Clementon Amusement Park facts for kids
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| Location | 144 Berlin Road, P.O. Box 125, Clementon, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates | 39°48′11″N 74°59′05″W / 39.8031°N 74.9847°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1907 |
| Owner | IB Parks & Entertainment |
| Operating season | Memorial Day through Labor Day |
| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 25 |
| Roller coasters | 2 |
| Water rides | 8 |
Clementon Park and Splash World is a fun theme park and water park located in Clementon, New Jersey, United States. It's also known as Clementon Lake Park. This park is one of the oldest amusement parks still open in the world! It's also one of only thirteen "trolley parks" left in the U.S.
A "trolley park" was an amusement park built at the end of a trolley line. This encouraged people to ride the trolley on weekends. The park closed in September 2019 but was bought by a new owner, IB Parks & Entertainment, in March 2021. They reopened the park on June 25, 2021, bringing back the fun for everyone!
Contents
Park History
How It Started (1907–1919)
Clementon Park was started in 1907 by Theodore B. Gibbs and his sons, Edgar B. and Willard. Theodore Gibbs was a veteran of the American Civil War. He also held many important local jobs.
In its early years, the park was a very popular place to visit. A trolley line ran all the way from Camden, New Jersey, right to the park entrance.
Exciting Times (1920–1939)
In the 1920s, the park had a movie theater, a dance hall, and a steam-powered carousel. The Jack Rabbit roller coaster was added in 1919. It was a very modern ride for its time!
On June 22, 1931, a fire broke out at the park. It started in the shooting gallery and caused some explosions. Firefighters from six nearby towns helped put out the fire. Luckily, the damage was not too bad.
In 1932, a presidential candidate named Norman Thomas gave a speech at Clementon Park. He spoke to about 3,500 people. In 1936, a boxer named Al Ettore trained at the park for a big fight. Thousands of fans came to watch him. During his training, a section of the grandstand where people were sitting collapsed. About 500 people were on it, but no one was seriously hurt!
Surviving Tough Times (1940–1969)
During the 1930s to 1950s, Clementon Park's ballroom hosted long dance marathons. Famous people like Red Skelton and Dick Clark sometimes hosted these events. These marathons helped the park survive the Great Depression. They offered a prize of $100 to the dance partners who could last the longest.
New Owners and Changes (1970–1999)
In 1977, the Gibbs family sold Clementon Lake Park to Abram Baker. His son, Larry Baker, took over running the park in 1979.
Modern Updates (2000–2019)
In 2007, a company called Adrenaline Family Entertainment bought the park. They made many big changes and added new rides. In 2008, they added Laguna Kahuna, a huge water play area. Later, they added thrill rides like Ring of Fire and Thunder Drop. Torpedo Rush, a cool trap-door water slide, came in 2011.
In 2011, Premier Parks, LLC bought the park. For the 2012 season, they added Big Wave Bay, a giant 23,000 square foot wave pool!
For the 2019 season, the park added four new rides: a swinging ship, a Tilt-A-Whirl, a Scrambler, and a small roller coaster called Dragon Coaster. The Dragon Coaster came from another park that had closed.
Park Attractions
Roller Coasters
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hell Cat |
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S&S Power | A wooden roller coaster with an exciting layout. |
| Dragon Coaster |
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Wisdom Rides | A fun roller coaster for kids with a train shaped like a dragon. |
Thrill Rides
| Name | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thunder Drop | ARM Rides | An 85-foot-tall ride that drops you fast! |
| Sea Dragon | Zamperla | A swinging pirate ship ride. |
| Ring of Fire | Larson International | A thrilling ride that spins you in a loop. |
Family Rides
| Name | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Antique Carousel | Looff/Dentzel/Stein & Goldstein | A beautiful old carousel with classic music. |
| C.P. Huntington Railway | C. P. Huntington | A relaxing train ride that goes around the park. |
| Giant Ferris Wheel | Chance Rides | A classic ferris wheel ride with great views. |
| Scrambler | Eli Bridge Company | A ride that spins you around in different directions. |
| Samba Tower | Zamperla | A balloon tower ride that lifts you up. |
| Tilt-A-Whirl | Larson International | A classic ride that spins and tilts you in unexpected ways. |
| Vintage Carousel | Unknown | Another charming antique carousel ride. |
Children's Rides
| Name | Ride type |
|---|---|
| Safari Train | A fun train ride for younger kids. |
| Formula 3000 | A convoy ride where kids can drive. |
| Umbrella & Space Age | A gentle ride for children. |
| Mini Pirate Ship | A smaller pirate ship ride for little adventurers. |
| Flying Elephants | A ride where kids can "fly" on elephants. |
Water Rides
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Viper | A thrilling slide where two rafts race each other. |
| Vertical Limit | A multi-lane slide where you race down on a mat. |
| Torpedo Rush | A 60-foot-tall slide with a trap-door start! |
| Big Wave Bay | A huge wave pool where you can splash and play. |
| Laguna Kahuna | A big water playground with 8 slides, platforms, and over 125 sprays and waterfalls. A giant bucket dumps 422 gallons of water! |
| Lazy River | A relaxing ride where you float along a gentle river. |
| Sky River Rapids | A fun waterslide with three different sections and splash pools. |
| Shipwreck Bay | A water playground shaped like a pirate ship, with 6 waterslides and fountains. |
Closure and Reopening
On September 8, 2019, the park suddenly closed. Many people were surprised, as tickets had been sold for future events.
After the closure, the park faced some financial difficulties. On February 19, 2021, it was announced that the park would be sold at a public auction. Some local groups tried to raise money to buy the park and keep it open.
On March 23, 2021, the park was sold at auction for $2,370,000. The buyer was Gene Staples, who had also bought and reopened another amusement park, Indiana Beach, the year before.
Reopening in 2021
After being closed for two years, Clementon Park and Splash World happily reopened on June 25, 2021. All of the water park rides were open. Some of the thrill and family rides were also ready for guests. The park offered special discounted tickets for its reopening month.
