DelGrosso's Amusement Park

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Delgrosso's Amusement Park
Slogan A Family Tradition
Location Tipton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates 40°38′09″N 78°17′46″W / 40.6358°N 78.2961°W / 40.6358; -78.2961Coordinates: 40°38′09″N 78°17′46″W / 40.6358°N 78.2961°W / 40.6358; -78.2961
Owner The DelGrosso Family
Opened 1907
Previous names Bland's Park
Area Tipton, PA
Rides
Roller coasters 2
Water rides 5
Website http://www.delgrossos.com

DelGrosso's Amusement Park is a family-oriented amusement park located in Tipton, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Altoona, Pennsylvania. The park was purchased by the DelGrosso family in 1946 and was named "Bland's Park" until 2000. In 2000, the DelGrosso family decided to change its name to "DelGrosso's Amusement Park." The park is known for its family-friendly ride line-up, food, and games as well as free parking. The park hosts picnics and special music events in its pavilion/picnic area. The park owns two uncommon rides, an Eli Bridge Ferris wheel, and the Space Odyssey, a "Caterpillar" that was retired in 2011.

History

Formerly known as Bland's Park until 2000, the small family-friendly amusement park is located in Tipton, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Altoona railroad businessman, Fred Delgrosso, purchased the amusement park in 1946.

DelGrosso's Amusement Park was originally opened by the Rinard brothers on the Blands' family farm in 1907. The park fell into disrepair during the Great Depression. It was purchased in 1946 by Fred DelGrosso, at which time only a few picnic shelters remained.[citation needed] The DelGrosso family has continued to invest in the park with various additions and improvements and continues to operate it today.

The DelGrosso family is also the founder of DelGrosso Foods, Inc. DelGrosso Foods produces and distributes pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, and other Italian specialty items.

The current park

Highlights of the park include go-cart racing, an extensive kiddie-land, small water rides/waterpark, miniature golf, pavilion, and catering amenities. The park hosts several annual events throughout the year. The “Summer Thunder” fireworks show for the 4th of July is a highlight of the park's season. Other events include the Native American Pow Wow, Italian Festival, and Harvestfest which is a fall festival held in September to close out the season. The park also hosts "Spaghetti Wednesday" which features a special Italian dish each Wednesday during the summer.

The park resides on both sides of Old Route 220. The water rides/water park, go-kart racing, miniature golf, water-side concessions, and parking lie on the southeast side of the road, while the games, park rides, pavilions, and park-side food reside on the northwest side of the road. There is a wheelchair-accessible walking bridge connecting both sides of the park over Old Route 220. Ride and water park passes may be purchased on either side of the park.

At the beginning of each day, the park salutes the United States with The Star Spangled Banner. At this time, everything in the park is halted as the national anthem is played.

Roller coasters

After the 2003 season, the park sold its Pinfari "Zyklon" roller coaster, installed in 1987, to Blue Diamond Park (which closed In 2008). A Zamperla "Crazy Mouse" was installed in its place in 2004. In the same year, a Fajume "Wacky Worm" kiddie coaster was added to the park.

In 2006, the park purchased the "Revolution," an Arrow loop and corkscrew, from Libertyland for $55,000 USD at auction. The coaster was still on-site as of May 2011, but has since been purchased by Gloria's Fantasyland in the Philippines and is currently under construction.[1]

For the 2010 season, the park installed four new rides: a Chance-Morgan Pharaoh's Fury (an Egyptian-themed pirate ship ride), a Chance Morgan Yo-Yo (a roundabout swing ride), a Sellner Dizzy Dragons (a kiddie ride similar in concept to tea cups) and the X Scream (a 140 foot drop tower ride). The park also retired the Balloon Race and the Sea Dragon to make room for these additions in 2009, with the Ferris Wheel going on a hiatus.

Rides


Kiddie rides

  • Fire Trucks
  • Corvette Race Cars
  • Boats
  • Elephants
  • Whales
  • Turtles
  • Dizzy Dragons
  • Helicopters
  • Merry-Go-Round

Roller coasters

  • Crazy Mouse
  • Wacky Worm

Past

  • Zyklon
  • Little Dipper
  • Two Bumper Car Rides
  • Flying Scooters
  • Sea Dragon
  • Balloon Race
  • Ferris Wheel
  • Red Baron
  • Space Odyssey
  • Flying Bobs
  • Super Spiral

Water attractions

  • Tipton Waterworks
  • Tipton Rapids

Red Tower:

  • Midnight Express
  • Great White
  • Gravity Groove

Green Tower:

  • Twin Twisters

Upcharge attractions

  • Altoona-Tipton Speedway (Go-Karts)
  • Mini-Golf

References

  1. ↑ http://rcdb.com/6395.htm

External links


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