| Previously known as Idlewild Park | |
 | |
| Location | Ligonier, Pennsylvania, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°15′40″N 79°16′53″W / 40.26111°N 79.28139°W |
| Opened | 1878 |
| Owner | Herschend Family Entertainment |
| Operating season | May-September (Soak Zone) May-October (Idlewild Park) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 40 |
| Roller coasters | 2 |
| Water rides | 16 |
| Website | www.idlewild.com |
Idlewild and Soak Zone, also known as Idlewild Park or simply Idlewild, is an amusement park in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles (80 km) east of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1878 as a campground along the Ligonier Valley Railroad by Thomas Mellon, Idlewild is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest operating amusement park in the United States behind Lake Compounce and Cedar Point.[1] The park has won several awards, including from industry publication Amusement Today as the best children's park in the world.[2]
The prominent Mellon family established the park in 1878, and it remained family-owned for over 100 years. It expanded greatly throughout the first half of the 20th century, adding several rides, including Rollo Coaster in 1938. In 1983, the park was purchased by Kennywood Entertainment Company, which oversaw additional expansion, including an attraction designed and voiced by Fred Rogers based on his television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. In early 2025, the park was sold to Herschend Family Entertainment.[3]
- ^ "Oldest Amusement Parks in the United States". The Best of America. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^ "The Golden Ticket Awards | Presented by Amusement Today". The Golden Ticket Awards | Presented by Amusement Today. January 8, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Herschend to Acquire Palace Entertainment". www.hfecorp.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
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