Dorney Park was founded by Solomon Dorney in 1884. The park was
owned by Dorney until the early 1900s, when Jacob Plarr assumed
ownership. The Plarr family operated the park until 1985, with the
exception of a brief period during which it was owned and operated
by the local trolley company, the Allentown-Kutztown Traction
Company. Originally a simple fish hatchery, Dorney Park expanded to
include a hotel, casino, bowling alley, Ferris wheel, carousel,
roller coaster, roller-skating rink, railroad rides, and many
traditional mechanized rides and modern amusements. The park is
known today as Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom.
Dorney Park illustrates the development of one of America’s
greatest historic amusement parks. Among the vintage photographs and
postcards one will find images of the Mill Chute, or the Tunnel of
Love, as it was also known; the old wooden roller coaster under
construction; the Zephyr train, a headliner in the park for many
years; Castle Garden; the original Dentzel carousel; the racetrack;
and the merry-go-rounds that were once a major attraction at the
park.
Wally Ely grew up within walking distance of Dorney Park. He
produced a segment featuring Bob Ott and the Dorney Park Zephyr for
the RCN cable television magazine show Time Out Lehigh Valley, which
was voted the viewers’ choice for the most popular segment in the
show’s fifteen-year history. Bob Ott, one-time owner of the park,
shares his photographs, postcards, and experiences with Wally Ely to
bring the history of Dorney Park to life.
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