Favorite Small Family Park

[Joshua H]

So, we're always talking about the larger Parks, what about a discussion about the smaller family-owned types of parks...
I personally enjoy visiting these smaller parks equally to visiting parks like Cedar Point, and SFMM...no long lines, family atmosphere, usually historical, and always laid-back....

Idlewild Park in Ligonier, PA is the perfect example of what I'm talking about .....it's a delightful walk through the woods to two coasters and other odd fun things (Like Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood)....The Rollo Coaster was built in 1938 and was Surprisingly long and fun for such a SHORT lift hill....and the operator has to pull a lever to lift the brakes up! www.idlewild.com

Several people have been going to Lake Winnepesaukah in Chattanooga, TN lately. What are your thoughts on that park? I love it! Boat Ride is the only shoot-the-chutes left in the USA... www.lakewinnie.com

Lakemont Park in Altoona, PA is neat, just because it has 2 coasters, one of which is the World's Oldest...Leap the Dips (Built in 1902) was SO COOL...the operator actually pushes the cars to the lift chain...and also stops you with a lever...(check out www.leapthedips.org)...I wasn't so sure about the rest of the park, which just seemed like way too much asphault.... www.lakemontparkfun.com

DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Tipton, PA has a huge water park and Zyklon, it's like Cedar Point's Wildcat type rollercoaster....lots of fun www.delgrossos.com

I don't know much about Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley, NC ( www.ghosttowninthesky.com ), or Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, NC ( www.tweetsie.com )...just that they exist and have rides...

Maybe we could make a list of all these parks that exist...it's so hard to find them as you are planning trips...Tell your thoughts on the parks, the website address, and Most Importatly the City and State...

[Harpo]

Sorry to break the news to you, but Idlewild isn't an independent -- it's owned by Kennywood Entertainment. As I understand it, they bought the park because both Cedar Fair and Six Flags were making bids for it, and Kennywood didn't want the competition from the bigger players. (Kennywood also owns Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT.) Although it isn't an independent, Idlewild is a quaint park.

By the way, Lakemont Park has 5 coasters: Leap The Dips, Skyliner, Toboggan, Mad Mouse, and a junior coaster called Little Leaper.

The best family-owned park I've visited is Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN. It's a very well run park, with a couple of great wood coasters.

Another neat small park is Miracle Strip in Panama City Beach, FL. Starliner is an excellent wood coaster.

In Tulsa, OK, you'll find a really good wood coaster called Zingo at Bell's Amusement Park. The park desperately needs paint, but the operators appeared quite professional in the administration of their tasks.

Marineland in Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada is a nice park with a good steel coaster in Dragon Mountain.

Another very enjoyable small park is Canobie Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire. This park has 4 coasters, including one old woodie (Yankee Cannonball).

For information and links to these parks, I recommend visiting the Roller Coaster Database at www.rcdb.com.

[pat28]

What exactly is a "shoot the chutes" ride? Cause in Calaway Park near my house, it is a log ride. I've seen many log rides in the states.
www.calawaypark.com Theres a picture of the Shoot the CHutes there.

[Xzentrificenceo]

Well my favorite small park is no longer a family owned park which has its good and bad points. It is Enchanted Village in Federal Way, Washington. The old owners sold to SFI. But since then they have added a new woodie which I can not wait to ride. I hope to they have it running around Xmas when the rest of the park is open. They also have a fun little steel corckscrew coaster called Wild Thing. It is short but pretty fun and has 3 qucik inversions. They also have tons of flat rides and kiddie rides. The big draw for the park is the Wild Waves portion of the park.

[Harpo]

Pat, the shoot-the-chutes that's at Lake Winnie is an authentic old-style shoot-the-chutes. There are many "log rides" around the world -- most U.S. parks have at least one. But the shoot-the-chutes rides from the early part of the 20th century generally made use of a lake rather than being in self-contained troughs. Their final splashdown was usually into the lake, and would often be open to the lake for at least a short distance (meaning a portion with no side rails). They were also typically designed so that the riders would not get wet. Apparently, amusement park visitors in the early 1900's did not like getting wet on rides. It's understandable -- looking at the old photos, many of them showed up at the park wearing suits and dresses.

The modern version of the ride tends to be self-contained rather than part of a lake, and they generally are designed to get the riders at least a bit wet.

I hope that helps. If I can clarify anything about that statement, please ask.

[kbendiksen]

Another very enjoyable small park is Lake Canobie Park in Salem, New Hampshire. This park has 4 coasters, including one old woodie (Yankee Cannonball).

Canobie lake is on of my favorites along with fun town/slpash town in Saco, Maine.
It's funny though i have SFNE 15 minutes from where i live and i don't care to go there i rather drive 2 hours to canobie lake.

[Harpo]

I was talking to a couple from Chicago, and they had a similar comment. They lived a few minutes from Six Flags Great America, but preferred to drive to Indiana Beach in Monticello, IN.

Incidentally, Cornball Express at Indiana Beach is an excellent coaster. Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain is brutal, but rather fun.

[pat28]

Thanks that clears that up for me.

[Squid2]

Harpo, did they finish enclosing Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain? All of the shots on www.rcdb.com show it exposed to the sky. Just curious.

Squid2

[Harpo]

Lost Coaster is not completely enclosed. Judging from the looks of it, I don't think they intend to completely enclose it -- part of it runs over the top of other attractions. (Well, one other attraction, being the antique car ride.) It goes zipping in and out of the mountain, which, in my opinion, really adds to the ride.

This year, I noticed some animated theming inside the mountain that I don't recall seeing last year, so it could be that's what needed finishing.

[cfxcin02]

u want a small familly park, check out knoebels. there website is www.knoebels.com

they ave 2 wood coasters that in the few times i have been there have waits of less than 30min. they also have a steal coaster that if you have to wait in line for u will orobbly get on the very next time the train (thats right only 1 train but i's a short coaster so no need for more) arives at the station. they have a few unique rides their that i havnt found at any other parks.

the staff is ok, there not super nice , bu they don't give u any reason to dislike them.

the food is defantly good, four years straight they have recieved an award for best amusment park food in the country.