Waldameer Park - Erie, Pennsylvania - family amusement park

Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania is one of the ten oldest amusement parks in the nation. Originally opened as a picnic area, the park was leased by the Erie Electric Motor Company in 1896 as a trolley park. It has been in operation since, though it has evolved into a full-fledged amusement park in the years since. In the 1980s, Waldameer Park auctioned off its classic carousel to fund improvements to the amusements and attractions at the park.

Since 2007, Waldameer Park has added a number of attractions that have increased its attendance. The 2007 addition was the 140 foot tall X-Scream drop tower ride. In 2008, the park added a new wooden roller coaster, the Ravine Flyer II, which won the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride of 2008. The 2009 season featured an extension of the midway and the Mega Vortex, a Disk-O thrill ride. As of 2009, the park offers over 75 rides, including four roller coasters and 18 water rides.

Waldameer Park also features an attached water park which can be entered separately or in conjunction with an amusement park admission. The water park features water slides and raft rides, as well as a Tad Pool area designed to appeal to young children and their parents. The area includes three wading pools, five kiddie water slides and plenty of lounge chairs and deck areas for parents accompanying their children. Other popular attractions like the Raging River and the Bermuda Triangle are designed to appeal to the thrill-seeker in the family. For those who enjoy a more leisurely ride, the Endless River is an inner tube ride that floats past and under rain trees and a waterfall.

Other Waldameer Park highlights include a giant Gondola Wheel that rises 120 feet in the air. The Sky Ride also offers views of the entire park and out over Lake Erie, and the Steel Dragon is a spinning coaster ride in which the cars spin on their own centrifugal force as they rocket along the coaster track.

Waldameer Park also the Showtime Theater with free musical shows throughout the day. The shows run on different days and different hours, and may change with the seasons. Typical fare at the Showtime Theater includes the Sock Hop, a day-long musical revue featuring music from the 60s and 70s, and Merge, a 2 1/2 hour musical show that merges many different genres of music and dance. Other special features include costumed characters entertaining on the midway, a midway and arcade of fun and challenging carnival games, fireworks displays and karaoke on Saturday evenings.

Waldameer Park is open every day but Monday for the summer in June, July and August, with seasonal hours in May and September. Hours vary according to season, weather and attendance. There is no gate admission to the park. All day passes for the rides at Water World and Waldameer can be purchased separately or together, though individual ride tickets are also available. Waldameer recommends individual ride tickets for children under two because of ride restrictions. In addition, Waldameer Park offers group rates both with or without the use of a picnic area for the day. For more information, contact Waldameer Park at 814-838-3591.