pennsylvania
located at the base of Presque Isle
. Waldameer is the fourth oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, and the tenth oldest in the United States
. The park is admission-free, with a busy midway, well-appointed grounds, and covered picnic facilities. The roller coasters and other major rides require either the display of a paid wristband or the purchase of individual ride tickets. The water park
operates an assortment of water slides and raft rides and is admission by fee only. The name "Waldameer" can be translated literally as "Woods by the Sea" in German
. Waldameer's operating season runs from May through September.
area called Hoffman's Grove. The Erie Electric Motor Company leased the park in 1896 and renamed it "Waldameer." The trolley car company extended service to its new park, making Hoffman's Grove picnic area a terminus on the line in the hopes of increasing passenger traffic.
The park operates two classic dark attractions
: the Whacky Shack (Built in 1970), a two-story ride, and the Pirates Cove (Built in 1972), a walk-through funhouse
. Both were designed and built by the dark ride master Bill Tracy and his company, Amusement Display Associates of Cape May, New Jersey
.
Waldameer sold its classic carousel at auction in 1988 for more than $1 million, using the proceeds to replace the carousel and purchase new equipment. A new carousel with sixty operating horses was obtained from Chance Manufacturing. The owner intended to construct a new restaurant called The Carousel next to the Rainbow Gardens banquet hall. A 10-foot giraffe and a jumping horse from the classic carousel were reserved from the auction to be used in the new restaurant. Part of the auction proceeds was used to erect four additional water slides—a speed slide, free fall slide, one-man and two-man raft sides—all built by Molded Fiberglass Company of Union City.
For the 2007 season, Waldameer opened X-Scream, a new 140-foot-tall drop tower ride. In 2008, the highly anticipated Ravine Flyer II
wooden coaster opened leading to 20% increase in attendance and the busiest season in park history.The coaster won the Golden Ticket Award for the best new ride for 2008. The 2009 season saw the extension of the midway south to coincide with the addition of a new Disk-O
ride, Mega Vortex. A modern, "cashless" pay system called a Wally Card was introduced for 2010. A new family oriented area, The North End, located within the train turnaround, opened the following year. The rides located in the area are the Flying Swings, S.S. Wally, and Wendy's Tea Party. New additions for the 2012 season include the S&S Worldwide-manufactured Happy Swing, which will be located in the Kiddieland area, a second train for the L. Ruth Express, a redesigned loading area for the Whacky Shack, and the requirement that all in-park transactions must be made with a Wally Card, which was introduced in 2010. Plans beyond 2012 include a water park expansion with a wavepool and a children's area, as well as an "extreme teenage" ride.
in 2008.
Wooden Roller Coaster Rankings: by Amusement Today.
Ravine Flyer II: 6th
In addition, Waldameer's two Bill Tracy dark rides, Whacky Shack and Pirate's Cove, have won numerous darkride awards from DAFE.org. Both attractions have consistently ranked in the top 10 for their respective categories (Classic Darkride and Walkthrough).
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...
/ water park in Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, 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...
located at the base of Presque Isle
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on an arching sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, west of the city of Erie, in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The peninsula sweeps northeastward, surrounding Presque Isle Bay along the park's...
. Waldameer is the fourth oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, and the tenth oldest in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park is admission-free, with a busy midway, well-appointed grounds, and covered picnic facilities. The roller coasters and other major rides require either the display of a paid wristband or the purchase of individual ride tickets. The 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...
operates an assortment of water slides and raft rides and is admission by fee only. The name "Waldameer" can be translated literally as "Woods by the Sea" in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. Waldameer's operating season runs from May through September.
History
The park began as a picnicPicnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
area called Hoffman's Grove. The Erie Electric Motor Company leased the park in 1896 and renamed it "Waldameer." The trolley car company extended service to its new park, making Hoffman's Grove picnic area a terminus on the line in the hopes of increasing passenger traffic.
The park operates two classic dark attractions
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....
: the Whacky Shack (Built in 1970), a two-story ride, and the Pirates Cove (Built in 1972), a walk-through funhouse
Funhouse
A funhouse or fun house is an amusement facility found on amusement park and funfair midways in which patrons encounter and actively interact with various devices designed to surprise, challenge, and amuse the visitor. Unlike thrill rides, funhouses are participatory attractions, where visitors...
