Lakemont Park
Lakemont Park is an amusement park located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It houses the world's oldest-surviving roller coaster, the Leap-The-Dips. On June 19, 1996, the roller coaster was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service. The park opened in 1894 as a trolley park and became an amusement park in summer 1899. It is one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating, and the 8th-oldest amusement park in the United States. The park was owned by the Boyer Candy Company from May 23, 1986, until July 1, 1988, when it was called Boyertown USA. The park was closed from 2017 to 2018, but re-opened in summer 2019.[1] The park is located next to Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of the Altoona Curve Minor League Baseball team.
| Previously known as Boyertown USA | |
 | |
 Skyliner rollercoaster | |
| Location | Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40.4717632°N 78.3954871°W |
| Opened | 1894 |
| Owner | Lakemont Park Center, LLC |
| Slogan | Two Great Parks, Twice the Fun |
| Operating season |
|
| Area | 60 acres (240,000 m2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 8 |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Water rides | 3 – Currently closed |
| Website | http://www.lakemontparkfun.com |
Lakemont Park is also known for its 51-acre drive-through holiday light display, Holiday Lights on the Lake.
History
Lakemont Park opened in 1894, was donated to Blair County in 1937, privatized in 1986, and remained in operation through 2016. The park closed at the beginning of the 2017 season, as many rides and attractions were undergoing maintenance. In 2018, Lakemont Park announced that it would remain closed with plans to reopen as a "family entertainment location with some amusements" in the summer of 2019. Lakemont sold most of their rides except for Skyliner, Leap the Dips, Tin Lizzy Antique Cars, C.P. Huntington Train, Paddle Boats, Indy Go-Karts, 4x4 Monster Trucks, Lil’ Leaper, and the Waterpark. [2] The park reopened in the summer of 2019.[3]
Current rides and attractions
Lakemont Park has numerous outdoor attractions.
Roller coasters
| Ride | Opened | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leap-The-Dips | 1902 | A wooden, figure-eight type ride with three, four-seat trains. Only two figure-eight type roller coasters still survive in the world. Leap-The-Dips features 1,452 feet (443 m) of track and is one of the few surviving roller coasters with side friction. The ride was closed for all but two weeks in 2005, because of maintenance. The ride was also closed from 1986 to 1998. | |
| Skyliner | 1987 | The Skyliner was relocated from Roseland Park in Canandaigua, New York, where it was built in 1960. The move was to build up the park for the failed Boyertown USA project. This marks one of the few instances of a moved wooden roller coaster in the 80s. Skyliner today borders the outfield of Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of the Altoona Curve, next door. | |
| Little Leaper | A standard Allan Herschell Little Dipper kiddie coaster. The park currently does allow adult riders on this coaster, or anyone over the age of 12. | ||
Other Family Rides and Attractions
Kiddie Rides and Attractions
- 4X4[4] Monster Trucks
- C.P. Huntington Train
- Lil' Leaper
- Playground
Water park
| Ride | Opened | Closed | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool | 2020 | 3 foot deep pool - Currently Closed | [4] | |
| Three Water Slides | 2020 | Must be 42 inches to ride.- Currently Closed | [4] | |
| Pirate's Cove | 2017 | Small Pirate Ship with Water Cannons and Palm Trees | [4] | |
| Treehouse Activity Pool | 2019 | 2020 | Treehouse themed pool with fountains, it replaced the previous Pirate Cove pool - Currently Closed |
Former attractions
Like any amusement park that has been open for many years, rides are removed for various reasons. Below is a list of some of these rides.
Former roller coasters
| Ride | Manufacturer | Opened | Closed | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity Road | Amandus Sink | 1894 | 1897 | This was a switchback railroad-style roller coaster, owned and operated by Amandus Sink. The ride was torn down in 1897, likely because Sink went broke after losing a hotel business in a large fire. | [5][6][7] |
| Twister | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | 1927 | 1935 | Lakemont was once home to a Schmeck wooden roller coaster named "Twister" from 1927 to 1935. This ride was destroyed in a flood on in March, 1936, before being removed a year later. | |
| Toboggan | Chance Rides | 1991 | 2016 | A portable Toboggan coaster. The ride featured four single cars. | |
| Mad Mouse | Allan Herschell Company | 1993 | 2003 | Closed in 2003 due to excessive maintenance. | |
Incidents at Lakemont Park
- On September 2, 1991, a seventeen-year-old ride operator for the Little Leaper Coaster named Chris Whitfield got dragged away by the roller coaster and lost his right leg after it got mangled between the train and its track/chain. The accident was featured on the television series Rescue 911 on September 29, 1992 on CBS.
References
- "After two summers closed, Lakemont Park reopens with new additions". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- Stephens, Kay (March 7, 2018). "Lakemont to remain closed this year". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- "After two summers closed, Lakemont Park reopens with new additions". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- "Lakemont Park and The Island Water Park". Lakemontparkfun.com. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- "Lakemont Park Is 25 Years Old Tomorrow. Popular Resort was Formally Opened on July 4, 1893, by Logan Valley Railway". Altoona Tribune. July 3, 1918. p. 12.
- "Plenty of Work Goes on Now at Lakemont Summer Fun Spot". Altoona Mirror. April 14, 1961. p. 16.
- "July 4 To Mark 60th Birthday Of County's Lakemont Park". Altoona Tribune. June 29, 1953. p. 12.
External links
