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Park Update www.parkworld-online.com


Waldameer Park. With decent weather, he could expect a double-digit percentage increase in Waldameer’s attendance.


“Waldameer is a real family park and this will be a great addition for the teenagers and parents,” noted Nelson. “Over 50 percent of our business is organized picnics and we have already seen a growth in school, church, youth, and industrial picnics. How much, only time will tell.” Waldameer is the tenth oldest amusement park in the United States. Waldameer’s origins began in the late 1800’s as Hoffman’s grove, an Erie area popular picnic spot overlooking the lake. The Erie Electric Motor Co., the city’s main trolley company, leased Hoffman’s grove and renamed the land Waldameer, German for “woods by the sea,” and in 1896 Waldameer Park opened. Paul Nelson,


his wife Lane, his son-in-law Steve Gorman who is president and general manager, and his daughter Nancy Gorman head up a group of three generations of the family that are working there. Nelson’s goal is to continue growing with ownership of the park only in the hands of those in the family who work there.


Nelson Takes Over


A large dance hall and carousel were added in the early 1900s by the trolley company. Three roller coasters were built including the Figure Eight, Scenic Railway and their first Ravine Flyer. Waldameer was forced to close the Hofbrau German Beer Garden, one of its most popular attractions, complete with singing waiters, because of Prohibition in 1919.


The 1920’s were the golden age of the amusement park industry. The largest roller coaster – Their Ravine Flyer ushered in the golden age of Waldameer when it opened in 1922, then came the Old Mill. Under the general management of Alex Moeller, other attractions were added. Following the Depression of the 1930’s and removal of the first Ravine Flyer, the economy improved as more rides were added and new dance hall named Rainbow Gardens was built in the ‘40s, replacing the one that burned down in ’37.


In 1945, Alex Moeller became owner of SUMMER PART 3 2021


the park in 1945 and became a mentor to an 11-year-old Paul Nelson, who began working there. The Comet roller coaster was added in ‘51. Moeller died in 1965, and Paul Nelson, who was by then adopted by the Moellers, took over ass General Manager. Nelson then began upgrading the Park’s aging infrastructure. 1970 witnessed a long period of expansion. Current attractions including the Pirate’s Cove, L. Ruth Express Train, named after Alex Moeller’s widow, Paratrooper, and Spider. In 1978 Nelson assumed full ownership and added the Sky Ride.


More Expansion


In 1985, Paul Nelson decided to go into debt and significantly expand. Water World debuted in 1986. Then, the old carousel and Blue Goose ride were auctioned off. The $1 million in proceeds were used for further expansion of the water park and additional picnic shelters were built, helping the Park to register record seasons. Ride expansion resumed all through the ‘90s. Waldameer’s 100th Anniversary in 1996 the addition of Thunder River, and OD Hopkins log flume, replacing the Old Mill. Steve Gorman, Paul Nelson’s son-in-law, came on as GM this same year, ensuring continuity of ownership. Nelson’s dream of seeing the Ravine Flyer soar again was realized with the opening of the Ravine Flyer II in 2008.


The 1920’s were the golden age of the amusement park industry.


Nelson began Waldameer’s largest expansion in 2015. With the purchase of new land along Peninsula Drive and 6th Street, Waldameer expanded its parking lot to accommodate the new Giant Wave Pool. With almost 500,000 gallons of water and accommodating over 1,000 people, this wave pool created waves of fun for young and old. In the following years, Water World continued to grow with the additions of the Kidz Slide’n Spray Zone, a shallow zero-depth entry pool with ten slides designed for small children and a “sprayground” featuring dozens of fountains, water curtains, and dumping buckets for the enjoyment of children and families. Finally, the Battle of Lake Erie 40ft multi-level play structure was added in 2017, themed after Erie’s role int the Battle of 1812. It features seven slides, a giant 400-gallon tipping bucket, along with over 110 other water features for the entire family to enjoy. Water World then saw the addition of the CannonBOWL water slide to the Awesome Twosome and Liquid Lightning slide tower.


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