Region's parks promise season of thrills
You don't have to go far from home this summer to experience out-of-this-world thrills.
They're as close as Hersheypark's Storm Runner, a rocket coaster that accelerates from 0 to 72 miles per hour in two seconds, or Kennywood Park's Skycoaster, an experience that starts 180 feet above ground, where riders are released from the launch tower and free-fall at approximately 75 miles per hour.
A dozen amusement and water parks are located in Pennsylvania, more than any other state in the country, according to the Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Association.
In nearby Ohio, a handful of parks offer more extreme excitement, including Cedar Point's new maXair, a swing-and-spin pendulum ride that Daniel Keller, vice president and general manager of the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park, says is "a sensory overload machine packed with plenty of action. One moment riders will be upside down and the next moment they will be diving face-first toward the ground. It will be as much fun to watch as it will be to ride."
Fun-seekers who get their kicks from extreme water slides and action rides like Geauga Lake's new Riptide Run, which park spokeswoman Lexi Robinson describes as "a lazy river gone wild," will want to check out the first phase of the Aurora, Ohio, park's new Wildwater Kingdom, a 20-acre water park that will open in June. Phase two is scheduled to debut Memorial Day weekend 2006, she says. Wildwater Kingdom is located on the 56 acres formerly owned by Sea World.
The 2005 expansion includes a new tornado slide, a 60-foot tall funnel-shaped raft slide, and an action river with several aquatic elements including wave generators and interactive spray gadgets. A new children's area features an interactive aqua play structure with a tipping bucket that spills 1,000 gallons of water over guests every two minutes, Robinson says. Also, a teen activity pool has been added, providing a water obstacle course featuring net climbs, floating cargo crossings, bubbling pools and interactive water sprays.
Geauga Lake is in the midst of a major revival after being acquired in 2004 by Cedar Fair L.P., also the owner of Cedar Point. Robinson says visitors will get a break on admission prices this year. An adult ticket good for the amusement park and water park will be $24.95 this season, $10 less than last year, she says.
At Cedar Point, the addition of maXair this season brings the total number of rides in the park to 68 surpassing the world record for most rides set two years ago by the amusement park, says spokesman Robin Innes. He says the Sandusky, Ohio, park also holds the world record for the most coasters -- 16.
Cedar Point also has added a refurbished games midway and an ice skating show this season in its Good Time Theatre that features familiar Peanuts cartoon characters, he says. "Snoopy's Summer Vacation" debuts on June 25 and will run through Sept. 5.
At Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, a major change will be unnoticeable to the public, says spokeswoman Mary Lou Rosemeyer. The park's classic Merry-Go-Round has been overhauled for the new season, a project that "was no small task," she says. The entire ride -- down to the bearings and gears -- was dismantled and parts were sent to California to be refurbished.
Also new at Kennywood is its pricing structure that eliminates a former general admission fee for those guests who chose not to ride the rides. This year a Funday pass at the gate costs $28.95 for adults, $18 for juniors, $14.95 for seniors, and a Night Rider pass after 6 p.m. costs $14.95. Also new for 2005 is a Kennywood/Sandcastle Same Day Combo Pass for $28.95, which gives riders access to both parks in one day.
At Idlewild Park's Soak Zone in Ligonier, also owned by Kennywood Entertainment, Paul Bunyan's Loggin' Toboggan, a whitewater adventure ride, is a new attraction this summer. Idlewild Park, with family attractions such as Storybook Forest and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of Make Believe, is the third oldest amusement park in the United States, according to park officials. For those who prefer taking in the sights in an upright position, the region's amusement parks also offer more mellow attractions, in addition to traditional summertime taste treats like cotton candy, funnel cake and Kennywood Park's famous Potato Patch fries.
Good food is one of the main attractions at DelGrosso's Amusement Park, located 10 miles north of Altoona in Tipton, Blair County. President Peter Gardella says the 30-ride park offers "great family fun at old-fashioned prices." The amusement park, water park and picnic grounds are owned and operated by the same family known for its tomato sauce and Italian specialties.
The park also offers "Spaghetti Wednesdays," featuring freshly made lunches and dinners featuring DelGrosso sauces and different types of pasta each week. The cost is $5.45 for adults, $3.95 for children. He says the ethnic meals give his family an opportunity "to recognize our culture and Italian heritage."
DelGrosso's starts the season with three new rides that were added near the end of last year, he says: Crazy Mouse, a spinning rollercoaster; the Free Fall gravity drop and Wacky Worm, a kiddie coaster. Also scheduled are several special events such as car shows, a Native American Pow Wow July 16-17, free concerts and other entertainment.
