Saturday, March 26, 2005
THE VINDICATOR
IN THE WORLD OF NEW millennium amusement parks, where the thrill ante is upped annually with neon bling and Hollywood flash, it's refreshing to find a family vacation destination based more on its past than its future.
As the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, the third oldest in the United States and the 11th oldest in the world, the 125-year-old Idlewild and SoakZone, located in Ligonier, is situated among the natural beauty of the Laurel Highlands with many acres of trees and shaded picnic areas.
"It's not like a sea of asphalt like many parks are," public relations and marketing manager Jeff Croushore said. "It's a mountain wooded park, which is not something you typically find in most amusement parks."
In addition to its vast array of classic amusement park rides, is the relatively new SoakZone, which was expanded in 2000 to include 14 water slides. For the 2005 season, Idlewild officials are excited about the unveiling of its new Paul Bunyan's Loggin' Toboggan. The log flume ride features a 125-foot climb to a three-story tower before riders come splashing down the shoot with wet and exciting results.
"It's a themed ride because they are actually floating through Paul Bunyan's logging camp," Croushore said. "It's just to add another family-fun ride to our lineup of rides, and it's really something that everyone can enjoy. It packs enough excitement for the more thrill seekers but it's easily appreciated by those who are a little bit more faint of heart and don't like intense rides."
'Neighborhood' attraction
While there are plenty of funny-feeling-in-your-stomach rides to enjoy, such as The Spider, The Whip and Wild Mouse, Idlewild and SoakZone does offer a casual atmosphere and relaxed pace for families, especially those with younger children. In fact, the park's biggest appeal is catering to preschool aged kids. This includes the one and only "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe" attraction in the country.
"You can actually take a ride on the life-size replica of the TV trolley through the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and meet the characters from the popular TV show," Croushore said. "That's something we're real proud of. Fred Rogers was actually a local resident. He grew up down the road and actually helped with the planning and recording of all of the voices for the characters for the ride."
Other children-oriented attractions and rides of interest include the Story Book Forest, with Peter Rabbit, the Old Woman in the Shoe and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
For many adults, there's an undeniable sense of sentimentality associated with Idlewild and SoakZone, which stems from their fond memories of attending the park when they were children.
"We want our guests to enjoy Idlewild with their entire family and the only way they can truly accomplish that is if we deliver fun summertime memories at an affordable price," Croushore said. "We know and respect that families have many entertainment options so we must provide a memorable experience at an exceptional value."
Special events
In addition to the park's many rides and attractions, there are various special events scheduled throughout the season. Some notable dates include Firefighter/EMS Family Appreciation Day (June 19), Buy-One-Get-One-Free days (June 20 to 24 and June 27 to July 1) and fireworks (July 4, weather permitting).
Just as every park needs to reinvent itself, Idlewild and SoakZone officials are looking forward without forgetting their past.
"We see a bright future," Croushore said. "Idlewild is committed to creating fun summer memories for families and building lasting memorable experiences for our guests. Our recipe for success is to continuously improve our value offering, stay true to our history and ensure that we care and nurture this beautiful park. As long as families want to spend a fun day together, we will continue to provide that unique summer fun experience that families can only get at Idlewild and SoakZone."