. Both were designed and built by the dark ride master Bill Tracy and his company, Amusement Display Associates of Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
.
Waldameer sold its classic carousel at auction in 1988 for more than $1 million, using the proceeds to replace the carousel and purchase new equipment. A new carousel with sixty operating horses was obtained from Chance Manufacturing. The owner intended to construct a new restaurant called The Carousel next to the Rainbow Gardens banquet hall. A 10-foot giraffe and a jumping horse from the classic carousel were reserved from the auction to be used in the new restaurant. Part of the auction proceeds was used to erect four additional water slides—a speed slide, free fall slide, one-man and two-man raft sides—all built by Molded Fiberglass Company of Union City.
For the 2007 season, Waldameer opened X-Scream, a new 140-foot-tall drop tower ride. In 2008, the highly anticipated Ravine Flyer II
Ravine Flyer II
Ravine Flyer II is a hybrid wooden roller coaster that is located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. It was ranked as the best new ride of 2008 by Amusement Today Magazine. The Ravine Flyer II took place of the park's old Ravine Flyer, which was removed in 1938 due to a tragedy...
wooden coaster opened leading to 20% increase in attendance and the busiest season in park history.The coaster won the Golden Ticket Award for the best new ride for 2008. The 2009 season saw the extension of the midway south to coincide with the addition of a new Disk-O
Disk-O
The Disk'O is a type of flat ride manufactured by Zamperla of Italy. The ride is a larger version of a Rockin' Tug, also manufactured by Zamperla.-Versions:-Ride:...
ride, Mega Vortex. A modern, "cashless" pay system called a Wally Card was introduced for 2010. A new family oriented area, The North End, located within the train turnaround, opened the following year. The rides located in the area are the Flying Swings, S.S. Wally, and Wendy's Tea Party. New additions for the 2012 season include the S&S Worldwide-manufactured Happy Swing, which will be located in the Kiddieland area, a second train for the L. Ruth Express, a redesigned loading area for the Whacky Shack, and the requirement that all in-park transactions must be made with a Wally Card, which was introduced in 2010. Plans beyond 2012 include a water park expansion with a wavepool and a children's area, as well as an "extreme teenage" ride.
Awards
In 2008 Ravine Flyer II was named "Best New Ride" and was ranked #11. Paul Nelson was also named "Person Of The Year" by Amusement TodayAmusement Today
Amusement Today is a monthly periodical featuring articles, news, pictures, and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The magazine, which is based in Arlington, Texas, USA, was founded in 1997 by Gary Slade and Virgil...
in 2008.
Wooden Roller Coaster Rankings: by Amusement Today.
Ravine Flyer II: 6th
In addition, Waldameer's two Bill Tracy dark rides, Whacky Shack and Pirate's Cove, have won numerous darkride awards from DAFE.org. Both attractions have consistently ranked in the top 10 for their respective categories (Classic Darkride and Walkthrough).
Roller Coasters
- CometComet (Waldameer)Comet is a wooden roller coaster that is located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. The Comet is a ACE Coaster Classic.-Trains:The Comet has 1 train with 4 cars. 4 riders can fit in a car and 16 riders can fit in a train....
(an ACEAmerican Coaster EnthusiastsThe American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
Coaster Classic) - Ravine Flyer IIIRavine Flyer IIIRavine Flyer III is a kiddie steel roller coaster that is located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. The Ravine Flyer III was installed in the park 8 years before Ravine Flyer II. As long as kids, adults are able to ride the roller coaster....
- Kiddie Coaster - Steel DragonSteel Dragon (Waldameer)Steel Dragon is a steel roller coaster that is located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. This roller coaster is similar to the wild mouse with cars that spin.-Trains:...
- Spinning Coaster - Ravine Flyer IIRavine Flyer IIRavine Flyer II is a hybrid wooden roller coaster that is located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. It was ranked as the best new ride of 2008 by Amusement Today Magazine. The Ravine Flyer II took place of the park's old Ravine Flyer, which was removed in 1938 due to a tragedy...
Thrill Rides
- X-Scream - Drop Tower
- Ali Baba
- Wipeout
- Sea DragonPirate ship (ride)A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum....
- ScramblerTwist (ride)The Twist, also known as the Twister, Cyclone, Sizzler, Scrambler, Merry Mixer, Jambalaya, or Grasscutter is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience the illusion that they will crash into other suspended, spinning cars. Riders are seated in small carriages clustered...
- Tilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-Whirl is one of the best-known flat rides, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing of Faribault, Minnesota...
- ParatrooperParatrooper (ride)A Paratrooper also known as an "Umbrella Ride" is a type of fairground ride based on cars suspended below a wheel which rotates at an oblique angle. The cars are free to rock sideways and swing out under centrifugal force and the wheel rotates. Invariably, the cars on a paratrooper have an umbrella...
- SpiderOctopus (ride)The Octopus is a type of amusement ride in the shape of an octopus. Five to eight arms attached to a central axis spin and move up and down in random, while cars at the end of the arms spin on rotary bolts. Each Octopus ride has the arms attached the middle of the ride. The middle of the ride will...
- An Eyerly Spider type - Mega VortexDisk-OThe Disk'O is a type of flat ride manufactured by Zamperla of Italy. The ride is a larger version of a Rockin' Tug, also manufactured by Zamperla.-Versions:-Ride:...
- Flying Swings
Gentle Rides
- Giant Gondola WheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
- Whacky Shack
- DodgemsBumper carBumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator...
- L. Ruth Express Train
- Pirate's Cove Fun House
- Grand CarouselCarouselA carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
- Sky RideSkyrideSkyride or Sky Ride may refer to:Aerial lifts* Skyride , an aerial lift of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, United States.* Skyride, an aerial lift of Busch Gardens Europe, James City County, United States....
- S.S. WallyRockin' TugRockin' Tug is a flat ride manufactured by Zamperla. The ride is manufactured in both traveling and park versions. It is the first of a line of new "halfpiperides". Zamperla's Disk-O is another popular ride from that "family". The difference is that the Tug has a friction wheel, while the Disk-O is...
- Wendy's Tea Party
Kiddie Rides
- Frog Hopper - Miniature drop tower
- Big Rigs - Convoy ride
- Mini Enterprise - Miniature Paratrooper ride
- Pony Ride
- Kiddie Wet Boats
- Sky Fighter
- Umbrella Ride
- Lil Toot - Self-propelled Kiddie train ride
- Wendy's Tea Party
- S.S Wally
Attractions
- Midway Games
- Arcade
- Wally and Wendy Bear
- Photo Stage
- Show-Time Theater
- Rainbow Gardens - Ballroom that is rented out for public use
Water World
Water World is a water park located in Waldameer Park. Established in 1986 and completed in 1992, Water World boasts 11 major slides, an Endless River, Heated Relaxing Pool, and Tad Pool children's complex with 4 smaller slides.Water World Slides
- Awesome Twosome (Enclosed two-man raft)
- Midnight Plunge (Enclosed two-man raft)
- Bermuda Triangle (Three enclosed body slides)
- Raging River (Large open-flume raft slide)
- Wild River (Open-air one-man raft slide)
- Free-fall Slide (45 ft freefall)
- Speed Slide (45 ft freefall with "bump")
- Presque Isle Plunge (Open-air body slide)
- Lake Erie Dip (Open-air body slide)
Past Rides
- Ravine Flyer
- Hand-carved Carousel
- Bumper Boats
- Kiddie Bumper Boats
- Old Mill / Mill Run (current Thunder River location)
- Flying Coaster
- Figure Eight
- Eli Bridge Ferris wheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
(destroyed in attempted relocation in 1993) - Whip
Past Attractions
- Monkey Island
- Boardwalk
- Bavarian Hoffbrau
- Waldameer Beach (located behind Rainbow Gardens closed to public)
Ravine Flyer Accident
- Late evening, August 8, 1938, the Ravine Flyer failed to clear the hill following the bridge crossing Peninsula Drive. As the train continued to travel back and forth over Peninsula Drive, a woman became hysterical. In attempt to calm her, a man (her Brother), rose out of his seat to calm her. Consequently, the train made a sudden stop and resulted in the fall to his death in the middle of Peninsula Drive. The Ravine Flyer was shut down for further investigation which revealed no direct cause of the accident. However, what caused the demolition of the coaster was the owner's wife who was devastated by the event. The Ravine Flyer was finally replaced 70 years later in 2008 by the Ravine Flyer II in which Peninsula Drive was spanned again.