Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
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| Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom | |
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| Location | South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, United States  |
| Website | http://www.dorneypark.com/ |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| Opened | 1884 |
| Previous names | Dorney Park |
| Area | 200 acres (0.81 km²) |
| Rides | 59 total
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| Slogan | Two Great Parks for the Price of One! |
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is a United States amusement and water park. It has a large number of elaborate roller coasters, children's rides, and features a large waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom.
Dorney Park is one of the most popular amusement parks on the East Coast of the United States. It is an especially popular recreational destination for residents from Philadelphia and New York City, both of which are less than 90 miles (140 km) from the park.
Dorney Park is located in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, just outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.
It is accessible in Allentown from both Interstate 78 and Cedar Crest Boulevard. The region is served by air transport through Lehigh Valley International Airport, approximately 10 miles (16 km) east of Dorney Park.
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[edit] History
[edit] Ownership
Dorney Park was founded in 1884 as a fish hatchery by Solomon Dorney, for whom the park is named. Rides were gradually added and the park was a trolley park on the northwestern edge of Allentown. A street also went right down the middle of the park. Jacob Plarr owned the park by the early 1900s and Robert L Plarr owned it by the 1940s. In 1967, Dorney park was sold to Robert F. Ott following Robert Plarr and son Stephen Plarr's passing. Harris Weinstein bought the park in 1985 and owned it until 1992, when it was sold to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. that July.
[edit] Rides history
[edit] Early years
Rides have come and gone at Dorney Park, such as the Philadelphia Toboggan Company's Grande Carousel which debuted at Dorney in 1932 from Shellpot Park in Wilmington, Delaware, but was destroyed in a September 1983 fire at the park. The "Bucket O' Blood" dark ride burned in the same fire. Luckily these fires occurred after the park was closed for the season, and questions of insurance fraud have left a cloud over these fires. Other early rides included the "Whip" in which riders spun on a small track in a pavillion. The Whip operates in the park today and is the oldest ride in the park.
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 closed but stayed standing and one side had live seals and fish while the other side was used for the Whale Boats, motorized boats sat 2 people each. Over by the bottom entrance to the park was the dark ride called "Tunnel Of Love" and then 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 still operates today as Thunderhawk. That opened in 1923. It was simply known as the "Coaster" until 1989 when it was renamed "Thunderhawk".
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 in previous paragraph. "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 Carrousel". The Gold Mine closed in the mid-1980s. "The Flying Dutchman" was a Pinfari compact steel coaster located where the Ferris Wheel is now. It was the largest of its kind. It was removed following the 1988 season due to mechanical problems.
[edit] 1980s
In 1980, Dorney Park Road, a former, two-lane state highway that cut through the park, was closed to traffic and converted to a midway. The road's 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. 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 1984. 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 Wavepool, 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. Also, two years later, a kiddie coaster was added across from "Laser" called Little Laser. This kiddie coaster 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 was moved next to Laser and was painted the same color and renamed. Its a kiddie coaster in that adults cannot ride unless accompanied by a child.
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.
[edit] 1990s
In 1991, Dorney Park added a few more flat rides and improved landscaping, preparing to once again sell it. Cedar Fair would buy the park in 1992. In 1993, the park added a flume ride that plunges riders in 20-passenger boats down an 80-foot (24 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 Whitewater 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, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom converted into a single unit. While the parks were still separate, admission to both were now included in one admission price. They began the slogan "Two Parks for The Price Of One". That year also saw the addition of a new water ride designed by Intamin, a river rapids ride consisting of eight-passenger rafts propelled by approximately one million gallons of water along a 16,400-foot (5,000 m) path. The rafts plunge and rock through an authentic looking cavern. Its known as Thunder Canyon.
In 1996, 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, some flat rides were added to the newer area of the park as well as a kiddie coaster called Dragon Coaster bringing the coaster count to six. In 1999, The Wild Mouse junior/family spinning coaster was added to the newer area of the park bringing the coaster count to seven.
