More Proof that PA is the best place for park lovers – article on remaining trolley parks and 4 out of 11 are in Pennsylvania, Kennywood and Dorney Park included July 23, 2010
Jim Futrell THE Amusement Park Historian of PA is mentioned in an article for ABC news discussing the remaining trolley parks in the United States and Pennsylvania is well represented.
If you aren’t much up on the history of small amusement parks then you may not realize that many parks began as a drop off point for a local trolley company. The trolley companies would build these parks, or sponsor them, for their employees to enjoy during their leisure time to raise ridership of their street cars and trains on weekends. Industrial towns did not have much going to having a beautiful outdoor place to gather and picnic was a definite perk in drawing new people to a town. Many of these parks eventually grew into small amusement parks featuring simple rides and food vendors.
Most of these trolley parks are no longer in existance, but Pennsylvania still has four: Kennywood, Dorney Park, Waldemeer Park and Lakemont Park. If you like to find out more, check out the article here.
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