Park Profile
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New for 2011 A busy day at the park
Ringing the Changes But Waldameer had certainly changed. Around the classic rides like the Paratrooper and Tilt-A-Whirl were several newer teen rides, and the once-genteel midway now resonated with the shouts and screams of excited kids. Amidst all the excitement, and not a little disoriented with the change, I asked Waldameer Park president Steve Gorman, who with majority owner Paul Nelson operate the park, “What is Waldameer Park now?” “That's a good question,” the 50-year-old Gorman chuckled. “Our local following still loves us and remains very loyal, we're still 'Erie's park,' and yet we've had to grow, just like everyone else in this industry. We're making our decisions very carefully, trying to maintain the feel and history of Waldameer Park while not antiquating ourselves. I guess we're just putting one front in front of the other.” “Has Waldameer Park stepped up from being a local park to a regional park?” I asked him. “Well, that would be a stretch,” Gorman winced.
“We're somewhere in between. Certainly the Ravine Flyer II has given us a major push, but that's more with the coaster lovers than with the general public. And remember, as far as our region goes, we've got Kennywood to the south, Darien Lake to the East and Martin's Fantasy Island to our Northeast. It's a very competitive market.” Very true. The states of Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio have historically had the highest number of traditional amusement parks per-capita and per square mile. However, the sad closures of classic parks like Crystal Beach outside Buffalo, New York, Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio and Geauga Lake near Cleveland, Ohio, have expanded Waldameer's region considerably. The venerable Conneaut Lake is just 45 miles south of Waldameer, but its near-closure despite valiant attempts at revival have secured crowds towards Waldameer. “With Geauga Lake's closing in 2007, we're marketing ourselves stronger in Cleveland now, which is just two hours west of us. Of course, Cedar Point is a further 50 miles west of Cleveland, and we can't compete with Cedar Point. But we offer a smaller, more affordable alternative.”
Sitting on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie, and otherwise bounded by a Pennsylvania state highway, Waldameer Park's current challenge is space. It took no less than
APRIL 2011 The Whacky Shack dark ride
10 years to get permission from Pennsylvania's department of transportation, environmental protection agency, various smaller local municipalities, and one upset neighbour, to extend the track for Ravine Flyer II from the park over the state road to Waldameer's overflow parking lot.“
Highway Highlight
The main concern wasn't about the logistics of a rollercoaster structure straddling a state road,” Gorman explains, “but that a rollercoaster flying back and forth over the highway might distract drivers.” To solve that problem, Waldameer hid the coaster tracks from the road with a covered bridge, which just added to the riders’ thrill.
Otherwise, expanding within the park itself continues to be a challenge. “We're squeezing in new rides when we can, while trying not to overcrowd the midway. We don't dare give up any of our picnic space, as that's our bread and butter. And we can't lose any more of our parking.”
Given that the parking is still free, and the gate is still open, I asked if they've thought about charging for parking and gate admission.
“Sure, we've thought about it,” Gorman mused, “but we'd rather not. There could be a backlash. Then again, I know other parks that began doing that, and there didn't seem to be too much of a problem with the public, at least not with the gate admission. We could have a senior admission for people who don't ride the rides. But again, we're trying to hold onto our local park tradition, while meeting the future at the same time. It's a very delicate balance. Still,” he smiled, “we've got an ace card up our sleeve.” He led me to the northern boundary of the park, at the edge of the cliff, behind the Rainbow Gardens Ballroom, and pointed 70ft down to Lake Erie below. “We own about 600ft of beach front down there. A hundred years ago there was access to that beach, using the Toonerville Trolley to get bathers from the park down to the beach and back, but the beach hasn't been used since that time. It's still there for us.” What about a major steel coaster that loads in the park and then dives down to the water below? Like their neighbour Kennywood's steel coaster, Phantom's Revenge?
Steve Gorman smiled at me. “We'll see.” We can all learn from parks like Waldameer.
When Waldameer opens for the 2011 season on May 7, it will unveil an expansion at the north end of the park with three new rides. Located between the Sea Dragon and the Ravine Flyer II, the area will feature three new family rides from Zamperla rides including a wave swinger, tea cups and Rockin’ Tug. The attractions will be called the Flying Swings, Wendy's Tea Party and the SS Wally respectively.
Beautiful gardens, benches,
an 8ft-tall water fountain and a 20-foot arch will also contribute to the relaxing, carefree atmosphere, while Waldameer's L Ruth Express Train will be replaced by a brand new engine in 2011. This new CP Huntington from Chance Morgan will transport riders on a smooth and relaxing ride through the park. A wheelchair accessible coach will be included.
www.waldameer.com
The new Rockin’ Tug and Wave Swinger take shape at the park
Gary Kyriazi is the author of The Great American Amusement Parks, A Pictorial History, and has been a researcher and
writer for the amusement industry for nearly 40 years.
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