[edit] 2000s
2000 saw the debut of Camp Snoopy, which was a newly themed children's play area. A junior coaster (though it's managed like a kiddie coaster in that adults without children cannot ride) called Woodstock Express was added bringing the coaster count to eight (four adult coasters, a junior coaster, and three kiddie coasters). Also, a 200-foot (61 m) tower called Dominator, featuring two gravity-defying rides was also added that year. One tower suddenly blasts riders straight up 15 stories in the air before dropping them back to earth, while another tower slowly lifts riders to a staggering 170 feet (52 m), then thrusts them downward at faster-than-free-fall speeds.
In 2001 near the now-front entrance of park, a Bolliger & Mabillard designed roller coaster was added. It was a steel inverted looping coaster with ski lift type seats. It was similar to Batman The Ride in concept but nearly twice as large and similar in size to Raptor at Cedar Point. The coaster is called Talon. The roller coaster count was five adult coasters, three kiddie coasters, and a junior coaster, totaling nine. In 2002, the waterpark modified a few waterslides but no other change 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 in which one is mostly open and straight down, one is winding and completely enclosed,a nd the third slide also winds but is open part way and enclosed part way. A new children's water play area was also added.
"Hercules" closed on Labor Day Weekend 2003. Soon after, it was demolished due to high maintenance costs and low ridership, bringing the coaster count down to eight. Many riders claimed it was a rough coaster.
At that time Hercules closed it was announced that it would be replaced by a steel floorless Bolliger & Mabillard coaster similar to Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure called "Hydra: the Revenge". This coaster would be under construction during the 2004 season. On May 7, 2005, Dorney Park opened the new floorless coaster, which cost $13 million. The half-mile length coaster features a steep 105-foot (32 m) drop. With the opening of Hydra, Dorney Park became home once again to nine roller coasters (five adult, one junior, and three kiddie).
[edit] Voodoo
On September 22, 2007, Dorney Park announced that they would receive their sixth adult roller coaster, a shuttle twisted impulse U-shaped coaster built by Intamin. The coaster was previously known as Steel Venom, located from 2000 to 2006 at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio. Originally named "Superman: Ultimate Escape," the roller coaster was renamed "Steel Venom" when the park was bought by Cedar Fair in 2004. This coaster was removed from Geauga Lake in 2006 and unofficially opened at Dorney Park on May 17, 2008. The coaster is now known as Voodoo located in the older area of the park adjacent to Laser. The coaster had its official grand opening on May 23, 2008.
[edit] Dorney Park roller coasters
Dorney Park's six primary roller coasters and one junior coaster are:
[edit] Current
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Design | Year Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydra: the Revenge | Bolliger & Mabillard | Steel | Sit Down (floorless) | 2005 |
| Laser | Schwarzkopf | Steel | Sit Down (looping) | 1986 |
| Steel Force | Morgan | Steel (hypercoaster) | Sit Down | 1997 |
| Talon: the Grip of Fear | Bolliger & Mabillard | Steel | Inverted | 2001 |
| Thunderhawk | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | Wooden | Sit Down | 1923 |
| Voodoo | Intamin AG | Steel | Inverted/Shuttle/Twisted Impulse | 2008 |
| Wild Mouse | Maurer Söhne | Steel | Sit Down | 2000 |
[edit] Past
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Design | In operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hercules | Dinn Corporation | Wooden | Sit Down | 1989-2003 |
| Flying Dutchman | Pinfari | Steel | Sit Down | 1972-1988 |
| Scenic Railway | Frederick Ingersoll | Wooden | Sit Down | 1903-1920 |
| Wild Mouse | Schiff | Steel | Sit Down | 1964-1965 |
[edit] Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park's Wildwater Kingdom, located on the park grounds, is one of the largest water parks 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. Unfortunately, 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. But two enclosed tube slides were dismantled at the end of 2006.
[edit] Dorney Park in movies
Dorney Park is featured as the park backdrop in the 1988 John Waters' 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, 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.
[edit] Past logos
 logo Used from 1992 to 1999, this logo still is used on park trash cans and is shown on the Dominator ride vehicles. |
 Used from 2000 to 2007 and still used on some park media with font from current logo. |
 logo text only used until 2007. |
[edit] External links
- Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Official Web Site.
- Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Unofficial Fan Site.
- Dorney Park Photo Gallery.
- Dorney Park audio review at Coasterradio.com.
- RCDB.com.
- "Journey To The Center of The Earth" On-Ride Footage from 1990.
- New York Times review of Dorney Park rollercoasters, August 13, 1989.
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