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| ACE Historian David Hahner Jr. (left) and Idlewild Park General Manager Brandon Leonatti unveil the new marker at Idlewild Park along Route 30 on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2012. |
Idlewild
Park, a longtime staple of Southwest Pennsylvania’s entertainment
industry, received a new honor on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2012 with the
dedication of a new roadside plaque in honor of the park’s history.
In
recognition of the park’s 135th operating season, the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission has honored Idlewild with an official
historic marker, placed along Route 30, by one of the park’s exits.
Idlewild has already received national attention with its current
distinction as World’s Best Children’s Park, a title formerly held by
Legoland California.
An
official dedication ceremony was held Saturday morning with speeches
from Jeffrey S. Croushore; Sales and Public Relations Manager for
Idlewild, Jean Craige Pepper; Commissioner for the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission, and David Hahner Jr. of the American
Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) who first nominated the park for its
historical distinction in 2010.
Hahner,
a historian for ACE, stated in an interview following the dedication
that the nomination process began during a weekend at Idlewild with
Croushore showing him the park’s first Golden Ticket Award and talking
about how he had been toying with the idea of nominating the park’s
Rollo Coaster (sic) for the title of an ACE Coaster Landmark.
“We
began talking about different historical markers... and at that point I
said ‘Well you guys don’t have a state historic marker yet and you’re
older than Kennywood,’” said Hahner.
Hahner
began working with Croushore, who also authored an “Images of America”
book on Idlewild in 2004, over the two-year process by supplying
extensive amounts of information and history to the PA Historical and
Museum Commission to receive the marker. Croushore himself stated that
the event resonates with him personally.
“I
grew up coming to Idlewild and I have so many special family memories:
My first roller coaster ride, gathering around the picnic tables
throughout the grounds and just a lot of lifetime family memories which
make it a very special event for me and everyone here at the park,” said
Croushore.
The trademark navy-blue and gold plaque reads as follows:
Idlewild Park
The
longest-operating amusement park in Pa. and among the oldest in the
nation. In 1878, Thomas Mellon leased land along his Ligonier Valley
Railroad hoping to increase passenger traffic by opening a picnic
ground. Amusement rides began to be added in the 1890s; several rides
from the 1930s continue to operate today. Surviving the railroad
closure, two World Wars and the Great Depression, Idlewild provides
nationally recognized family recreation.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 2012©
