Located in the scenic Laurel Highlands
of western Pennsylvania, America's third oldest amusement park,
Idlewild, was founded in 1878 as a picnic ground along the Ligonier
Valley Rail Road. Its tranquil setting quickly established Idlewild
as the premier place for church, school, and corporate picnics, as
well as a recreational getaway for families. Idlewild added new
amusements and facilities as its crowds continued to grow, but it
always strove to maintain the picturesque landscape of the site.
Soon a fully-fledged amusement park was in operation, with throngs
of visitors disembarking the trains from such places as Latrobe,
Greensburg, and Pittsburgh.
Home to unique attractions like
Story Book Forest, the Rollo Coaster, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of
Make-Believe, and the SoakZone, Idlewild has been the backdrop for
generations of fond memories. Idlewild's proximity to the Lincoln
Highway helped the park survive the abandonment of the railroad, and
careful development by the Mellon and Macdonald families and the
Kennywood Entertainment Company continue to help it thrive. This
collection of photographs tells the story of how one of America's
most beautiful theme parks has grown throughout the years.
About the author
Employed by Idlewild and SoakZone
for 12 years, Jeffrey S. Croushore currently serves as a picnic
coordinator. In the winter of 2000-2001, he undertook a project to
organize and catalogue Idlewild's archives and is now the park's
principal archivist.
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