Idora Park artifacts will be part of display

Staff report

GIRARD

The Idora Park Experience museum will bring memorabilia from the defunct Youngstown amusement park to the Black Horse Tavern, 100 W. Liberty St., on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

A private museum in Canfield, the Idora Park Experience finds, restores and shares artifacts from the park. Idora Park was on the South Side of Youngstown and existed from 1899 to 1984. Currently, the site, which is adjacent to Mill Creek Park, sits vacant.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the Black Horse Tavern to bring a bit of the past to the public,” said Jim Amey, founder of the Idora Park Experience.

Saturday’s event will include food vendors, including french fries inspired by Idora Park.

Tammi Anderson, whose grandmother brought cotton candy to Idora Park in 1929, will be making and selling cotton candy made from the original recipe and on the same equipment her grandmother used to make Idora’s famous cotton candy. Anderson’s family sold cotton candy at Idora Park from 1929 until it closed.

“We want people to experience their memories of Idora Park as if they happened yesterday,” said Amey. “We want people to climb in the [roller coaster] cars, take photos and tell their stories about Idora Park.”

The display will include a car from the Wildcat roller coaster, a boat from the Rapids/Lost River ride, a large silver rocket ship, a Tilt-A-Whirl car, and several other items from museum’s collection.

Amey, and his wife, Toni, will be on hand to share stories and answer questions about the creation of the Idora Park Experience and the park itself.

Market Street, in front of the Black Horse Tavern, will be closed to vehicular traffic for Saturday’s event, which will take place rain or shine.

The best way to get the latest news about the Idora Park Experience is to follow the The Idora Park Experience page on Facebook.

Private groups interested in touring the museum, or in having the Ameys speak at a function, can contact Jim Amey at 330-774-4107, by email from theidoraparkexperience.com or by sending a message via Facebook.

The Idora Park Experience, 4450 S. Turner Road, Canfield, will next be open to the public June 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The museum is also planning a reunion of former park employees.